Days have passed since Rias left Japan. She and her group safely reached Romania, now heading to their destination—a remote vampire domain that's tough to access. Even with permission, they must follow strict routes; no quick teleportation allowed. Vampires keep their realm sealed off from outsiders. For now, I can only hope for their safety and good news.
"Man, it's freezing this time of year," I muttered.
"Agreed," Motohama said. "They should've held PE in the gym. The wind out here's brutal."
We were changing into tracksuits, heading to the school field for PE. Winter made outdoor activities rough—fine once you got moving, but miserable until then.
"Issei owns PE," Motohama grumbled. "Teaming up with him's great, but facing him? Nightmare."
Well, yeah. I've fought demon lords in another world and sparred with dragon kings since becoming a devil. My physical abilities outclass normal humans, even when I hold back. In soccer, I can outmaneuver even athletic guys like Matsuda. Miu's the same, and even Asia, who wasn't sporty, has more stamina than most guys. In Kyoto, Motohama was more exhausted than Asia—though maybe he's just that out of shape.
Speaking of Miu and Asia… Heh.
"What's with that grin?" Matsuda asked, looking grossed out.
How rude. Pointing at him, I declared, "Do you guys get the glory of beast ears?"
"!?" Their faces froze in shock.
Sharp guys—they glanced at Miu and the others.
"Cat pajamas… those are something else," I said.
Asia's bunny pajamas, too. Every night since, I've been sleeping surrounded by Miu and the others in those outfits, basking in their healing aura. Asia's bunny look is irresistibly cute—I've hugged her so many times! Alice, Koneko, and Ophis, too. It's a hug-fest, pure bliss.
With a dramatic 45-degree pose, I announced, "I've awakened to a new fetish."
Koneko's always had me hooked, but that recent incident cemented it: beast ears are divine.
"You bastard!"
"Unforgivable! We'll destroy you! What'd you do with Miu-chan!?"
My buddies charged, tears of envy streaming. The "Eradication Committee" has been watching me, chasing me down for ages, piling on stress. They're its leaders, and this time, it's payback.
"Envy my nyan-nyan life!" I laughed.
"You'll pay, Issei! The Miu-chan Fan Club and Committee will end you!"
"No, we'll end you right here!"
"Bring it on!" I taunted. The Committee's nothing! I've been running, but no more. Time to turn the tables and show them my brotherly might.
"Die!" they roared, attacking with tearful fury.
I dodged their onslaught, heading to the field.
By the way, Juna and the others started researching beast ears after hearing about my new fetish. With that crew, it'll probably get spicy… but I'm all for it, healing or seductive!
"Huff, huff…"
"Motohama, you're too out of shape," Matsuda jabbed.
He wasn't wrong. A short, intense chase from the classroom to the field left Motohama half-dead. Matsuda was slightly winded but fine. Motohama's stamina is pitiful.
"You don't exercise enough," I said. "How'll you protect a girlfriend like that?"
"Nice one, Matsuda!" I added as he said something cool.
"Ugh… When I get a girlfriend, I'll get fit… maybe," Motohama mumbled.
That "maybe" doesn't inspire confidence.
"Join a sports club," I suggested.
"Nah, second year's almost over. At his level, he'd just lift weights and retire," Matsuda said.
"Yup," I agreed.
"Shut up!" Motohama snapped, still panting.
Matsuda changed the subject. "Remember Taoka from middle school?"
"The guy obsessed with girls' body hair?" I recalled.
Super niche. I couldn't relate—my thing was boobs.
"His brother's starting a shop with a close friend from their club days, a female manager," Matsuda said.
"Oho, a man-woman vibe?" Motohama grinned, perking up.
"Who knows," Matsuda shrugged. "She supported him forever, and he asked her to join him when he opened his shop. She agreed."
"Cool story," I said. "Starting a business with a school friend is awesome."
"Right? Promising to build a future together? I want a manager like that!" Matsuda said.
Manager, huh? Ravel's been my rock—helping with mage selections, supporting me during promotion exams, and backing my Underworld Oppai Dragon events. Her dedication shines through.
I still haven't told her… that thing. Since messing up the mood in the bath, I haven't found the right moment. Been busy, too. I'll wait for the perfect time to say it—my—
Whoosh!
Malice and hostility flooded the school. Teleportation? I sharpened my senses, scanning the area. Three, five… ten… twenty enemies? Not devils, fallen angels, or angels. Not otherworldly beings, either.
"What's that? Cosplay?" Matsuda pointed.
"Like mages?" Motohama added.
Six figures in mage-like robes stood on glowing magic circles. They removed their hoods, revealing foreign faces, and raised their hands toward us with smirks.
"Miu!" I shouted.
She reacted instantly. Matsuda and Motohama looked stunned. "Issei, what's—?" Matsuda collapsed mid-sentence, along with Motohama, other students, and teachers.
Miu's sleep spell.
"Get everyone to safety!" I yelled, charging the six mages.
What's going on? This area's under the Three Factions' alliance, protected by a special barrier. Intruders need clearance, and staff should've handled this. Why now?
No time for questions. I had to lure them away from the others. They took the bait, chasing me.
"Protecting your friends, Red Dragon Emperor?"
"So soft!"
"But the Association ranks you beyond a rookie devil—off the charts!"
Association? Not Mephisto's—he didn't seem the type. Stray mages, then? Wait—weren't they after Phoenix-related people?
BOOM!
An explosion rocked the new school building. That was some serious magic!
As I rushed toward it, a barrier trapped me and the mages. "Not so fast," one sneered.
"You're after Ravel!" I growled.
He whistled, smirking. "Busted. You're stuck here until our plan's done."
Attacking the school in broad daylight, involving civilians…!
"Play with us!"
"We're here to test the Red Dragon Emperor's power!"
They laughed, launching fireballs from magic circles.
"I don't have time for you!" I crushed their flames with my bare hands.
No time to play.
Crack.
A branch snapped underfoot. The ground split, trees shook, and their barrier shattered like glass. The mages' smug grins vanished, replaced by terror.
"What the hell!?" one shouted.
Didn't they know about me? Whatever.
"You think you're walking away from this?" I stepped into their formation's center.
No gauntlet—too much collateral damage. Bare hands would do.
First, the closest mage. A palm strike to his gut—organs ruptured. I slammed him into a tree.
Next, the four on my flanks. They raised defensive barriers, but my fists and kicks shattered them, sending them crashing into a storage shed, blood spraying.
The last one screamed something, but I ignored him, grabbing his face and slamming it into the ground.
None moved, but they were alive—barely. I'd keep them for interrogation.
"You involved innocent people. I don't forgive anyone who hurts my friends," I said, leaving them behind.
At the first-year classrooms in the new building, it was over. The hallway was wrecked—windows blown out, exposing the cold air. Other parts of the school were damaged, too—windows gone, craters in the courtyard.
I couldn't sense Ravel, Koneko, or Gasper. They were nowhere in sight.
Approaching a shaken first-year girl, I asked, "You okay?"
She was petrified, trembling. No response at first, but after a gentle shake, she whispered, "S-Strange people grabbed me… Koneko-san, Gasper-kun, and Ravel-san saved me…"
Koneko, Gasper, Ravel…!
"They were surrounded by light and disappeared!" another student added from the classroom door.
Taken hostage and teleported away? Damn it!
"Big brother!" Miu ran up.
"Everyone okay?" I asked.
"They're safe, asleep, and under a barrier," she confirmed.
Good—Matsuda, Motohama, and the others were secure.
Miu asked, "Koneko-chan and the others?"
"Gone. Taken with Ravel," I said.
Miu clenched her teeth, furious. I felt the same, but we couldn't waste time.
"Miu, can we do it?"
"The mark's still active. I'm ready."
Good. We had a chance.
A first-year girl timidly asked, "W-What about Koneko-chan and them?"
This was beyond their normal world—classmates kidnapped before their eyes. She must be terrified.
We smiled reassuringly. "It's okay," I said.
"We'll bring Koneko-chan and the others back," Miu added.
To avoid more chaos, Miu put the first-years to sleep. We teleported home to regroup with Alice, but…
"Um, like this…? Nya, nyan…" Alice was in her room, posing in front of a mirror—white lingerie, fluffy fur warmers on her wrists and ankles, and a cat-ear headband. Oblivious to us, she was lost in her act, probably thinking the house was empty.
She paused, hand on chin. "Hmm, Juna-san and the others are experimenting… I need to step up, too. Is this Issei's thing? Nya, nyao…"
She struck another pose.
"C-Cute…!" Miu and I blurted out.
Alice, doing this? In pure white lingerie with cat ears and fluff? It was the ultimate fusion of allure and healing!
My heart raced. But speaking up was a mistake.
"Why are you here!?" Alice yelped, covering herself, face beet-red, practically steaming.
Yup, I'm dead.
I tried to explain. "Listen, Alice! Ravel and the others—"
Pointless. I knew it.
"Eeeeek!"
"Gaaah!"
Alice's white lightning punch hit me square.
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