High School DxD: Return of the Crimson Dragon Emperor

Chapter 10: Chapter 10: The Worst Reunion, and Then...

After defeating the stray demon Baiser, I returned to the clubroom, only to receive a new request.

”President, I’m heading out,” I said.

”Good luck,” she replied.

Standing on the teleportation circle, I was enveloped in its light and arrived at the client’s doorstep. But something felt off immediately.

”Blood... and that sensation. No way...”

The stench of blood wafted from inside, paired with a familiar feeling, like when I escorted Asia to the church. Dread gnawed at me as I entered.

Following the presence, I reached a dimly lit room. There, a man lay bleeding on the floor, a white-haired figure in priest-like robes looming over him.

The man noticed me and spoke. ”Well, well! If it isn’t the demon boy!” His tone was mocking, but his eyes burned with killing intent.

”I’m Freed Selzen, a lowly member of an exorcist organization,” he said, bowing theatrically.

My gaze flicked to the bloodied man. ”Did you... do this?”

”Yup, yup! Guilty as charged,” Freed chirped. ”He was a repeat demon-summoner. Had to take him out, right?”

No attempt to hide it. No shred of guilt for taking a life.

If I’d arrived sooner, maybe I could’ve saved him. Regret stung, but something else nagged me. Another presence lingered in the house one I recognized.

No way she’s with this lunatic. She’s too kind for this cruelty.

I pushed the thought aside as Freed lunged, brandishing a sword of light. ”Time to pierce your heart with this blade and blow your brains out with my killer gun Fallin’ Love style!”

I dodged the sword’s horizontal slash. He fired his gun at me next. ”Exorcist-special demon-banishing bullets! These’ll sting, haha!”

The gun radiated a foul aura. My demon nature must be picking it up. Best to avoid those bullets.

Freed kept shooting, taunting, ”Dodging like a pro, demon boy!”

”Shut up already,” I snapped. ”Can’t you fight quietly?”

Dodging his sword led to bullets; dodging bullets brought the sword. He was controlling my movements, predicting my steps to land a strike. A sword-and-gun combo sloppy personality, but his training was solid. His twisted nature bled into his fighting style.

Still, this was nothing.

”Too slow!” I shifted gears with Rengoku Keikikou, kicking his sword hand, sending the blade flying.

”What!?” Freed yelped, stunned by my speed.

I closed in, slamming a fist into his gut. The impact rocked him, and he crumpled, clutching his stomach in agony.

I loomed over him. ”I held back. You conscious?”

”You filthy demon!” he snarled, glaring despite the pain. ”How dare you hit me!”

”Still got energy to glare? You think you can beat me? You’re out of your league.”

I held back to capture him alive, to make him spill everything about this incident. As I raised my hand to knock him out, a scream pierced the room.

A woman’s cry. Both Freed and I turned toward it. There, staring at the corpse, was Asia—the nun I’d escorted to the church.

”...It was you,” I muttered. My mastery of Rengoku Keikikou let me distinguish individual presences. Asia’s was unmistakable.

Freed staggered up, addressing her. ”Oh? Assistant Asia-chan. Finished setting the barrier?”

Asia, frozen, stared at the body. ”This... this is...”

”Yup, first time seeing a corpse, huh?” Freed said casually. ”This is our job taking out demon-tainted scum.”

Asia, shocked, turned to him, then saw me. Her face twisted in disbelief. ”Issei-san?”

”...Asia,” I replied.

She hadn’t expected me here. She thought I was just a normal high schooler. Freed caught on. ”What’s this? You two know each other? A forbidden nun-demon reunion?”

”Demon? Issei-san?” Asia froze, incredulous.

I didn’t want her to know. Things were better left unsaid, for both our sakes.

”Sorry, Asia... I’m a demon,” I admitted.

Freed cackled. ”Tough luck, Asia-chan! Demons and humans don’t mix. Plus, we’re half-breeds relying on fallen angels’ protection to survive!”

Fallen angels? Freed, sure, but Asia?

Wait. Fallen angels oppose demons. Why are two of their ilk in demon-controlled territory?

Ignoring my confusion, Freed pointed his sword at me. ”Anyway, I gotta chop you up for that hit earlier.”

”Still haven’t learned?” I cracked my knuckles, glaring. ”Need another lesson in strength?”

As we braced to fight, Asia stepped between us, arms spread, shielding me.

”Asia...?” I gasped.

”What’re you doing, Asia-chan?” Freed barked.

”Father Freed, please spare him,” she pleaded. ”Judging humans or killing demons just because they’re involved—it’s wrong!”

Freed’s face twisted with rage. ”What!? You idiot! Didn’t they teach you demons are scum?”

”There are good demons!” Asia shot back.

”No, there aren’t, you moron!”

”There are! Issei-san is a good person! Even if he’s a demon, that doesn’t change! The Lord wouldn’t approve of this!”

As she spoke, Freed raised his gun-wielding fist. I grabbed it just before it struck her.

”What were you about to do to Asia?” I growled, tightening my grip.

”Let go, you filthy demon!” he screamed, struggling.

”You were gonna hit her, huh? A kind girl like her?” My grip tightened.

”So what? She’s defending a demon! She needs discipline!” he spat.

”Don’t screw with me!”

A dull crunch echoed. I crushed his wrist.

Freed howled, writhing in pain. ”The guy you killed felt worse,” I said coldly.

He pulled another light sword from nowhere, slashing at me. Futile. ”You’re the scum!” I roared, punching his face.

The blow sent him crashing through the wall, out to the street, where he slammed into a tree, unconscious but alive.

Confirming Freed was down, I rushed to Asia. ”You okay?”

”Yes... thanks to you, Issei-san,” she said, unharmed physically but shaken. Learning I was a demon, seeing Freed’s murder her mind must be a mess.

A red glow filled the room the Gremory crest. A teleportation circle.

”Hey, Hyoudou. Came to help... but you’re done?” Kiba emerged from the circle.

”Late as usual, Kiba,” I said.

The rest of the Occult Research Club followed. ”Issei, are you okay?” the President asked. ”We heard a stray exorcist was here and rushed over.”

”I’m fine, President. That jerk priest is worse off,” I said.

”Good. You had us worried,” she said.

”Sorry for the trouble,” I replied, thinking of the church incident and now this. Always worrying her, despite being a rookie demon.

I glanced at the dead man. I’d seen death before, but it never got easier.

”It’s not your fault, Issei,” the President said.

”Maybe if I’d been faster, he’d be alive.”

”Don’t blame yourself. The responsibility’s mine.” She paused. ”You know who that girl is, don’t you? Demons and nuns don’t mix.”

”I get it,” I said, understanding her point. But Asia

Akeno cut in. ”President, multiple fallen angel presences are approaching.”

The President summoned a teleportation circle. ”Issei, we’ll talk later. We’re leaving.”

”But Asia—”

”I know how you feel, but it’s impossible. This circle only works for my familiars. She’s tied to fallen angels. With their motives unclear, fighting them now could spark a war between demons and fallen angels.”

I understood. Acting rashly could escalate things. Taking Asia might trigger conflict. Still—

Asia pushed me toward the circle. ”Issei-san, I’ll be fine. Go.”

She smiled, tears streaming down her cheeks. ”Let’s meet again.”

With that, we teleported back to Kuoh Academy’s clubroom.

The Next Day

It’s around 3 p.m. I’m at a park near my house, skipping school. Yesterday’s events left me too rattled to attend.

Sitting on a bench, staring at the sky, I felt something cold touch my cheek.

”Here, a drink, big brother,” Miu said.

Miu skipped school too, worried about me. Last night, seeing my face, she asked what happened. Since she knew Asia, I told her everything. She was shocked but more concerned for me.

”Thanks... and sorry for making you skip school,” I said.

”Don’t worry. I chose to,” she replied.

A sister worrying about her brother I’m a failure as an older sibling. Yet, I leaned into her kindness.

Miu looked up. ”I wonder if Asia-san’s okay...”

The President’s words echoed. Without knowing the full context, we couldn’t act recklessly. A fallen angel conflict could spiral.

Still, I wanted to save Asia. That tearful face haunted me.

Then—

”Hm?” I sensed something.

”What’s wrong?” Miu asked.

”This presence...”

A familiar aura approached, fast.

”Issei-san!” A girl ran toward me, calling my name Asia.

I rushed to her. ”Asia, you’re safe! Thank God!”

”Yes, I’m okay!” she said, smiling, taking my hands.

I’d feared she’d been detained by the fallen angels, exposed for associating with me. Seeing her unharmed was a relief.

”How’d you get here?” I asked.

”Well—” she began, but a voice interrupted.

”Asia!”

A woman ran toward us, calling her name. I knew her.

”Don’t run off like that... Issei-kun!?”

”Raynare!?”

My ex-girlfriend the fallen angel who tried to kill me.