After bathing Xenovia, I head to the VIP room upstairs in the Hyoudou house. The Occult Research Club, Sona, Shinra, Griselda, and Dulio are already there.
Alice: "You're late, Issei. What were you doing?"
Issei: "Just… a bath."
Alice: "With Xenovia?"
Issei: "Uh, yeah…"
Can't exactly say I was washing Xenovia's every inch!
Xenovia (stepping forward): "Issei made me climax, got me soaked. He washed me thoroughly."
Issei: "Don't say that here!"
Sure, I washed everywhere as requested, and yeah, I made her soaked! But announcing it publicly!? It's like an execution!
It's not just housemates here—outsiders too!
Xenovia clings to my arm, blushing. "That was… nice. Do it again?"
Her puppy eyes and teary gaze hit hard. This bold Xenovia, acting like this!? The gap's intense!
Issei: "That was punishment, you know!?"
Xenovia: "I know. Punish me again."
Issei: "That's not punishment anymore!"
She's awakened something! Beast Mode's too dangerous—it's turning girls weird!
Alice: "Can we hear Azazel-sensei now?"
Chop! Alice nails me.
Issei: "Rias and the others?"
Azazel's holographic image explains, shocking us.
Azazel: "Tepes side's moving. A coup caused chaos at the Carmilla-Tepes border. Rias and Kiba are likely caught up—probably detained. No communication from here. Same for you?"
Akeno tries contacting Rias via magic circle—nothing.
Issei: "No good…"
Gasper (tense): "N-No way…"
This is his homeland, and his benefactor's there. He was set on saving her—must be rough.
Alice: "A coup? What's the Tepes situation?"
Azazel: "Carmilla leaders say the Tepes head was replaced."
Everyone's stunned. The top, swapped out!?
Azazel: "The Tepes patriarch, leader of the male-dominant faction, fled the capital."
Alice: "That's fast. A coup, and the leader's replaced in no time? The king fleeing?"
Too quick. Something major went down.
Sona: "Likely Khaos Brigade's involvement with the Holy Grail. Tepes is probably under their control."
Reports suggested Tepes, with the Grail, and Khaos Brigade, reviving evil dragons, are linked. They used the Grail's power to bring them back—common consensus.
Azazel: "Khaos Brigade pulled strings. Vampires are insular, avoiding other factions. That gave Khaos Brigade an opening, exploiting dissenters to erode from within."
Alice: "They didn't notice extremists? No call for help, despite being so closed-off?"
Normally, you'd catch something and act—seek aid if overwhelmed.
Azazel: "Pride. They see themselves as supreme, refusing outside help or to reveal the Grail."
Alice (sighing): "Idiots. Leaders causing chaos for pride? Prioritize people! Pureblood vampires obsess over pride, but it's just a burden."
Alice's harsh on vampires—her view soured since the last meeting. She did rule a nation, though Nina handled paperwork.
Azazel smirks at her rant.
Azazel: "I'm heading to Carmilla. Tepes' stronghold worries me, as do Rias and the others."
He scans us. "You're summoned. Get here fast, join Rias, and probe Tepes' moves. Your strength's needed—dangerous players are involved."
Knew it. Trouble always finds us.
Issei: "If Rias is in danger, we're going! Plus, we've gotta save Gasper's benefactor!"
Gasper: "I'll save Valerie!"
Issei: "No, we'll save her, Gasper. Right, everyone?"
Everyone: "Of course!"
If he's in, we're all in.
Azazel: "Don't bring all your forces—your town's been attacked before. Gremory group, Irina, Reynare—come. Sitri group, Griselda, Joker, Tobio—stay."
Issei: "What about Alice and Miu?"
Azazel (grimacing): "Miu's fine, but that princess… she'd storm the vampire government. Scary."
Alice: "Rude! I'd just… poke them a bit."
Azazel: "That's a no! Leave her!"
Alice (crying): "That old man's bullying me! Excluding me!"
She clings to me, but… yeah, let's leave her. She's unpredictable—could ruin devil-vampire relations. Still, her strength's undeniable.
Issei: "My peerage will watch Alice. Can we bring her?"
Azazel: "You're not watching her?"
Issei: "She's scary when mad! Might burn me!"
I put hands on Miu and Ravel's shoulders. "Stop our 'Queen's' rampage, okay?"
Miu: "Uh, sure."
Ravel: "Understood…"
Alice: "Mean! I'll cry tonight—by your side, Issei!"
Why my side!? Want comforting? A head pat?
Azazel sighs. "Why's it never serious with you guys? Fine. With multiple Longinus wielders, splitting forces makes sense."
Issei: "You've got Longinus wielders too?"
Azazel: "Vali's infiltrating here. You've got Joker and Slash Dog; we've got the Heavenly Dragons. Exciting lineup."
Vali's in vampire territory—Grail or evil dragons? Both? Sounds like him.
Sona (raising hand): "Can our two newbies join?"
Issei: "Bennia and Rugal-san?"
Sona: "Yes. They lack combat experience as devils. Their skills will help."
Training, huh? Bennia's a reaper, but Rugal's abilities are unknown. Maybe we'll find out.
Azazel (nodding): "Rugal's a solid asset. Send them."
Sona: "They'll go."
Bennia and Rugal to Romania—quite the crew.
Azazel: "Details on-site. Come when ready. Carmilla's set up a transfer circle. Situation start!"
Everyone: "Yes!"
Issei: "Romania's cold, right? Packing heat pads."
I stuff my travel bag. A coup, huh? We're always caught in crazy stuff.
Saji knocks and enters.
Issei: "Here to see me off?"
Saji: "Yeah."
He looks puzzled, sitting down.
Saji: "A vampire coup… wild stuff."
Issei: "Yeah, while Rias is there."
Saji: "She was probing Gasper's secret, right?"
Issei: "Her reports said Vlad house talks were going well… until the coup cut them off."
No communication either.
Issei: "How's Sitri's side? Bennia, Rugal?"
Saji: "New formation's settling. But something bigger's starting."
Issei: "What's that?"
Saji: "The school Sona funded. Construction starts soon."
Issei: "The Rating Game school? Awesome! Open to all devils, right?"
Sona's dream: a school for any devil. Saji's dream: to teach there.
Saji: "Yeah, first one. Sairaorg's help sped things up."
Sairaorg's backing makes sense—he'd resonate with Sona's vision.
Saji: "Recruiting all classes, even low-magic kids. Parents are already bringing them, hoping for enrollment."
He sounds happy but subdued.
Saji (sighing): "Teaching's my dream, but it's scary now. Can I be a teacher? I need mid-class devil status for a license, and I'm still low-class…"
Issei: "You've got mid-class strength! You'll pass the exam."
Saji: "Thanks… but it's more. What do I teach kids? Sairaorg's hyped to teach martial arts to low-magic kids. Me… what do I offer?"
He stares at his hands. "Even in joint training with Longinus wielders, I'm a loser who can't reach Balance Breaker."
We trained with Dulio and Tobio—tough opponents. Their skills kept me at bay. Not full power, though—serious fights need reinforced spaces, like my mock battle with Vali.
Saji joined but didn't hit Balance Breaker.
Issei: "Balance Breaker isn't easy. Power alone won't cut it—I learned that. I reached it on the battlefield, pushed by Alice's chest."
Saji: "…"
Issei: "You need a dramatic shift. Don't rush. Build strength now—it'll explode when you hit Balance Breaker."
Saji: "Guess I'm rushing… thanks."
He's not himself.
I point at him. "You've got your own strength. Remember the Rating Game against Kiba? You were badass, pushing him to tears for Sona."
I tap his chest. "You're overthinking—Balance Breaker, the school. Go back to basics. Why do you want to be strong? Why teach kids? That's your answer."
Saji (eyes wide): "…"
He's a passionate guy, always pushing forward. He's just spinning wheels now.
Issei: "Cool your head, reset."
Saji: "You sound like an upperclassman."
Issei: "Three years' experience, man."
We grin. Saji lightens up.
Saji: "Visit the school! It'll be in good shape by then."
Issei: "Can't wait. We'll all go."
Saji: "Bring Rias-senpai back. And dig into Gasper's secret."
Issei: "You got it."
We'll all see Sona's dream school!
Then I point up. "Poke Sona's chest—might trigger your Balance Breaker."
Saji's a perv too, once dreaming of a shotgun wedding with Sona.
Saji (red-faced): "W-What!? P-Poke the president's chest!?"
Nosebleed sprays like a fountain.
The Hyoudou basement's giant magic circle. The Romania team gathers: me, Xenovia, Asia, Irina, Akeno, Gasper, Ravel, Miu, Alice, Bennia, Rugal.
Seeing us off: Mom, Tiamat, Sona, Saji, Griselda, Kuroka, Le Fay, Dilmunid, Ophis.
Destination: Carmilla territory. Normally, it's a complex route, but they've set up direct transfer due to the emergency. Wish they'd done that for Rias' trip.
Sona (to Saji, with tissue in nose): "What happened?"
Saji: "N-Nothing! Tripped! Not thinking anything shady!"
Overreacting much? You'll get there, Saji. Be a man!
Miu (to Dilmunid): "Dil-san, take care of the house."
Dilmunid: "Got it, Master. This place is my ultimate dining hall—I'll guard it."
The house is Dilmunid's food haven. Should've tamed her with Kyoto's cuisine.
Issei (to Tiamat): "Tiamat, you're in charge here."
Tiamat: "Shouldn't I come?"
Issei: "We've got enough here. If it gets bad, we'll call. Protect Mom and the others."
Tiamat: "Understood."
Issei (to Kuroka, Le Fay): "You two, keep things safe."
Kuroka: "Nyaha, I'll guard this house, nyaa."
Le Fay: "If you see Vali-sama or my brother, send my regards."
Issei: "Got it."
To Ophis, with Rassei on her head: "Issei, evil dragons are persistent."
She senses we'll face them. I do too.
Issei: "I know."
Khaos Brigade's involved—evil dragon fights are likely. Grendel taught us their tenacity. Gotta stay sharp.
To Mom: "We're off."
Mom: "Be careful. Everyone, come back safe, okay?"
Everyone: "Yes!"
Mom: "Issei, souvenirs!"
Business as usual! Souvenirs in a crisis? My parents are unshakable.
Akeno activates the circle. Light intensifies—pop!
What to get for souvenirs…?
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The battle isn't over... and the truth has yet to be revealed. Read the next chapter now on Patreon! [patreon.com/Greyhounds]