High School DxD Vol 17 Chapter 2

The next day after Rossweisse-san’s grandmother came to visit the Hyoudou residence. I’m currently continuing with the final check for the pact between me and Le Fay.

Ravel who is my manager is sitting between us and she takes out a document and such from her personal magic-circle. I can only give her my gratitude for her swift work.

“Seriously, our pact certainly is going smoothly thanks to you, Ravel.”

When I said that, Ravel takes out an animal’s plate and candles which is used for the custom for this ritual (Apparently it’s a Chinese soft-shell turtle she got from a small restaurant).

“No, it’s because you were blessed with making a pact with someone capable like her which is the sole reason why this went smoothly.”

Receiving such praise, Le Fay starts to wriggle her body.

The document, which will be our contract, is written in Devil’s symbols. Quickly explaining the context of it, it’s written like one of those contracts you often see in the human world which goes: “I will make a pact with this person. After the pact, these are the sort of things I am allowed to do. And these are the things which I am not allowed to do”.

I spill my blood by cutting my palm with a knife. I use that blood to write my name in Devil’s symbols. Le Fay also uses her own blood to write her name in magical symbols.

With this, our pact is complete document wise. What’s left is the official ritual. Le Fay and I enter the pact-purpose magic-circle that is written with animal’s blood. We then chant the spell for the pact.

The magic-circle starts to emit a mysterious shine.

“In the name of I, Le Fay Pendragon, I shall make a wish to the “Pawn” of the Gremory-group, Hyoudou Issei. You shall make a pact with me, and become my sworn friend.”

The chants have been simplified quite a bit. Depending on the situation, you need to chant things like how we resulted in making the pact as well as the content of it. But this is a pact which is being done after Le Fay and I built trust between us, which in turn resulted in it being simplified.

I also chant out the words I had memorised.

“In the name of Hyoudou Issei, the “Pawn” of Rias Gremory’s group, I shall promise to make a pact with you, Le Fay Pendragon, right here. And umm, let’s get along from now as well.”

I bow my head down at the end like a Japanese person! Le Fay chuckles and also bows her head.

“Yes, let’s do get along.”

The Gremory’s symbol appears on Le Fay and my cheek while the magic-circle disappears while emitting out light due to fulfilling its duty.

……We really, really, did end this quite plainly, but was it really okay to end like this? I look towards Ravel and she is nodding her head. Looks like this is a success. Possibly due to the documents which have our signatures gaining some kind of power, the document is giving out a red light.

“……Can I presume that this has finished?”

I try to get Ravel’s confirmation just in case.

“Yes, you certainly can. With this, Ise-sama and Le Fay-san are partners in terms of business.”

Ravel tells me like that.

So this is it huh. We went through many documents, but it ended immediately when I found the person who I will make a pact with.

Now then, it’s okay that our pact is completed, but……

“So then, what should Le Fay and I do now?”

Our pact is completed, so should we research about magic like how a partner should?

Ravel then says after making a cough.

“That will depend on Le Fay-san. If she chooses to do experiments on magic from now, she will need to summon you after this, but if she chooses to do the experiment tomorrow, she can just summon you tomorrow.”

So it’s up to Le Fay then.

Ravel then adds.

“It’s a five year pact. If she shows good results within five years, then it will be a win-win situation for you, Ise-sama.”

“In other words we don’t have to do anything immediately.”

I said that, so Ravel nods.

Well, I guess we can conclude that we have made a pact. I hope I can show results within five years together with Le Fay…… Oh well, let’s do this while being laid back about it.

Ravel confirms that we have completed our pact safely and then starts to prepare tea. She prepares it by taking out a folding-type table and places the cups and tea on it.

“Let’s have tea to celebrate the success of the pact between you two.”

A tea party after the pact huh. A Devil’s pact has an ominous imagination in the human world but it’s unexpectedly done quite peacefully. It may be due to the Gremory being quite laid back…… Even I didn’t think of trying to make a pact while releasing a scary atmosphere. They say that the High-class Devils from ancient times are different depending on their household, but the Gremory’s really are peaceful.

After the pact, a fun tea party takes place between me, Ravel, and Le Fay.

After having several discussions, this is what Le Fay says.

“But I never imagined for Rossweisse-san’s grandmother to be the famous Gondur-san.”

“She’s famous, right?”

Le Fay nods her head when I asked.

“She’s famous for being a user of magic taught in the Norse region such as the rune-style, the fairy magic gandol-style, spiritual magic seiz-style.”

Ravel continues after her.

“Rossweisse-san is indeed using the rune-style along with a different kind of magic the “Valkyries” created. She did say that she is using magic while incorporating spells she simplified and thought about herself.”

Le Fay takes out a memo-pad from her pocket and shows a certain page. There are many magic-circles written on it. And I have seen those symbols before. —It’s what Rossweisse-san often uses.

“I just remembered how I wrote them down since she was using a rare kind of magic-circle. The magic Rossweisse-san uses must be something she taught to herself. She most likely incorporated magic she saw and heard into her own formula.”

“Is that a rare thing?”

When I ask, Le Fay shakes her head.

“No, it isn’t rare to find a Magician that comes up with their own kind of formula. If you are a Magician, you will have at least one formula that is suited for you. But the magic symbols incorporated into Rossweisse-san’s magic-circle is a very high level one. This formula incorporated into the magic-circle that Rossweisse-san uses is something she came up with on her own and it made me think of a formula I often see in Norse-style, but you realise that it’s something very precisely made if you take a good look at it.”

Le Fay says that while she points at the magic-circle drawn on her memo-pad……but for someone like myself who doesn’t have rich knowledge in magic is simply lost. Though I kinda came to understand magic symbols that symbolises attributes thanks to Ravel and Le Fay. But I become clueless immediately when it turns into detailed knowledge.

Ravel continues after Le Fay.

“Kuroka-san also said this. Rossweisse-san’s formula restrains down how much the magical power is consumed to its utmost limit, but it’s also something which strengthens both the offensive and defensive power positively. If you use the example of what the human world uses in their games, there will be a magic with the attack power of 50 where you need to use up 10MP, but Rossweisse uses her own original formula which requires her to only use up 5MP while having the same attack power.—That is what she said. So this is only capable for someone who is an expert user and also someone who only thinks this stunt is something easy to do.”

Le Fay also nods at Ravel’s words.

I see, that sure was easy to understand. So she decreases how much magical power she uses while keeping the attack power the same. …… Not only has Rossweisse been releasing different kinds of magical attacks without holding back as if it was nothing, but even each of those attacks has been shot while she kept down the consumption rate huh……

More importantly, that Kuroka, for her to use RPG as an example…… She has been using my game console while sneaking into my room after all. She continues to play games while I let her out of my sight.

Even Koneko-chan and Ravel are tagging along with her, so it isn’t rare for us to have a game competition with everyone living in the Hyoudou residence participating in it. Well, let’s leave that to the side for now.

……Instead, there is a single question I have regarding Rossweisse-san.

“……I understand that Rossweisse-san is quite a skilled fighter as someone who is in the same group as her. But why didn’t Rossweisse-san learn the same magic as her grandmother? Ignoring the rune-style and gandol-style, I also don’t think I have seen seiz-style that often as well.”

I had been taught about rune symbols and fairies from Rossweisse-san and I think she has incorporated them into her magic-circles. But I don’t remember Rossweisse-san using fairy gandol-style and such…… It certainly must be different to summoning. But I don’t remember her saying that she is good at using them.

I don’t think it’s weird for Rossweisse-san who is Gondur-san’s granddaughter to use all of rune, gandol, and seiz since her grandmother is a skilled Magician.

Ravel and Le Fay don’t give me a clear answer but simply look at each other after hearing my opinion. I guess it means that they are feeling that is a strange thing as well.

Hmm. I then tilt my head. Is it me, or have I been tilting my head often lately regarding Rossweisse-san? W-Well, it’s not weird for me to think about her after she said “Please become my boyfriend”.

Then Ravel says it after making a cough.

“By the way, Ise-sama, I heard that you will be going out with Rossweisse-san after this.”

……Yeah, it’s planned for me to go out with Rossweisse-san after my pact is completed. It turned into a situation where Rossweisse-san can’t turn back to what she said to her grandmother so it was decided that Rossweisse-san and I will go on a date. This happened all of a sudden after the incident yesterday.

During her grandmother’s stay in this town, Rossweisse-san asked me for it since she wants to show it to her grandmother.

……I can’t decline if Rossweisse-san is the one asking me, so I accepted the date with her since I have no plans from now till the training I have tonight.

Ravel who knows about this starts to become angry in a cute way.

“Going out with Rossweisse-san may be something you need to do in order to deepen the relation between the members of the Gremory group. But you also need to pay attention to Rias-sama and Akeno-sama! You really do!”

Ravel approaches her face and keeps on telling me that.

“……I think you would need to go on a date with both Rias-sama and Akeno-sama for the next occasion.”

Y-Yeah. I can’t agree with you more, Ravel-san…… Last night, Ravel went to calm down Akeno-san who left the VIP room.

Ravel then says it with a red face.

“…………I-I also want to go shopping with you, Ise-sama……”

My heart starts to beat faster at my manager who just said that while being a bit reserved!

“I will definitely go shopping together with you next time, Ravel. I will obviously go with Rias and Akeno-san as well—”

Before I finish my sentence, Le Fay naturally raises up her hand beside me.

“You too Le Fay. If it comes down to this then I will go shopping with everyone living in this house. Either way, all of us would need to go shopping at the end of the year, so I guess going somewhere at the beginning of the year won’t be a bad idea.”

I said that to them. The girls will most likely require to buy things during the New Year’s holiday more than the boys. Especially in the Hyoudou residence since there are more people living here this year.

Both Ravel and Le Fay react happily where they both say “Yay”.

“I, shall also go shopping.”

The Dragon God-sama that jumps out of the closet! Ophis, since when were you inside the closet!?

Oh, looks like I won’t have time to hang out with Matsuda and Motohama…… No, I will at least like to have a single day where I can hang out with those guys……though it seems like Kiba and Gasper will come as well.

I say to Ravel after giving much thought about it.

“……Ravel, I’m sorry but can you make me a schedule with precise times for me that includes my training for the New Year’s holiday? It seems like I won’t be able to act accordingly if I don’t decide on my plans carefully……”

Seriously, the Sekiryuutei sure does have busy schedules. I lately think that I’m the Sekiryuutei who has the busiest schedule in the whole history.

After I completed my pact with Le Fay, I went to my room to get changed and am currently waiting at the entryway.

I found a pair of long boots already prepared in the entryway……but do these perhaps belong to Rossweisse-san? Well, I really can’t imagine her wearing them so I originally thought they belonged to Rias or Akeno-san.

Shortly after that, I sense the presence of someone walking down the stairs. When I turn that way—.

I witness Rossweisse-san who is wearing a coat and a short skirt!

………… Rossweisse-san who is wearing clothing that the girls that are my age wear is standing right in front of me. It’s not the Rossweisse-san I see all the time at home who always wears jerseys!

She has her silver hair done nicely and her lips are shiny, possibly because she put some lip cream on.

Yes, the Onee-san who looks so poor isn’t standing in front of me! Since she is wearing the same kind of clothes that girls her age wear……my heart starts to beat faster with a single look at her!

“……U-Umm.”

I don’t know what to say. Maybe because she realised my reaction, so Rossweisse-san starts to blush.

“……Please don’t suddenly act so strangely. It will make it harder for me to do this. Even I will dress in a fashion like this.”

Rossweisse-san seems to be regretting it a bit.

Oh, that was rude of me. But! Shocked isn’t the right word to describe how I am currently feeling towards how Rossweisse-san is dressed like a girl since I have seen her dress the way she usually does! Revolution! A revolution is happening right in front of me!

“I’m sorry, s-shall we get going then?”

It happens when I said that. I catch a glimpse of people within my sight.

When I look that way—Rias and Akeno-san appear from the corner of the corridor. Rias who is acting like how she usually does and Akeno-san who seems a bit sad.

Rias then says.

“You two need to be back by night. We will have a pre-meeting before we head to the Underworld.”

“ “Yes.” ”

Rossweisse-san and I replied back to her. Rias then suddenly puts on a bitter smile.

“I have told Xenovia and the others to not interfere with you two.”

Ah, it certainly does seem like they will come follow us…… Maybe because she noticed me who thought about it, so Rias breathes out.

“I won’t follow you. Even if anything happens, I will trust the man I chose, and I won’t sway even if something happens. I certainly did worry about how Rossweisse was acting and I certainly did get shocked when she asked you to be her boyfriend. But I won’t be able to call myself Rias Gremory if I can’t even trust Ise.”

She smiles saying that. ……She’s such a good woman. She trusts me and her group from the bottom of her heart.

“However, I hope you go on a date with both me and Akeno.”

Rias winks while she says that.

“Of course. If you two are okay with me.”

“—Going on a date with Ise-kun!”

Akeno-san puts on a bright expression after getting my reply. I certainly will go out with you if it’s me you want. ……Except, I don’t know when that will happen since I have a busy schedule!

Like this, Rossweisse-san and I leave the house……

Even if I’m going out with Rossweisse-san, it doesn’t mean we will be staying in this town. Apparently Rossweisse-san wants to go to Tokyo, so we went on a transport.

Approximately one hour after we went on a train to Tokyo from the nearest station, we arrive to Shinjuku station.

We change trains once more from there to head to the station which will be our destination—.

“……I wonder if she’s a model from overseas.”

“She’s amazingly beautiful……”

Inside the train, everyone is looking at Rossweisse-san. Of course. Anyone will look at her since she’s exceptionally beautiful. Except, since she’s also releasing an aura that beautiful girls carry which prevents people from approaching her, not a single person is coming to talk to her.

Rossweisse-san herself seems a bit embarrassed and is acting awkward since she’s gathering people’s attention.

“……If I wore either my jersey or suit, then I wouldn’t have found myself in this situation……”

Rossweisse-san starts to mumble.

“That’s not true. You will stand out wearing anything since you are cute.”

I simply told her my honest impression, but Rossweisse-san on other hand is,

Blushing and her cheeks are red!

Hey hey hey hey, the usual Rossweisse-san would have replied back by saying “I will take that as a compliment”!?

The same goes for Akeno-san, but it’s not fair for them to behave like this when we are going out! Even I am having a hard time trying to keep the conversation going!

There was no conversation during the time inside the train, and we arrive at the destination fifteen minutes after that.

The station we arrived at is stationed a bit away from the city. She said she has business at the station building, so we arrive to the floor where everything is a 100-yen shop.

The moment we arrived to the floor, Rossweisse-san puts on a happy expression.

She starts to talk with shaking voice and with a bright expression.

“……T-This is the huge 100-yen store for women that I had been dreaming about……the “Bella”! It means beautiful or a beauty in Italian, and this brand only has fashionable items for women all lined up! It’s famous for having a high grade item that really doesn’t look like a 100-yen item just by the look of it……oh, look! That plate looks very fashionable! Oh, that penholder has a beautiful shape which has no flaw to it! Oh, this one has an amazing amount of storage space even with this size……!”

……S-She started to take a look at the products while she left me behind. She’s so bright that I have never seen her like this. Just by looking at her like this makes me realise once again that she’s a girl who is about the same age as me.

……Except, her hobby is a bit off…… I never expected we would be coming to a 100-yen shop today, here in Tokyo. Due to the clothing she’s wearing right now, I thought we would be going to a more gorgeous and fashionable looking place……

“Please take a look at this, Ise-kun! This, this, and even this costs 100 yen! There isn’t even a single product which will cost 200 yen or 300 yen!”

Rossweisse-san is super excited right now. How should I put it? It’s making me think that she won’t be able to change this poor side of her.

But this personality of her really makes me think that it is Rossweisse-san after all.

“I couldn’t help but spend ten thousand yen for my shopping…… To be expected from Tokyo’s “Bella”. Terrifying indeed……”

Rossweisse-san moans while she looks inside her purse.

After doing some shopping, Rossweisse-san and I are taking a rest in terrace side of the café.

Ten thousand yen worth of 100 yen items. Basically, Rossweisse-san who had purchased one hundred products came to think that she had bought too many things. So she sent her items away using the courier agency nearby. It will arrive at my house by tomorrow. A huge chunk of them, that is.

……But it’s only worth ten thousand yen huh. She came all the way to Tokyo and purchased ten thousand yen worth of 100 yen items. ……I guess it’s alright since the girl herself seems like she’s satisfied. But I do wonder if it’s okay for a young girl to buy those sorts of things when we came all the way to Tokyo.

I started to worry about Rossweisse-san’s future from now on. She then talks to me.

“……D-Did I bore you? I-I’m sorry for finishing buying things while I was the only one all happy about it……”

Maybe it was due to myself putting on a complicated look, so Rossweisse-san says that to me while looking sad about it.

“Oh, not at all. I’m simply happy just being able to come to Tokyo with you, Rossweisse-san.”

That’s my honest feeling. It’s my first time going far alone with Rossweisse-san, so there’s new taste to it. I even had the opportunity to see the side of her I usually can’t see, so there’s no way that this is boring.

Rossweisse-san then says after drinking her coffee.

“……If I think about it, this is my first time being on a date with a man.”

I don’t know what to say after hearing such shocking truth. It even makes me feel honoured by it. It also makes me think if it was okay that I was her partner for her important first date.

“Was it really okay that it was me?”

I couldn’t help but ask. Kiba could have escorted her even better, and Azazel-sensei could have driven her to Tokyo with his sports car that he is so proud of. Compared to those two, the way I handle dates is quite ordinary.

Rossweisse-san continues to speak while feeling shy about it.

“I-If I was asked to choose one person to date among the men around me, then I would have chosen you, Ise-kun…… B-But please don’t misunderstand me! It’s “if”! “If” someone asked! This is merely a “what if” story!”

Rossweisse-san drinks her coffee while turning red. —She suddenly puts on a gloomy face after taking a breath.

“……I simply studied while I was living in my homeland…… The War Maidens, the Valkyrie, that were around me were having a heated discussion about amazing heroes that turned into the warriors of Valhalla…… While my classmates were wasting their time with the opposite sex, I simply gave it my all at studying in order to get closer to my aim.”

……It sure is a story that isn’t hard to imagine. I’m sure she continued to study while telling herself something in the lines of: “It’s filthy! It’s vulgar! You would join the loser group if you don’t study!”……

Rossweisse-san then looks afar.

“……I was able to become a Valkyrie due to putting all my time of youth for studying, but now I look back thinking that I should have played a bit back then.”

“What are you saying? You are still young. You are only older than me by a year or two, so from now on, no, from this point on you can just continue to spend your time of youth.”

Seriously, you are still too young! The people around her and also she herself forgets her actual age since she is a teacher, but since she’s still in her teens where she can still experience the time of her youth, I reckon that it’s still too early for her to say something someone old would say.

“It’s also amazing that you were a bodyguard of that geezer Odin who is the Chief God. Seriously, it’s amazing to have a history of working next to a Chief God from a mythology.”

Rossweisse-san’s unfortunate side does stand out, but if I think about it—no, I actually don’t need to think about it since her previous history and her abilities are amazing. I won’t be able to have a high position such as becoming the bodyguard of a Chief God, no matter how many times I am reborn into someone new.

“……Though he did leave me behind.”

Rossweisse-san became a bit depressed about it.

……I don’t know how to reply to that statement. Well, you can say that we became comrades thanks to that happening……

Rossweisse-san puts on a sad expression.

“……Also……I’m not someone who has achieved particularly high as you just said, Ise-kun.”

Saying that, Rossweisse-san takes out an emblem from her pocket. There are complicated looking symbols carved into it. ……A unique looking shape which has circles made up of rune symbols. Is this my first time seeing it……? No, I saw this last night. ……Yes, the symbols were carved into the magic-circle. Rossweisse-san’s grandmother, Gondur-san, had the same thing.

Rossweisse-san continues on and says this.

“This is a unique symbol……a house crest, that had been passed through my family. The oldest child of the family inherits this symbol and gets it carved into their body and soul in order to pass it to the next generation. …..I am the oldest child, the oldest daughter to be specific, but I couldn’t……”

Rossweisse-san stops there and then says it after lowering her tone.

“……inherit this symbol.”

Rossweisse-san than tells me.

At the Norse region—Asgard, the Half-Gods that live there create and polish their unique magic, techniques, and tradition, that had been passed through their family where they have those aspects being carried on to the next generation as their priority. And they use that as the symbol to represent the inheritor when they have the generation change where they carve the emblem into their body and soul.

Rossweisse-san’s family is no different, so they had the next inheritor carry on the emblem at the time they need to inherit it. Rossweisse-san’s mother also inherited the house emblem, so it was planned for Rossweisse-san who is the oldest daughter to inherit it as well.

—But Rossweisse-san couldn’t inherit the emblem.

No matter how many times she performed the ritual to inherit it, the emblem didn’t get carved into Rossweisse-san’s body, soul, and magic-circle.

Rossweisse-san then says it while holding the emblem in her hand.

“……I don’t have any siblings, so my distant cousin inherited the emblem in the end. That child completed the ritual to inherit it immediately, and I remember it very well because no one such as myself or those around me could complain about it. ……I was originally bad at using the magic that is the expertise of the ones in my family…… I don’t know whether to say I had a bad compatibility with it, but I still can’t get used to spiritual magic seiz-style. I learnt how to use rune-style and gandol-style, but what shocked me the most was that I easily got used to the battle maiden’s offensive magic which is for battle purposes…… Currently, I have become the user with one of the most powerful offensive magic in my family…… Among my family who had been using all three of rune, gandol, and seiz, I was the only irregular one. I did get good compatibility with magic that my family barely used after all…… I was fortunate enough to become a Valkyrie……but the results that I had made are nothing compared to my grandmother during her prime……”

Rossweisse-san confesses that while feeling down.

……She had bad compatibility with magic that had been passed through her family, and instead her talent bloomed in different departments. Sairaorg-san passes through my mind in terms of similar situation, but it must be different since his family has an important role of being the Great King that has an important role in terms of being involved in the Underworld’s politics…… For me who was born in an ordinary family, the inheritance problem is something really difficult since I can’t get the grasp of it.

I also learned that she was bad at gathering the hero’s soul during the time when she was a Valkyrie. She had an unlucky situation till she was called by Odin the geezer.

But I do feel this was a fate. Maybe it was fated for her to come to the Gremory group that has heavy firepower. The Valkyrie that keeps on learning offensive magic! I can only think that Rias’s fated meeting all depends on that.

Rossweisse-san then says while blushing.

“……Spellcasters from my family had been good at communicating with the fairies and to use the spiritual magic. However, I was exceptional since I started to learn offensive magic like a sponge……so I started to become brighter than before since I became capable of improving my performance and reserving my energy. My father and mother’s response surpassed that of praising me and instead became astonished.”

I then say it while I scratch my cheek.

“B-But you did learn defensive magic when you returned to your homeland before.”

“Yes, that is true…… To put it short, my power has diverted away from that of my family’s. ……I had a vague thought of inheriting my family’s tradition when I was a child and to becoming a Valkyrie just like my grandmother was something that was natural to happen. Those around me also had high expectations for me. But that didn’t happen. What was supposed to happen didn’t happen. ……Even till this day, I don’t even know what to become and what to do. I had a sense of anxiety for my future ahead. So I did the job assigned to me properly and started to take money as a serious matter.”

She had talent. But it wasn’t a talent those around her were hoping for. However, since she was blessed with her ability, she was able to get a job. But she still can’t find the answer of what she really wants to do—.

The concern Rossweisse-san has is something that a capable person has. Before I thought she was similar to Sairaorg-san, but I guess the source of it is different.

Rossweisse-san continues while putting away the emblem.

“……None of my parents, the people of my clan, and my grandmother blamed me, and they still treat me normally. ……My family came to accept my situation right away by saying, “Well, there will be times when a child like her appears among a clan”. That does make me happy……but I may have been able to have a different lifestyle if they even gave me a single criticism. ……No, this lifestyle I’m currently having may be different too……”

Maybe the reason why she became a Devil was because she wanted to have a change.

“I really was happy when I was chosen as an escort of Odin-sama. ……He truly was a troublesome person, but I really did feel that it was a job worth doing. ……Though he did leave me behind.”

She was the only one capable of escorting him—this is something I heard afterwards. Rather, Rossweisse-san is the Valkyrie who had the longest duration of being his escort. Because of that, I hear that the other Valkyries are having a hard time.

Rossweisse-san looks up and looks back to her life as she sighs.

“……I graduated by skipping grades in my home town without enjoying my time of youth, yet I was unable to inherit my family’s emblem. Even though I didn’t make any particular results during my time as a Valkyrie, I was able to become Odin-sama’s escort. ……I came to Japan to escort Odin-sama and became a teacher in the human world after reincarnating to a Devil. ……Looking back again, I really don’t know what I can become and do since I’ve been going around in circles.”

Rossweisse-san laughs to herself. She certainly is going around in circles. There are ups and downs among the rest of the Gremory group members, so it really is a team that has a gathering of those who have some issues.

“……I certainly do feel like I need to apologise to my mother. I don’t think I lived up to her expectations……”

Rossweisse-san says that while looking down.

……It really does seem like she feels bad about how she couldn’t inherit her family’s emblem.

Rossweisse-san then looks at my face and apologises as if she realised something.

“......I’m sorry. I spoke so long about my life to you, Ise-kun…… I try to avoid talking about this even to those close to me…… ……I guess I wanted to share it with someone due to my grandmother’s arrival.”

“No, I don’t mind at all. Instead, it makes me happy because it feels like I came to know more about you, Rossweisse-san.”

Rossweisse-san rarely talks about herself. She did show me the side of her where she loves 100-yen shops and that she can’t handle alcohol much, but she doesn’t talk about herself. This date today seems like it will become a valuable thing.

Rossweisse-san then continues while being a bit embarrassed.

“I haven’t regretted becoming a Devil you know? The welfare programme of the Devil’s world is structured properly and my salary is very wonderful. The Gremory group is full with good people and the environment I’m currently in is also wonderful. ……Well, the Gremory group is full of surprises since we get dragged into many situations…… But having a lifestyle of being a teacher at Kuou academy is something more worth doing than I originally thought.”

“Is being a teacher fun?”

“Yes, I never thought teaching would be so fun.”

The rating Rossweisse-san gets from the students is high. Rossweisse-san who is a civics teacher is good at teaching and since she narrows the key points for the topic she is teaching, the classes she teaches score high marks in their tests. Furthermore, since her age isn’t that different to the students, she’s receiving popularity as a beautiful foreign teacher. She may warn people a lot and she may give strict opinions, but there are rarely students that oppose her and take her opinion seriously.

It seems like she is getting looked after by her senior teachers, and other teachers regard her highly since she is someone who can give her opinion to Azazel-sensei who is so strange.

Speaking of teachers…… I then speak the thing that goes through my mind.

“Will you take up Sona-kaichou’s offer?”

Yes, Rossweisse-san has received an offer to become a candidate for a teacher in the future at the school that was established by Sona-kaichou. She wants Rossweisse-san as a magic teacher.

“I’m still thinking about it. Obviously this isn’t something she’s asking me to decide just in a year or two…… First of all, since we are going to that school soon, I’ve decided to think about it as I observe there.”

Well, I guess so. It will be rude to change her mind after she takes the offer light heartedly. It’s certain that she needs to decide this after she observes the school with her own eyes. But she did also get asked to become the magic teacher from Sairaorg-san, so it proves how high people rate her.

“I still don’t know what I am capable of doing, but teaching is something I like doing. No, I came to like it. That’s why I’m looking forward to the upcoming event where we will be helping them.”

Rossweisse-san says that while she smiles.

Certainly a lot of things did happen in her life, but it seems like she’s trying to look towards the future as she currently is.

“I will also come and discuss with you if something happens. So please feel free to discuss anything with me even if it’s some complaints you have.”

“Then I will have you tag along with my shopping again. Doing 100-yen shopping with you wasn’t bad at all. And it will also become a good excuse towards my grandmother.”

Ahahahaha…… 100-yen shop again, huh…… No, that’s okay. I think it won’t be a bad idea to go watch movies or go somewhere for sightseeing. Oh well, since it seems like she’s enjoying herself, maybe this is okay too?

“—There’s not a single thing in which you are inferior to your grandmother.”

……A voice of another person. When I try to look for the one who said that with my eyes, I sense the presence of someone sitting on the chair behind me. ……He came behind me and I didn’t notice him. This feeling clearly doesn’t belong to someone against whom I can let my guard down.

Rossweisse-san also becomes alert instantly.

When I turn around, the person who is sitting behind me is—a young man with silver hair. A man in a suit with a handsome face. I know him. After all, he’s someone whom I fought in Romania.

The man—Euclid Lucifugus, greets us as he smiles.

“How do you do, Hyoudou Issei the Sekiryuutei, and also the former Valkyrie Rossweisse.”

……Why on earth is he here!? He showed himself in Tokyo during noon!

I want to activate my Sacred Gear, but there are people around me. I can’t start a fight here.

I glare at him while being cautious of him. He then chuckles.

“I haven’t come here today to see you, Hyoudou Issei. I have business with the person next to you.”

Euclid looks towards Rossweisse-san.

He then says it while he put his hand forward.

“I will be straightforward. —Rossweisse, will you come to our side?”

W-What the heck……! Is he recruiting her!? In a place like this!? And why Rossweisse-san!? Why is he only recruiting Rossweisse-san at a time like this? I have so many questions—and Rossweisse-san’s face turns pale.

……Does she have enough reason for him to recruit her?

“—Here is wisdom. He that hath understanding, let him count the number of the beast. For it is a number of a man: and the number of him is six hundred sixty-six.”

…………666? Euclid says it while putting his hand on his forehead.

“It’s a line from the Apocalypse. ……It sure does give a headache to a Devil if you say the line found in the Bible……”

……Even I got a headache simply by hearing that. A Devil shouldn’t read something like that all of a sudden!

Apocalypse…… The one from Book of Revelation that also cites about Great Red huh. Oh yeah, the Trihexa is mentioned there too.

He continues while looking at Rossweisse-san in her eyes.

“I hear that you wrote a certain essay during your time as student in Asgard. And the title of your essay was “Regarding the Beast of Apocalypse”.

……Seriously? So Rossweisse-san wrote about such things when she was a student back over there huh.

I then became convinced. It then links with the news of Rossweisse-san being seen at the library that Matsuda and Motohama mentioned. Rossweisse-san was reading books related to the Holy Bible. ……So that’s the reason huh. She most likely remembered about her essay when she heard the name of Trihexa in Romania.

Rossweisse-san then says with a shivering voice.

“I-I got rid of that because I couldn’t write a proper conclusion. What I submitted was a different essay. ……But why do you people know about it……?”

He puts on a disgusting smirk to her question.

“We are the ones that are gathering every single piece of information regarding Trihexa. Even if it’s an essay that had been disposed of in the past, we will go and pick it up even if that place is at the end of the earth.”

Rossweisse-san shakes in fear hearing that.

“……I'd spoken a bit about the content of that essay to my roommate back then. Don’t tell me you……!”

He shrugs his shoulders to Rossweisse-san’s question.

“We helped ourselves to search through her memories but we only obtained a fraction of the information. That’s why we changed our method to recruit you to our side directly.”

Rossweisse-san puts her right hand forward hearing that. Her eyes are already filled with the will to fight.

“……So you people assaulted her? You scum, I will take you down right here—”

Euclid laughs with his nose and looks around the place with his eyes. There are many of those that are looking at us with keen eyes due to us causing some ruckus. ……Fighting here will be a bad idea.

Rossweisse-san puts her hand down reluctantly. Yeah, that’s the right decision. If we attack him first, then he won’t hold back on fighting back while dragging the people around us in it.

Euclid gets up from his seat and bows his head down to the people around us.

“I’m sorry for causing a scene. I will be on my way now.”

As he walks past us, he mutters.

“……She’s safe. We didn’t take her as a hostage. Except—”

Euclid strokes Rossweisse-san’s hair with his hand.

“I want your ability. You are exceptional. More than you think. —And this beautiful silver hair. It’s exactly like……”

My hands move towards him without thinking. Euclid dodges my hand swiftly.

“Farewell, Sekiryuutei, Rossweisse. Let’s meet again. Please decide on the answer before then.”

Saying that, Euclid Lucifugus disappears into the crowd of people.

I……contacted Rias as soon as I took a breath—.

Rossweisse-san and I returned to our house. Its evening and the members of ORC gathered in my room.

“……For him to appear in Tokyo. I was careless.”

Rias who heard about our encounter with Euclid is regretting her lack of awareness.

……This town has been assaulted once already, and since it was originally within the area of the Three Great Powers, the security over here has been raised. Of course Tokyo which is the capital city of Japan is receiving cooperation from each of the forces and they are putting their alert on (Mainly the group of supernatural organised by the higher ups of Japan is on alert as the main force).

Even so, he……appeared in front of us so daringly during daytime!

Irina says it while narrowing her eyes.

“……They are clearly different to the supernatural beings that have caused terrorism till now. The Qlippoth seems like they have no hesitations in leaving influence to the human world and causing casualties.”

It must be as Irina said. They are different to the terrorists we have been facing till now. The ones we have fought till now had a clear target and concentrated their attacks there. If it was the Old Maou faction, then they would have mainly attacked the Three Great Powers, and if it was the Hero faction they would have challenged the supernatural beings.

They, the Qlippoth, are different. In order to fulfil their aim, they would bare their evil intent to the humans and the human world. No, to any beings. All for the sake of fulfilling their desires—.

As a result, the world of Vampires was nearly annihilated.

If we had fought them there and had them summon the Evil Dragons…… Disaster won’t be enough to describe what the situation would have been like. Fatalities wouldn’t have been minimised to one or two hundred people……

……Were Rossweisse-san and my action careless……?

I’m hanging my head but then Rias says it to me.

“Ise, you shouldn’t let it get it to you. They are terrorists with powers. To be blunt, they could have appeared anywhere if they thought about it and having him appear and confront you during your private time was something that we never anticipated.”

Akeno-san continues after her.

“Yes, that action would pose more risk to them as well. Even if they could intrude into any of the major cities, it isn’t something they can do very often. If they do it once, then it would lead them to lose their second chance since we would strengthen the forces in that location. Unless they have to, they won’t make their move just yet.”

Like Akeno-san said, the alert level of Tokyo against the Qlippoth has become higher due to their appearance. No, the alert level was already high, but I hear that it has become even higher.

Ravel then moves her gaze towards Rossweisse-san.

“……They approached Rossweisse-san even to the extent to take that risk…… I presume this shows how much they take the essay written by Rossweisse-san during her time as a student as a crucial piece of information, correct?”

Rias continues after her.

“Judging from his words, it’s natural to think that there is a high chance for that essay to have so much value to them. It’s about time for Azazel to give us his usual call now, so let’s listen to what he has to say about it. Rossweisse, can you talk to Azazel about it?”

“Yes.”

Rossweisse-san nods at Rias’s order. ……Rossweisse-san has been putting on a difficult expression ever since she met Euclid.

A few minutes later, we receive a regular call from Azazel-sensei. The truth is, Azazel-sensei isn’t here in this town right now. He returned to the Underworld and had been having an ongoing conversation with the researchers of the Grigori about the Sacred Gears, the other world, and the movement of Qlippoth for days.

Azazel-sensei’s face appears from the communication-type magic-circle. We explained the whole thing to him.

[……I see, so Rossweisse had been targeted.]

Sensei narrows his eyes while putting his hand under his chin.

[Do you all know about the incidents with how skilled Magicians are missing?]

We nod to that question. We heard about that from Rias and Gondur-san the other day.

[There’s one similarity between the incidents. —All of them are those that had been researching “the number of the beast”, 666. And they were researchers that had been investigating from another method to general one. Apparently the ones coming to the assembly were those kind of researchers.]

……I became speechless to Sensei’s report. ……There’s a clear connection now. According to Euclid, Rossweisse-san had written an essay regarding 666. And since the Magicians that are missing share the similarity of having researched about 666—.

“In other words they are abducting Magicians that hold information about “the number of the beast”—Trihexa.”

Sensei nods to Rias’s words.

[You can imagine what kind of seal has been used if you know about the content of the Apocalypse and the God from the Bible. I did however conclude that there are 23 different powerful seals those guys from Qlippoth may have difficulty in unsealing. We are currently having a conference over here and are calculating how much time we have left till the 666 gets released by calculating from that information. We have no intention of letting those guys bring back 666, but we do need to prepare for the worst.]

……If 666 is brought back and fights against Great Red, what on earth will happen to this world……?

Sensei laughs loudly after seeing how uneasy we are feeling.

[It’s still too early to get depressed, youngsters. We are planning to have some “insurance” ready besides you all, just in case. I need to get ready for that soon, but I will discuss about this with all of you further in the future.]

Does Sensei have some kind of plan? It’s this man we are talking about. It feels as though he will have some “insurance” in a different way.

[Well, I don’t even know if I can even trust the answer we get by the end of this conference. We don’t even know what kind of influence the abducted Magicians will have had on the seals after all.]

I wonder what on earth happened to those people that had been caught by them. This is Qlippoth we are talking about. I can only think they are using a wrong way to make those people do what they say.

Sensei then asks Rossweisse-san.

[I’ll just ask you one simple question. Rossweisse, how did you try to encode the number 666?]

Rossweisse-san opens her heavily shut lips.

“……I researched it by using the number “616” which has a different approach. I used that number to compare it with the documents and incidents that occurred within each forces as I made a numerical formula and technical formula.”

[—! …………I see, just as I thought.]

It seems like Sensei predicted most of what Rossweisse-san was going to say.

……What the, what’s with 616? Shouldn’t it be 666?

I’m full of suspicions but Sensei says it to me.

[When many of the researchers of Apocalypse were focusing on the number 666, one portion of the Magicians apparently used the different approach of using the number 616 to research about it. The ones that had been abducted for this incident all researched about the “number of the beast” by using the number “616”.]

The different approach! So there’s such a thing…… And one of the people who was researching that different approach is Rossweisse-san.

Sensei continues while he strokes his chin.

[The majority of the researchers don’t see the number “616” as the correct way. Even we, the Grigori, thought so. ……But seeing those guys make their move, did the God from the Bible make his seals against 666 by using the number “616”……?]

Sensei says that as if he’s talking to himself. Rather than explaining it to us, it seems like he’s speaking while he is getting shocked at his own hypothesis.

Maybe he realised that he'd spoken all of that out loud, so after he makes a cough, he says to Rossweisse-san.

[Alright, first of all, Rossweisse. Write everything you remember about the essay you wrote when you were a student on a piece of paper and send it here. I will check it here to see how much of it is related to 666.]

“……I have already written it since a while ago.”

Rossweisse-san puts a pile of reports which have difficult looking magic-symbols and formulas written on them on a small teleportation magic-circle and then sends them away. From the communication-type magic-circle, the reports appear within Azazel-sensei’s hand along with a flash. Looks like the transfer was a success.

Sensei says it to Rossweisse-san after he received the reports.

[But man, you sure are amazing. For you to research about the same thing as your grandmother naturally. I guess families are alike.]

I then realise one of the reason why Rossweisse-san has a complicated expression for the first time after hearing Sensei’s words.

The similarity between the Magicians that are being targeted for this incident is—the fact that they have been researching about 666. Likewise for the ones that will be gathering in the assembly which will take place in the Underworld. In other words, Rossweisse-san’s grandmother has also been……researching about 666.

That night, Rossweisse-san continued to put on a difficult looking expression and she never spoke after that.

The “Rating Game school anyone can attend” which was the dream of the Sitri group, more specifically Sona-kaichou’s, was unexpectedly located within the Agares’s territory.

Normally, it wouldn’t have been weird for the school to be built in the Sitri’s territory, which belongs to the next heiress of the House of Sitri who was hoping for this to happen, but political issues had to get involved here too. Rather, it turned into quite a complicated situation.

Maybe the reason for Sona-kaichou building this school may have a bit of Serafall Leviathan-sama’s intention who is her sister? —Apparently there are those who are saying such things.

Obviously Leviathan-sama who is all supportive of Sona-kaichou was being positive about the establishment of this school.

However, this action will stimulate the politicians, the higher-ups with peerage that had been taking importance of the old bloodline. From their eyes, a “Rating Game school where anyone can enrol regardless of their rank” will be something which they would not like. Obviously there will be opinion and pressure which would be against this. If Leviathan-sama becomes stubborn and argues back at them, then it won’t be weird if they take her action as “Leviathan’s political action”.

The reason why Rias, the Gremory, couldn’t intervene in this matter was due to this reason. If the higher up takes this as the intention of the Gremory, in other words Sirzechs-sama, then they are assuming that the chances of dispute between the factions of Four Great Maou may get heated up.

In the end, Rias……could only help to the degree where she won’t get much attention.

I heard that Sona-kaichou seriously thought about abandoning this dreams of hers. Apparently doing something which would result in affecting her sister’s politic standing is something the next heiress of the House of Sitri shouldn’t do and is considered as a foolish act.

However, a saviour appeared.

“If that’s the case, we will become the middleman and build the school within our territory and do this seriously while paying attention to the higher-ups.”

—And the one who called out to them was the current Head of the House of Agares. To be expected from the person who has the job of the middleman. The trust the politicians from each of the Maou’s faction has towards the Arch Duke Agares is so great. He attained the support of the House of the Great King that stands at the top in terms of bloodline and built the first “Rating Game School anyone can attend to”.

That’s why we, the ORC (Gremory group + Irina + Ravel), are going to the Underworld to help out for the school experience day. We teleported several times after arriving at the Gremory castle and step foot into the Agares’s territory. It’s scheduled for us to help out for today and tomorrow so we will be staying over.

The place where the school was built is very close to the sky city Agreas which was the place where the Gremory group and the Bael group had the Rating Game.

Auros—that’s the name of the town. I hear it is one of the places which represents the Agares’s territory which is said to have the best agricultural products in the Underworld.

There are many civilians that make their living mainly by working as farmers, but the population over here isn’t that high. It won’t be weird for this town to develop by turning into a sightseeing location for tourists since it’s close to the sky city Agreas, which is the holy land for the Rating Game. But sadly, the town which acts as the sightseeing spot is located at the opposite side of this place while the sky town of Agreas is located between the two towns. Also, since tourists that come to see Agreas will spend their time enjoying the sky city, I hear that they rarely come down to the towns nearby.

In other words, this town is a quiet and peaceful place even though it’s close to the famous sky city.

The place we teleported to is the uppermost floor of the watchtower which is positioned at the centre of the town. The fields that produce different crops are spread around the town and you can also see lots of windmills that stand out. This place doesn’t stand out but it’s a peaceful and a quiet place.

I guess this town has a good environment for building a school.

The government official of this town who was waiting for us at front of the magic-circle takes us down the watchtower. The one who is waiting for us down the tower is—

“Hey, Hyoudou.”

It’s Saji.

It would seem normal for the town’s mayor to welcome us if Rias, who is a princess of Gremory, is to come to this town. Unfortunately, the mayor went to the Magician’s assembly that was mentioned before so he couldn’t come here. Rias also hasn’t come here for a public business, so she told the town mayor that “We don’t need a formal welcome”.

The government official passes his role to Saji and we proceeded into the town.

Crops, windmills, and European-style houses made from rocks. There isn’t even a single clattering noise you often hear in cities which shows how peaceful this town is.

Saji then says.

“Nice place, isn’t it? A country town of the Underworld! Though it doesn’t mean it isn’t famous at all. I heard there will be presentations and such at this town in order to allow the Magician’s assembly to commence. Apparently the first mayor of this town liked doing these sort of assemblies so this place turned into a place which is known to a certain group of people. Also, you can see the huge stage for the Rating Game, Agreas, nearby, so you can call this environment as the most suited place you can come up with.”

Saji’s voice is full of energy. I guess he likes this town. It certainly is a good town. It doesn’t seem like there will be any quarrels since it’s so peaceful.

“I sure would like to do cropping in a place like this.”

Asia looks around the town while she has her eyes sparkling. One of Asia’s dream is to live in a countryside. Lately even I’m thinking of living in a town like this while doing cropping with Asia.

Xenovia then continues.

“I also think it would be wonderful to do cropping with Asia. Our lives as Devils will be long. Maybe forgetting about being a swordswoman for once and do farming is a good idea. I’m sure Ise would say he’s going to live with Asia, so there won’t be any loss for me to tag along.”

So she’s saying that while having me follow Asia! Well, I do want to live with Asia in the countryside!

Irina also says it while she looks up the sky.

“Maybe I should also live in the countryside in the future? But it does seem hard for an Angel to live in the Underworld, so I guess it will interesting to help Ise-kun and Asia-san with farming when I receive a job to come to the Underworld.”

Looks like the Church-trio are already fascinated with this country town.

Rias and Akeno-san are chuckling.

“All of you, it is far too early to think about what you will do once you retire.”

Seriously, it really is. There’s no point to discuss about something which will happen who knows when. I’m sure we started to feel like this due to having been captivated with this scenery.

After a while following Saji and talking about such things, a newly constructed building appears at a southern part of the town.

All of us are in shock at seeing that building. —That’s because a school which looks identical is built there.

It looks a bit smaller than Kuou academy size-wise, but judging from the building which seems to be a gymnasium and also the location of the sportsground, the location of facilities seems to be based off our school.

On the gate of the school is a nameplate which has the words “Auros Academy” written on it in Devils symbols. So they used this town’s name for the school. I guess it’s an appropriate name. I’m sure noisy people won’t be quiet if they used the name of either Bael or Sitri.

We go through the school gate and then into the main building.

At the sportsground, there are already kids that are doing things like running and also competing by using their demonic-powers. Looking carefully, I can see the members of the Sitri group and the Bael group that are looking after the kids. Those kids must be participants of the experience day.

When we enter the main building, Sona-kaichou welcomes us at the entrance.

Saji then tells Kaichou.

“Kaichou, I have brought the members of the Occult Research Club.”

“Thank you, Saji. Please head to the location you are in charge of.”

Hearing that, Saji leaves here quickly as he says “Later” and waves his hand to us.

We look around the interior of this building. It sure does smell new. It proves that it was just made. I can see so many aspects which are based on Kuou academy such as the entrance and the interior of this building. Even though this is a new place to us, I can only think it’s something we have seen so many times.

Rias offers her hand with a smile and then says;

“Let me say this again, congratulations, Sona.”

Kaichou also smiles as she shakes Buchou’s hand.

“Thank you, Rias. This is still only the first school and the opening of this school is quite far away, though we were able to organise the experience day.”

Sona-kaichou says it as she stretches her hand towards the interior of the building.

“Now then, let me show you the inside.”

We then walked within the school interior as Kaichou leads us.

The children and their parents come and leave the corridor. From outside the classroom I can see the person from the Bael group who is acting as a lecturer and is teaching the kids something. The kids—are listening to their lecture while they put on a serious face. Their parents that are watching over them from the back of the classroom also have serious expressions. Either the Bael group member or the special lecturer that were called by Sona-kaichou are acting as the main lecturer while the Sitri group members are supporting them. Well, the members of the Sitri group are all students after all. They won't be able to go forward as lecturers. Also the voluntary staff that were gathered by Sona-kaichou are moving within the premises as if they were busy.

Most of children here are around ten years old. In the human world, they would be around the age where they would be going to junior school. There were also those who are in their mid-10’s, but the kids that seem to be junior pupils are standing out.

“How many of them are here?”

Rias asks Kaichou.

“This is an experience day where people simply heard from rumours or from other people but the number of them that came here were more than what I imagined. There are most likely 150 children today. If we include their parents and siblings, then the number of people here will exceed 400.”

Wow, it’s so crowded in here! I see, so the number of children exceeded 100 today huh. But for this many people to come when they didn’t even do an official advertisement to gather new students…… They say that the Devil’s children are valuable, so that figure is outstanding if we take that in regards. There sure are many children who can’t attend school even though they want to…… It feels like I saw the dark part of the Devil’s world.

There are people who are with their children that become shocked at seeing me and Rias (Oppai Dragon and Switch Princess), but I keep myself down and merely wave my hand at them. I won’t be able to take a look around this school if an autograph and handshaking event starts here. But our reason for helping out here today has to do a lot with that.

In other words, you can say that it’s a special visit of the Rias Gremory’s group that is famous in the Underworld, and you can also say that it’s a surprise event that Sona-kaichou organised. I guess it’s more appropriate to call us the special guests. Obviously this help will be something that would please Sona-kaichou as well as a chance for Rias who wants to help her friend.

We walk through the corridor which connects to another building and enter the gymnasium where we can hear a voice which is full of energy.

“Listen up! In order to do a punch, you would need to bend your hips and release your fist directly forward as if you are punching with your whole body!”

“ “ “ “ “ “ “ “ “ “Yes!” ” ” ” ” ” ” ” ” ”

The one who is teaching the kids how to throw a proper punch in the gymnasium is Sairaorg-san!

The children also throw punches at the same time as Sairaorg-san energetically even though they are facing difficulty.

“Ha! Ha! Ha!”

Sairaorg-san who is also punching with the kids realises our presence. He stops his stance and sho

Chapter end