An unbelievable phenomenon unfolded before my eyes.
Grendel, battered beyond recognition by my attacks.
Not only did he stand back up in that state…
Blue blood gushed from his body like a fountain, soaking the floor. From that blood, shapes began to rise—heads, arms, legs, clearly forming.
They grew to about two meters tall.
Fully formed miniature dragons.
Eight of them.
I'd seen this before.
"Familiars!?" I gasped.
This was exactly like the birth of Roseweisse's familiars.
The first possibility that hit me: Grendel had an ability like Roseweisse's.
But…
"No… that's not it. He never had such a power. What's going on…?" Ddraig refuted.
Then why!?
How the hell is he spawning familiars!?
The sudden shock threw me into confusion, but my eyes locked with one of the miniature dragons.
Thump!
"—!?"
A searing heat erupted in my chests.
What… is this…!?
My insides burned… so hot…!
I could barely breathe…!
The agony forced me to my knees.
"Onii-chan!?" Miu cried.
"Issei!?" Alice shouted.
Miu and Alice caught me as I nearly collapsed, their voices thick with worry.
But the pain didn't ease…
"Hah… hah… what… is this…?" I gasped.
My armor unraveled, and I noticed red dripping from me.
…Blood.
"Issei-kun!?" Akeno and even the composed Sona sounded alarmed.
This is bad… my head's pounding… dizzy…!
As I suffered, Grendel turned to the robed man. "Oi, what the hell are these things? What'd you do to my body?"
Grendel didn't know…? And "you guys"…?
The robed man replied, "Those are magical beasts born from your blood. I was tasked to test the technique, and it seems to work fine. The question is how strong they are."
"That brat, huh? Doing whatever the hell they want," Grendel growled.
That "brat"… the true mastermind…?
—He… until…—
A voice echoed in my head.
I couldn't make it out clearly.
But it was laced with malice, murderous intent. Unlike the cursed voices of past Red Dragon Emperors when using Juggernaut Drive—this was far more vicious.
And it wasn't aimed at the miniature dragons… but someone absent?
Grendel clicked his tongue. "Oi, I'm killing all of 'em. These things are in my way."
"No. This is part of my orders. Fighting the Red Dragon Emperor should suffice for you. Or do you want to return to being a corpse?" the robed man warned.
"Tch… fine, I'll play along. But I'm still killing Ddraig," Grendel spat.
"By all means."
Corpse? What's that mean?
Pain and questions swirled, but…
Several miniature dragons opened their massive jaws and lunged at me!
Damn it… my body won't move…!
"What are you doing!?" Alice and Miu grabbed my collar, pulling me back.
"Hold them off!" Alice ordered.
Xenovia and Irina, the sword-wielding duo, charged at one dragon.
"I won't let you touch Issei!" Xenovia roared.
"I'll protect my childhood friend!" Irina declared.
Xenovia's Heavenly Flash and Destruction combo unleashed a high-speed, high-power strike, severing the dragon's head! She diced the airborne head with rapid slashes.
Irina froze the body solid with her mass-produced holy-demonic sword, sealing its movements.
Ex-church duo's teamwork was flawless. They took one down in seconds.
But—
Crack!
The ice splintered.
The cracks grew… and the headless dragon broke free.
"These things are like them!?" Xenovia cursed, readying her sword.
"Both of you!" Akeno called.
"Get back!" Rossweisse urged.
Akeno and Rossweisse unleashed a massive lightning bolt and magical barrage!
Xenovia and Irina dodged sideways.
The dragon took the full hit, disintegrating without a trace.
No sign of revival.
Just like Roseweisse's familiars—only complete annihilation stops them.
Sona spoke up. "Those… are they what you fought over there?"
"Yes. Monsters that keep moving even without heads or pierced hearts. You have to obliterate them completely," Akeno confirmed.
One down, seven left. Plus Grendel.
Despite his half-destroyed body, Grendel's fighting spirit hadn't wavered.
"Let's pick up where we left off, Ddraig!" he charged, faster than ever.
Is he really a monster!?
Damn it… my body… still reeling from earlier!?
No strength…!
Everyone tried to regroup, but protecting me made facing Grendel tough!
And the other dragons were closing in!
At this rate…!
"I'll protect Issei-san!" Asia shouted.
Before I could react, Asia stepped forward.
"Asia!? No, get back!" I yelled, stunned.
She shook her head and began chanting powerfully!
A golden magic circle flared before her!
"—Answer my call, Golden King. Crawl the earth and claim my reward!"
The circle glowed brighter!
Grendel and the dragons froze, captivated.
It was a Dragon Gate. Golden.
No way—
"Come forth! Golden Dragon Lord Gigantis Dragon! Fafnir-san!" Asia finished.
A colossal, wingless dragon with golden scales emerged from the golden circle, radiating majestic aura, over ten meters long.
Fafnir!?
The Five Dragon King contracted with Azazel-sensei!?
Sona explained, "Azazel-sensei retired from the front lines and released his contract with Fafnir. But instead of letting him go, he encouraged Asia to form one."
I knew sensei stepped back, but… getting Asia to contract a dragon king? Wow.
I'd heard Asia had a talent for taming magical beasts and was looking for a strong one to guard her…
Sona continued, "As Rias said, she succeeded. Ophis's blessing likely helped."
"Oh, right, she mentioned something like that…" I recalled.
"Sensei said Asia's aura began carrying traces of Ophis's divine power. It doesn't directly boost her, but it enhances her luck and dragon affinity. Ophis wasn't even aware she was granting it—probably an unconscious gesture of gratitude."
Huh, that's how it went?
"…What about me? Ophis is always tagging along…" I mumbled.
"In your case, it's less a blessing and more… possession," Sona said.
What!?
I'm possessed!?
By the Dragon God!?
Hold on, Ignis-san.
You're a goddess, right? No blessing for me?
"Want a blessing? Here's some oppai," Ignis teased.
That's not a blessing!
My bad for asking!
Anyway, Asia contracted Fafnir! That's awesome!
The cloth wrapped around Fafnir's horns must be some charm.
"Did Asia pay a price? It's a dragon king contract, so there's gotta be something," I asked.
My contract with Tiamat came through combat. Asia fighting? Unimaginable.
"…Tch, I can't say…" Sona hesitated.
What's that reaction…?
No way— "Her life!? Did she give up years of her life!?" I pressed.
"No, not that… but the cost was significant…" Sona trailed off.
"Then I need to know! Asia's family! What did she sacrifice!?" I demanded.
"…Pantsu…" Sona muttered.
"Sorry, didn't catch that! Clearly, please!" I urged, as Sona's cheeks flushed.
Asia shouted, voice brimming with shame, "Pantsu!"
…
…
Pantsu…!
Asia's pantsu!?
That cloth on his horns… it's women's underwear!
Fafnir spoke heavily, "Treasure. Pantsu. Got it. Me, happy."
…Pantsu.
This guy… he's—
A pervert!
A dragon king contracting for pantsu!?
Insane!
Worse than Grendel!
"What did sensei offer!? Pantsu too!?" I yelled.
"No, sensei offered proper treasures," Sona clarified.
Phew!
"How's that reassuring!?" Ddraig roared. "What's going on, Fafnir!?"
Exactly!
Blushing but resolute, Asia pleaded, "Fafnir-san! Please protect Issei-san!"
"Sure. —Gimme treasure," Fafnir replied.
"…Understood. The contract's price…" Asia, enduring humiliation, pulled light blue, cute pantsu from her pouch.
Xenovia and Irina shouted, "Those are Asia's favorite pantsu!"
"You're giving them up!?" Irina gasped.
Her favorites!?
Reina grabbed Asia's shoulders. "There's gotta be other treasures!"
Fair point!
"Asia-tan's pantsu, ultimate treasure," Fafnir declared.
Ugh… fair point!
Asia's pantsu are a treasure!
"Don't agree!" Alice snapped, punching my head.
No mercy, even when I can't move!
"I'll offer mine!" Xenovia shouted.
Irina stopped her. "Wait, Xenovia! You're not wearing any under that battle outfit!"
"Fafnir! Is my battle outfit not enough!?" Xenovia began stripping.
Her loyalty to Asia is unreal!
And, yeah, that's a treasure too!
"Me want blonde beauty's pantsu. Pantsu Sister's treasure," Fafnir said.
"Our Asia-chan's not a Pantsu Sister!" I yelled, despite my weakened state.
This is cruel!
First Rias and Alice get called Switch Princess, now Asia's Pantsu Sister!?
Damn it!
Am I doomed to be protected by pantsu!?
"Partner! Call Tiamat now! Better her than this freak!" Ddraig urged.
"No way!" I shot back.
Tiamat's a dragon king too! She's got pride!
If she learned another dragon king's a pantsu pervert, the shock would crush her!
I won't hurt Tiamat!
"Uh, too late. I already called her," Miu said.
"What?" I stammered.
A blue Dragon Gate opened between us and Grendel's group.
"…Grendel, huh. Wasn't he destroyed? Issei, you okay?" Tiamat turned to me, just as Fafnir accepted the pantsu.
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