Meanwhile, Rias and Akeno were having a meeting in a room.
"Rias... we can't beat Riser like this."
"That's right. We can't do it with our current strength alone. Everyone needs to get stronger together."
"In that case...."
"Let's go to the mountains for training. We need to make Asia, Yuuto, Koneko... and Issei stronger there. Especially Issei, he's going to be central to our attacks. We have to create a strategy assuming Issei won't be defeated."
"..... Rias. Don't put too much pressure on that him."
"It's not pressure. I believe. He has infinite potential....."
As Rias smiled confidently, Akeno muttered in a voice too quiet for Rias to hear.
"....Because of such expectations.... he lost his innocence as a child and stained his hands with the blood of devils and dirty fallen angels. I can't let him have that experience again.... the experience of killing someone because of someone's expectations."
============================================
"We're going to the mountains for training, get ready and come out."
"....."
The next morning, Rias, Akeno, Yuuto, and Koneko were standing in front of Issei's house in simple clothes with three large bags filled with luggage next to them. Issei, told to come out unilaterally, scratched his head and said with a very annoyed and irritated expression.
"Hey.... um.... isn't it Rias.... the President, who needs training right now, not me?"
"What are you talking about? You're my servant. Of course, I'm going too, but you also need to become stronger than you are now."
'Seriously, this is so annoying....'
As Issei openly showed that he really didn't want to go, Akeno approached Issei with a bright smile, and Issei looked at her with considerable tension. Akeno smiled brightly and untied the ribbon that held her hair. Then her ponytail swayed and turned into straight hair, and she made a slightly tearful expression, grabbed Issei's collar, and said.
"Issei-kun.... if you don't go.... I'm going to cry."
Sweat
Issei was slightly thrilled. But soon he sweated and turned his gaze elsewhere. Akeno moved in the direction Issei turned his gaze and looked into Issei's eyes with sparkling eyes. And she called his name in a slightly hesitant voice.
"Is~sei~kuuun."
(... She's using her charm.... scary woman.)
"Ah, seriously! I'll go okay!! I'll go!!!!"
Ten minutes later, when Issei came out with his luggage, Rias looked satisfied. A magic circle appeared under Rias and her familiars and Issei's feet, and they moved to the foot of the mountain. And Issei's luggage went into the large bag, and the bag was even bigger than before. Each bag was quite heavy.
"Yuuto, you carry the bag with the least amount of luggage, which contains Asia's and Koneko's luggage, Koneko, you carry the bag with Issei's and Yuuto's luggage, and Issei, you carry the bag with mine and Akeno's luggage, and the rest of the items."
"Shouldn't we play rock-paper-scissors fairly here? Besides, you want me to carry the heaviest one? Don't be ridiculous."
'Crack.'
"This child really!! I'm trying to train you...."
"Why are we suffering because of something that happened because of you? We should decide fairly with rock-paper-scissors here."
"..... You are the worst."
Even though Koneko insulted him like that, Issei looked at Koneko with a dumbfounded expression and then looked at Rias, and Yuuto smiled wryly and defended Rias.
"Hyodo-kun, the President is trying to train us. Besides, we're men...."
"It's an era of gender equality. It doesn't matter whether you're a man or a woman. And it's true that if you know your weaknesses, you should try to become stronger.... Besides, even if the familiars become strong, if the king is weak and gets defeated in the Rating Game, it's all for nothing. And even if we become incredibly strong, we can't always be by President's side to protect her. There will be times when you have to fight on your own.... alone. At that time, will you do nothing and.... will you rely on us who aren't there, instead of pioneering your own path with your own strength? Rias Gremory."
No one could refute Issei's words. It was true. No matter how strong Issei was, there was no guarantee that he would always be by her side. When she thought about that, Rias realized that she was being too arrogant.
"..... Sorry."
"President?"-Yuuto
"It's okay as long as you know. Then let's play rock-paper-scissors fairly."
As a result of playing rock-paper-scissors, Rias got the lightest luggage, then Koneko, and Issei got the heaviest. They started climbing the mountain from the foot of the mountain. But less than 10 minutes after starting, Rias began to stagger.
"Haa...haa.... Hea...vy."-Rias
"It hasn't even been 10 minutes since we started climbing the mountain. Please get up. President."
Issei grabbed her shoulder and made her stand up and walk, but Rias soon collapsed. Yuuto came to help Rias carry her luggage because he was worried about her, but Rias firmly refused.
"Haa....haa.... If I can't even do this much..... I'll lose face."
"But President..."
"It's okay.... Haa...haa.... Go up first."
"But President, you're already tired...."
"Issei-kun, please take care of Rias."
"!! Senpai?"
'Rias is carrying her own luggage.... As expected, Cheon is amazing.'-Akeno
Yuuto approached Akeno and tried to say something, but Akeno smiled and persuaded Yuuto and Koneko to go to the Gremory family's villa first with Asia, and all that was left was Issei, who was fine, and Rias, who was panting. Less than 5 minutes later, Rias collapsed again. As that was repeated, Issei sighed.
'Haa.... She really has no stamina. Or rather, she has no muscle strength at all. At this rate, it'll take all day.'
"President.... That's enough. I'll carry it now...."
"No way. Haa...haa.... I can do it alone.... Kyaa!"
As a downhill suddenly appeared while climbing, the speed of her legs started to increase due to the heavy luggage. Then Issei grabbed her wrist before she fell and rolled down. Rias seemed to have completely lost her strength and couldn't get up.
"I have no strength in my legs...."
'Put on a show.'
"....Get on top of my bag."
"No way, I can do it alone!!"
Looking at Rias, who was stubbornly refusing with her cheeks puffed out, Issei lifted her up without saying a word and threw her onto his bag, and he carried her bag in front of him.
"Kyaa!"
"Stop screaming...."
"Wait, Issei!! I can do it alone...."
"With your current stamina, you won't be able to reach the villa by nightfall. Just shut up and stay still."
Rias, who seemed to have lost all her energy at Issei's words, looked gloomy. Comparing herself to Issei, there was a huge difference in skill. Even though he was only one year younger than her, he seemed much more reliable and mature than other peers or devils she had seen. At first, she thought he was an arrogant childlike Riser, and she regretted why she had reincarnated this child, but as time slowly passed, she began to realize that his bluntness came from confidence, not arrogance, and that his harsh tone was due to unavoidable circumstances. Not only that. Although he showed it only a little bit.... very little, he had unexpected strictness and kindness despite his annoying personality. Rias looked down at Issei from the top of the bag. His back was not only more reliable than she thought, but Rias felt something that resonated with her heart. At that moment
'Thump thump.'
'Huh? My heart.....'
"President. We've arrived....arrived."
"Eh? Ah, yeah!"
"..... Huh?"
"Ah, yeah. Th...thanks for your hard work."
Rias, who was sitting on the large bag, hurriedly got off and distanced herself from Issei. Issei was wondering why she was acting like that, and started moving Akeno's luggage into the room with Yuuto. Meanwhile, Rias, who was about 100m away from Issei, leaned against a tree next to her. As Issei's image came to her mind, her heart started to beat again and her face started to turn red.
'Why is this happening? When I think about that child.... my heart.... my heart is beating like this...'