The morning sky in Kuoh was still bright… but not at the Hyoudou residence.
Issei was still stunned. In the front yard, two figures stood like nightmares from fairy tales—
One was a young girl with long black hair wearing gothic clothing with a blank expression,
The other was an adult woman with pale blue hair, her aura like a cold ocean holding back a storm beneath the surface.
Cold sweat dripped from Issei's temple.
Tiamat narrowed her eyes, her lips curling into a small smile.
"Interesting," she said, observing Issei from head to toe. "You're the owner of the Boosted Gear… but have become a Dragon. That's unexpected. How did it happen?"
Issei shrugged, trying to sound casual even though his heart was doing morning cardio on its own.
"Nothing special... just... Ddraig nearly killed me twice. And… killed me three times during training with him. That's all."
"Oh?" Tiamat smiled wider. "Slaughter-style training. Typical Ddraig."
Ophis, who had been silent beside Tiamat, slowly walked toward the house. Her gaze was calm, unhurried—but each step felt like the pressure of the world was deepening.
"Eh? Hey, this is someone else's house, you know?!" shouted Issei, panicked. "Why are you walking in like it's your own?!"
He ran after her, leaving Tiamat chuckling softly behind.
Inside the house, Misa Hyoudou—his mother—had just finished brewing tea, when she saw the unusual scene:
A small girl in black clothes entered without permission, followed by a graceful woman with blue hair... and her own son, panting behind them.
Misa tilted her head.
"Issei, who are they? And… why is there a cute girl and a beautiful woman in this house? Your friends?"
"Not friends," Issei quickly answered, panting. "They're Dragons. Both of them! And they just barge into people's houses. Can't they just leave—?"
Misa smiled… darkly.
"Issei," she said gently. "Please make some tea for your guests."
"But they—"
"Tea."
Misa's face was still smiling, but her aura as a former 'housewife from hell' surfaced briefly. Issei gave in immediately.
"Yeah yeah… tea. Okay. Ma'am…"
With a sigh, Issei walked to the kitchen. In his heart, he screamed.
'Not just any guests… but Tiamat and Ophis. Two dragons! In one house!!!'
'Ddraig? Hey, are you still asleep, you bastard lizard.'
{...}
No answer.
In the living room, Ophis and Tiamat sat at the dining table like the most normal beings in the world.
Irina and Xenovia just entered from outside, observing silently, then stepped in and froze.
Two energies… two pressures… two existences they couldn't measure. Irina muttered.
"Xenovia... they…"
Issei made the tea in the kitchen, then grabbed some cakes from the pantry, bringing them to the table even though his breath was still unstable.
"Yes. They're Dragons," he said wearily. "So please don't provoke them."
He placed the tea and cake plate, then sat down with a hopeless expression.
Misa instead smiled warmly, welcoming the two Dragons like family.
"Please have a seat. If possible, could you introduce yourselves?"
Ophis stared blankly.
"…Ophis."
Tiamat rested her chin on her hand.
"Tiamat. That's all."
Irina, still nervous, mustered the courage to start a conversation.
"U-um… Tiamat-san. Sorry to ask, but… why did you come here?"
Tiamat smiled gently. But the smile felt more frightening.
"Because it's interesting. A Dragon awakening is rare, especially from a Boosted Gear owner. Usually, they only reach Balance Breaker."
Her gaze shifted to Issei. "But him? He's truly changed."
Misa exclaimed joyfully. "Ara~! So it's true you're Dragons? But… Ophis-chan, you're so cute~."
Without hesitation, Misa patted Ophis's head and pinched her cheek slightly.
Ophis remained silent. But she didn't resist. Instead, she tilted her head like a little kitten.
Issei held his forehead.
'Why is the mood turning into a family comedy… this is insane.'
Tiamat sipped her tea, then turned to Issei.
"How's Ddraig?"
Issei sighed. "He's asleep. I don't even know why he called you the Vengeful Dragon."
Tiamat chuckled gracefully. "Ah… so that's what he calls me."
Her eyes narrowed slightly. "May I see your Boosted Gear? I just want… to greet him."
Issei narrowed his eyes suspiciously.
"If it's just to greet, fine. But I don't want to get involved in your conflicts. Dragon matters are usually absolute and bloody."
Issei's left arm glowed. Boosted Gear appeared, this time extending up to his shoulder—a non-standard appearance.
Tiamat raised an eyebrow. "Hmm… mutated Sacred Gear? Interesting. But yes, he's asleep."
She closed her eyes and touched the gauntlet, entering the Sacred Gear's consciousness.
Misa stared at the Boosted Gear.
"Issei, what is that? Why did your arm suddenly look like a robot arm?"
Issei replied softly. "Sacred Gear. A divine artifact made by the God of the Bible to protect humans from supernatural beings. Including Devils, Angels, Yokai… and Dragons too."
Misa nodded, still looking worried.
"You… are okay, right? You're not fighting something like… a god or anything?"
Issei smiled. "Don't worry, Mom. This world is full of powerful beings, but most are just observers."
Xenovia stepped forward. "In that case… can you help us? We're looking for the Excalibur Fragments."
Issei quickly turned.
"Excalibur? You mean like the anime one? Where Saber screams EXCALIBURRRR?"
Irina immediately smacked his head.
"Don't compare holy swords with anime, you waifu addict!"
Issei laughed. "Okay, okay. But where do we look? I'm lazy. And what about payment?"
"Payment?" Irina was confused.
Issei shrugged. "I'm not a free holy hunter. Payment is important. At minimum… tea and snacks every night?"
Xenovia replied quickly. "If we find the Fragment, I'll fulfill one request of yours."
Issei sighed. "This is turning into an RPG quest…"
Suddenly, the Boosted Gear emitted thick smoke. All eyes turned to Issei's arm.
Irina panicked. "Why is it smoking?!"
Issei looked down. "What is this… Overheat?! Like a laptop rendering video…"
Then, an angry voice echoed in his head.
{WHY IS TIAMAT INSIDE MY CONSCIOUSNESS?! ISSEI! WHAT DID YOU DO?! SHE'S INSANE!}
'Ddraig?! Finally awake!'
{DON'T "FINALLY"! SHE'S THE CRAZY DRAGON WOMAN WHO USED TO HUNT ME! WHAT DID YOU SAY TO HER?!}
Issei replied calmly, 'Just said you called her the Vengeful Dragon.'
{SO THAT'S ITTTTT!!!}
{HELP MEEE! SHE'S GOING TO KILL ME IN HERE!}
Issei looked at the ceiling, complaining.
'Well, maybe it's karma. You've made my life hell during training.'
{THIS IS SERIOUS! I COULD DIE REPEATEDLY IF THIS KEEPS UP!}
'Hmm… what if I offer her permanent Boost twice?'
{ARE YOU CRAZY?! DON'T GIVE HER BOOST! SHE WILL—}
'Calm down. I have a technique. I can insert magic into the enemy's core, blend it in without them realizing... and give an absolute command. Boost works too. That means I can copy the enemy's magic and give Absolute Orders, even if they resist it's useless because my magic is already fused with their Magic Core unless they completely rebuild their magic again.'
{…}
{…You said… Absolute?}
'Unless the enemy reprograms and cleans out my magic like cleaning a virus on a computer.'
{...}
{…Hahahaha, good idea. with that, Tiamat will be subdued…}
Issei smiled like a villain.
'Or maybe, this is a chance to have Tiamat kill Ddraig again. Hahahahaha… Ddraig, you're too naive to be a dragon.'