"See ya, Kana! Let's play tag again sometime!"
"I'll burn you for real next time!"
"Lavinia, let's take a nap together next time, okay?"
"Of course!"
"You guys really don't change, do you…"
The two weeks I spent in the Underworld have left a vivid mark on me. I don't think I'll be forgetting the parts where I was scorched and screaming anytime soon. And today was the day of our real farewell. It was a series of stimulating days where I couldn't tell if I was being taken care of or just continuously used as a toy.
Since this is the Underworld, I can't just come visit easily, so I have no idea when I'll be back next. I guess it can't be helped if we don't see each other for a while. Though, if I play tag with these guys after they've grown up, I might actually die next time.
The fatigue from yesterday's final training session has safely recovered after a good rest. I stretched my arms to loosen my slightly stiff muscles. Lavinia was still a little drowsy, rubbing her sleepy eyes. The Sacred Gear Unison seemed to have been a greater burden on her. It was a combination technique we'd thrown together on a whim, but it looks like it still needs a lot of improvement.
"Two weeks goes by fast. Still, you look a lot better than when you first arrived," Tannin said, his great wings beating as he landed beside us from above.
"Ah, Tannin. After spending two weeks surrounded by dragons, if I hadn't grown at all, I'd have no choice but to become a shut-in," I replied, my gaze distant.
Thanks to being the plaything of the whelps and the Dragon King, I'd definitely built up my stamina and courage. Learning how to hunt and how to sense and erase presences was also a good lesson. I feel like the training was quite fruitful, but it was incredibly tough.
I've never had a summer vacation this chaotic. In just over a month, so much has happened at a breakneck pace. I don't regret joining the magician's association, but to think it would lead to encounters with figures like Azazel and Tannin is just insane. I knew from the original story that he had a friendly relationship with Mephisto, but I never thought that would apply to me. I feel like I'm only meeting major players. My own presence feels like it's fading away.
"...I won't tell you to be more aggressive, but you need to overcome that weakness of yours. After all, you managed to land a blow on me."
"Yeah, but... you were holding back, Tannin, and I would have been helpless without Lavinia, and that one hit is useless in a real fight and..."
"Nevertheless, it was a victory you earned with your own power. Your self-deprecation is an insult to your opponent."
He crossed his arms and admonished me directly. I could see his point, so I had no choice but to shut my mouth. It's true, it would be rude for me to not acknowledge my victory when my opponent has already admitted defeat. It's understandable to get irritated if the person who beat you keeps moping around.
"Don't be arrogant, but be proud. There is a difference between overconfidence and self-confidence. There is no future for those who don't believe in themselves. Remember that."
"...Yes, sir."
Have confidence, huh? I know I'm weak, and I understand this is a world where one wrong move could get me killed. I have my naive moments, I'm a coward, and I'll even bow down if it means avoiding conflict with others. I still haven't shaken my aversion to fighting. And yet, he tells me to believe in and be proud of myself, even while being aware of that weakness. It's a difficult piece of advice. But I also felt it was necessary.
I am who I am. There are parts of my personality I want to change. I don't want Lavinia to see me in an uncool light. But if it were that easy to overcome, no one would ever struggle with human relationships. And besides, I still love my peaceful, everyday life, and if I can avoid fighting, I will. I don't want to become a battle junkie, and I don't want to go out of my way to hurt someone. I'll work on overcoming my weaknesses, and I'll try my best to gain a little confidence, but I feel like this part of me will probably never change.
"For an idiot, you think too much," Azazel cut in. "The point is, you should choose a path you can walk with confidence. If you want to get stronger, then do it. If you want to look good for a girl, then work on yourself. And if you have something you don't want to lose, then protect it. Find a way to live where you can laugh foolishly as yourself, a way where you can proudly say, 'This is my path.'"
"Isn't that a little too free-spirited?"
"You only live once, you might as well enjoy it. There will be times when you clash with others. But even if you die because of it, if you became the best version of yourself, you wouldn't have any complaints, would you?"
"The best version of myself..."
Taken too far, it could lead to arrogance, conceit, or even evil like Rizevim, but I realized it was important to have an image of who you want to be. I still haven't found a path I want to follow, even if it means clashing with others. Finding that path is probably something I'll have to think about from now on. A future where I can live with a smile, proud of who I am.
Taking both of their words to heart, I replied this time with strength in my voice.
***
"I'll... do my best in my own way. Tannin, thank you for everything, even if it was for a short time."
"Indeed. You should come again. The next time we meet, I'll train you until you can last more than half a day in a game of tag with me."
"Ah, hahaha... I'm a human with a normal life to lead, so I can't just pop over to the Underworld so easily..."
"I'll look forward to next summer."
A death flag was just mercilessly thrust into my bright future. This is awful. Summer vacation is supposed to be a blissful time for students. I've never wished for summer vacation not to come so badly before. And it seems it's already decided that my future summer vacations will be used for training. Strange, tears are starting to well up. My fun summer vacation plans have just been erased from my life.
"Well, now that the goodbyes are over, let's head back. Mephisto is waiting eagerly for you," Azazel said.
"Yes. Thank you, Tannin."
"Alright, Professor. By the way, are we walking back?"
"I will take you to the entrance to the human world. It is partly our fault that your return was delayed," Tannin offered.
Taking him up on his kind offer, we made our way home while gazing at the Underworld from the sky. As expected, a dragon's back is comfortable. It's big, powerful, and cool. We left the canyon, seen off by the other dragons, and Tannin soared majestically over the wilderness we had walked through on our way here. The flowing scenery that passed before my eyes was nothing short of spectacular.
The Underworld viewed from the sky is truly a place overflowing with nature. I thought I might have seen a city-like structure in the distance, but otherwise, it was all mountains and trees. I saw rivers and lakes, but no seas, so there was nothing of a grand scale. I spotted a strange bird I'd never seen before, but it immediately fled in fear at the sight of the giant dragon. Yeah, that's to be expected.
The journey through the sky was over all too soon, but it was amazing. After that, we thanked Tannin and boarded the train Azazel had prepared for us again. Inside the train, we talked excitedly about our days in the Underworld, and the professor also briefed us on our future training regimen.
"By the way, Kanata. Watching you fight Tannin, I noticed you were quite skillfully switching your abilities on and off. When did you get so good at that?"
"Huh? Oh, that. That was less me and more my partner. My partner is more sensitive to things than I am, and it was possible because they were directly attached to the Demise Gear Doll. Whenever I felt a thought from my partner, I would just switch the ability's effect on or off. I was pretty much just selecting abilities to match what they were doing."
"...You know, you really have a way of casually doing the most incredible things."
Strange, Azazel has that distant look in his eyes again. It's dangerous to leave things like gravity and air resistance constantly deleted, and it might mess with the power of an attack when I switch to offense. When I was struggling with that, I asked my partner if they could do something about it, and they told me they might be able to communicate through thoughts if they were attached to the Ice Princess.
So, I just kept manipulating the abilities in time with the crimson light signals my partner was giving off. It was a hectic mess of turning things on and off, and honestly, there were many times I didn't understand why they were turning an effect off at a certain moment, but I trusted my partner more than my own amateur judgment. It actually worked out, so I guess all's well that ends well.
"Sacred Gears do compensate for their owner's shortcomings, but... this is the first time I've ever heard of a fighting style that relies on one so heavily."
"What? They told me it was okay to ask, so I just went for it. Was I relying on my partner too much?"
"...I'm having a really hard time deciding whether to praise you for being able to communicate with your Sacred Gear to that extent, or to reprimand you for working it to the point of exhaustion."
Uh, well, sorry about that, partner. I'll try a little harder from now on.
"Now then, the Sacred Gear Unison you two came up with. That will be a powerful trump card for you in the future. If you can extend its duration and gain finer control over its movements and deletion effects, it will become even more formidable. First, Lavinia, you will work on controlling your Sacred Gear and your concentration. Also, learn the basics of close-quarters combat. Don't rely on your Sacred Gear like Kanata; polish its true potential with your own strength."
"Yes, sir."
"I have no comeback for that, but it feels kind of unfair."
Because it's an Independent Avatar-type, the Ice Princess can move according to Lavinia's will. Still, if her instructions become more specific and precise, the Sacred Gear's accuracy will improve. So, having knowledge of close combat will expand her tactical options. I'll send some robot anime and other shows to the association next time.
"Kanata, you continue to learn more about your Sacred Gear's power so you can further increase your stock of deletion slots. And stop relying on it so much; start building up your own strength, little by little. You'll be working on your physical fitness at the same time."
"Sounds like an extension of the training I've been doing."
"Pretty much. But while the Sacred Gear Unison is active, Lavinia is too busy with control to defend herself. That means you have to protect her. From now on, you'll need to think about fighting styles and techniques for defense."
"Right, that makes sense... Understood."
I nodded firmly at Azazel's words. I couldn't let Lavinia get into danger. I have to step up. If I'm not on my game, not only me but she will be in danger too. The Sacred Gear Unison is powerful, but its weakness is also clear. A fighting style not for attacking or escaping, but for protecting.
I learned a lot more from Azazel after that, and I really felt that he was a good mentor. He explained things in a way that was easy for us to understand and created a training menu tailored to us. He was also convincing, and what he said was always correct. The protagonists had said it too, but I was once again reminded of how good a teacher he was.
Hmm, so I need to increase my options. My Sacred Gear isn't well-suited for defense. I can probably stab things that are thrown at me to delete them, but that would drain my stamina quickly. I wouldn't be able to defend against an area-of-effect attack, and close combat is out of the question. My power for the Sacred Gear Unison would be depleted in no time.
"Professor, when you say options, do you mean something other than my Sacred Gear's abilities?"
"That's right. If you rely too much on your Sacred Gear, you'll run out of gas quickly. In other words, you need a way to defend yourself without using stamina. And luckily for you, you belong to a faction that is strong in that particular area."
"...You mean magic."
Magical power. It's a special power that humans can possess. My Sacred Gear's ability consumes stamina, so magical power is a resource I don't need for it. That's why I can use magical power for defense and support, and then unleash my conserved Sacred Gear abilities when it counts. A smile formed on the professor's lips at my line of thought.
"If you can use magic, the range of your abilities will expand. Also, there is a way to use magical power in place of stamina. It means you could use your Sacred Gear with both stamina and magical power as a medium."
"W-Wow..."
Stamina consumption was a serious issue for me, but if I could use magical power instead, it would make things much easier. I could operate using MP (Magic Points) instead of HP (Hit Points).
Come to think of it, Vali used his immense demonic power in place of the life force he would lose from Juggernaut Drive to control it. So there are ways to change the medium for one's power. I couldn't help but let out a cry of admiration at the professor's advice.
Still, learning magic... Just the thought of it was exciting. I had been taught the basics during summer vacation, but there wasn't time for anything more advanced. I'd had my hands full with my Sacred Gear and physical training this past month. But now, it meant I could start focusing on magic as well.
The direction of the magic I'll use will likely be focused on defense, support, and jamming. Lavinia is better at offensive magic than I am, and it takes years of training. In that case, it would be better for me to act as a wall to protect her, blocking attacks and using my Sacred Gear when I see an opening. Putting offense aside for now, specializing in that area would make my role clearer and my movements more efficient.
"Of course, having too few offensive options is dangerous, so don't discard it entirely. But it's important to move in a direction that makes the most of your strengths. Start with the basics. Magic has its strengths and weaknesses depending on the field. It won't be too late to decide on a direction after you find what suits you."
"I will prepare some magic textbooks for you that you can study even after you return to Japan," Lavinia offered. "I think I can also teach you various things through communication."
"Thanks, Lavinia. That's a huge help."
"You are my friend and my partner, Kana. It is only natural."
Partner, huh? My Sacred Gear is my emotional support, but if I were to name a comrade who supports me, it would be Lavinia. She accepts me as her partner, even though I'm still so lacking in strength. I scratched my cheek, feeling a mix of happiness and embarrassment.
I had decided to become someone who could draw out the power of my Sacred Gear partner. Now, I also wanted to become someone who could grow stronger alongside my partner Lavinia and support her. She supports me so naturally; I hope I can stand beside her one day without being outshone.
To keep chasing after her and one day be able to support her. It'll be tough and difficult, but I'm a guy, after all. The worldly thought of becoming a man worthy of standing next to a cute girl should also be a good source of motivation.
After that, the three of us discussed our future plans, had a heated debate about robots, and when we had reached a general consensus, a game tournament was held. By the way, the game console was brought by Azazel, so it was a proper three-player affair. As expected of a collector and a perfectionist. From his level of skill, I could tell he had been grinding games while we were in the Underworld.
Still, is it really okay for the Governor-General of the Fallen Angels to be spending his time on inventions and games? I could keenly feel the hardships of the Vice-Governor from his way of life. My sympathy for Shemhazai, whom I've never met, was skyrocketing. Since I was the one who introduced Azazel to games, I apologized in my heart.
By the way, I had become a complete pushover in competitive games, so when it was the three of us, we decided to enjoy cooperative games or games with an element of luck. Just watching the two of them play against each other was fun, so in those cases, I would just provide my own running commentary.
Lavinia, who fought with her high-performance brain, versus Azazel, who countered with his knowledge and experience-based intuition. It wasn't that I didn't think it was a waste of talent, but I've recently stopped caring about the small details. I felt like if I worried too much, I'd just end up bedridden.
And so, we ended our time with a lively three-person game tournament and returned to the human world. We said our goodbyes to Professor Azazel, who had chaperoned us, and when we arrived at the "Gray Magician" headquarters, Mephisto greeted us with words of comfort, saying, "You've had a tough time," and gave us a lot of sweets. His kindness renewed my determination to follow him. This summer vacation, I learned that a Fallen Angel and a dragon were more devilish than an actual devil.
"It feels a little lonely, doesn't it?" Lavinia murmured.
"Yeah. But the school opening ceremony is in a few days, so we have to get back to Japan soon."
"The teleportation circle to Japan is ready. You can come here whenever you like. We'll be waiting," Mephisto said.
"Thank you, Mephisto. We were in your care for the entire summer vacation!"
I bowed my head to both of them in thanks, and with my hands full of souvenirs and other things, I returned to my everyday life in Japan. They were keeping my room at the association as it was, so I could stay over anytime. I started teleporting my personal belongings related to the underworld that I couldn't keep at home there. The magical tools my master had bought for me and other things I couldn't show my family were numerous, so it was a great help.
I'd been in their care for a long time, so it did feel a little lonely. We could probably talk through communication, but when would we be able to meet next? I planned to visit as much as possible on weekends, but they had their own schedules too. For now, I'll just have to work hard with Azazel's training menu and the magic books Lavinia gave me.
And so, my first summer vacation in the underworld, where I joined the "Gray Magician" and spent time with dragons, came to a close.
***
"Alright, the opening ceremony is tomorrow... I'm done with my homework, is there anything else I need to do?"
My family welcomed me home warmly. I almost teared up a little, but a sense of relief at being back here spread through my chest. I told them a lot about what happened over there, leaving out the fantasy parts, and they all listened with smiles. I feel guilty about hiding things, but I know this is the best way to keep them from getting involved. I genuinely enjoyed this time on the "surface."
Now, summer vacation is over, and my normal life begins again. Every day was so stimulating that these peaceful days feel a little strange, but there's a certain comfort to it. I'm sure I'll have more extraordinary experiences through my work as a magician, but I don't think anything will happen for a while. Mephisto also told me to take it easy for a bit.
"...In that case, it should be about time."
Compared to before summer vacation, I had acquired a decent means of self-defense. Azazel had even said that in a fight, I would have no problem with low-class enemies, and against high-class ones, I should be fine as long as I focused on escaping. Of course, that was assuming I could catch them off guard. He had also warned me never to let my guard down. But I had become capable of at least that much.
Ever since I realized this world was the world of High School DxD, there was something I had been continuously researching. However, this information was only important to me, a reincarnated person, and would be incomprehensible to the people of this world. I had tried casually asking Azazel and Mephisto about it, but I couldn't press too deeply. As a result, I had been unable to obtain accurate information.
However, I knew of a chance to learn it. A place where I could likely find it. But that place was deeply connected to the original story. A single action of mine could potentially trigger an unplanned event. The thought had made me hesitant, but now, I thought I might be able to handle it. The me of today might be able to step foot in that place and deal with whatever happens.
The information I seek is the timeline. I had met so many long-lived, powerful beings that I had no idea what year it was in relation to the original story. I was sure it was a few years before the original story, but I didn't know the exact number of years. If I was the same age as Issei Hyoudou, the story would begin in five or six years. But there was also the possibility that I was the same age as Rias or the junior members of her peerage.
The original story is a world of super-high-speed power inflation. After all, the protagonist gets involved in the underworld and goes through twenty volumes of the story in just one year. And it seemed like it was going to continue for a little longer. In other words, a one-year gap is incredibly fatal. From the start of the original story, the world accelerates at a tremendous pace. Even if I don't want to get involved, falling behind would be dangerous. The Chaos Brigade will start making their move in earnest. The magician's association will probably have a tough time as well.
That's why, for me, the information of how many years until the original story begins is something I want at all costs. And I need it to be perfectly accurate. I mulled over my thoughts again and again and was finally able to make a decision.
"After the opening ceremony, classes will end in the morning for a while. During that time, I'll pay a visit... to Kuoh Town."
The stage of the original story, a town with deep ties to the devils. At this time of year, Rias Gremory might not be at Kuoh Academy yet. But Issei Hyoudou should be there. He was born and raised in that town. I would put the plan I had thought of while going to the Underworld into action.
Go to Kuoh Town and find the protagonist. Find out his age there and safely obtain the information about the timeline. I was hesitant about whether I should meet him, but I did want to talk to him. I know he was devoted to his perverted ways since elementary school, but we should be able to have a normal conversation.
By the way, contacting the protagonist, awakening his Sacred Gear early, or training him is on hold. There's the desire not to break the original story, but I also haven't been able to decide if that's really the right thing to do. Of course, I don't like the thought of him, an ordinary person, being suddenly killed by a Fallen Angel.
But a Sacred Gear is a power great enough to sway a person's entire life. I've been able to stay calm because I have my memories of my previous life, but he's just a normal kid right now. If something were to happen, I don't have the resolve to bear the weight of his life. That's why I thought I couldn't decide this based on emotion alone.
More than anything, I am a member of the "Gray Magician." My involvement would inevitably create a connection with Mephisto, who is behind me. If I awakened the wielder of the Red Dragon Emperor's Longinus, the other factions would surely notice. If that happened, my presence could cause him to be seen as part of the magician's faction. The association already possesses one Longinus. If another one were to gather here, the surrounding factions would definitely not stay silent.
If I asked Azazel, he might protect Issei Hyoudou. In the original story, he was killed once because he was dangerous, so I would have no choice but to beg on my hands and knees. But if that happened, the entire original story would collapse. I would be taking him away from his family, tearing a precious child away from his parents. I'm not saying the original story is the best outcome, but at least they were able to smile. My actions might destroy those smiles. If my unnecessary actions were to bring about the collapse of the world, I would regret it for the rest of my life.
I understand the merits of training him early. But I can't measure the demerits that would result from it. Therefore, I can't tell the protagonist about the other side. To be frank, I'm scared. What's the point of sticking my nose into something that I know will turn out fine without me? I've thought about it over and over. And I still don't have an answer. I didn't know what was right.
"For now, I'm just going to meet him. Go to Kuoh Town and meet Issei Hyoudou. That's my only objective. I absolutely will not get any more involved than that. It won't be too late to decide after I've thought about it more carefully and found an answer for myself."
Mephisto and Azazel had said it too. Don't rush. There's only so much I can do at once. For now, I just have to do what I can, one step at a time. If I can find out the timeline of the original story, that's enough for now. I have my own hands full; I can't bear the weight of someone else's life on top of that right now. In that case, I thought it was important to draw a line.
"Alright, my mind is made up. I'm going to Kuoh Town! I'm going to meet Issei Hyoudou! And I'm going to find out the timeline! That's the plan!"
I clenched my fist and declared as I fell back onto my bed. Safety first is my motto. From now on, I've decided to learn magic, master my Sacred Gear, support Lavinia as her partner, learn techniques from my master, and do my best from the magician's faction. If I can help create a peaceful world where my family and friends can live with smiles on their faces, that's good enough for me. It's better to have a simple and clear goal.
And so, I resolved to set foot in Kuoh Town. My objective was set. Alright, let's do this! I psyched myself up and went to bed early to prepare for tomorrow's opening ceremony.
However, at that time, I had forgotten something important. That this world was always unreasonable, and a cruel world for background characters. A few days later, in Kuoh Town, I would be reminded of that fact.
***
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