High School DxD: Return of the Crimson Dragon Emperor

Chapter 39: Chapter 37: Fallen Angels and Demons

The next day, I visited a shrine at the boss’s request.

Shrines are total enemy territory for demons like me. Hesitation gripped me at the thought of entering. My head throbbed just imagining it. Was it even safe? The boss had once warned me about forbidden places like this.

A figure appeared before the torii gate.

”Welcome, Issei-kun,” she said.

”Akeno-san, you’re here too?” I replied.

There stood Akeno, dressed in a miko outfit. She looked stunning, the epitome of a refined Japanese beauty in those robes.

”Akeno-san, that miko outfit suits you perfectly!” I blurted.

She giggled. ”Thank you.”

”By the way, don’t you need to be with the boss for the meeting prep?” I asked.

”Grayfia-sama’s handling it. Today’s just a final check, so I’m fine stepping away. I’m here to greet someone important.”

Someone important? Who?

More pressingly, could I pass through the torii without taking damage? It felt risky.

”This shrine has a special pact in place, so even demons can enter safely,” Akeno assured me.

If she said so, it must be true. I stepped through the gate nothing happened. I was fine.

The shrine’s main hall loomed ahead, aged but well-maintained, with no signs of decay.

”Do you live here, Akeno-san?” I asked.

”Yes. After the previous priest passed, Rias secured this abandoned shrine for me.”

”Got it,” I nodded.

As Akeno explained, a presence stirred. I looked up to see a refined young man in a lavish white robe, a halo above his head, and twelve golden wings at his back. His aura screamed power.

”Are you the Red Dragon Emperor?” he asked.

”Nice to meet you, Hyoudou Issei. I’m Michael, leader of the angels,” he introduced himself.

This guy was a big deal.

Inside the main hall, Akeno, Michael, and I sat together. With God gone, Michael was the one running Heaven. I never imagined Heaven’s top dog would seek me out.

”First, I owe you thanks for handling Kokabiel. Well done,” Michael said.

”It wasn’t just me. Everyone there played a part,” I replied.

He smiled gently. ”May I ask you something?” I ventured.

”Anything I can answer,” he said.

”Why was Asia exiled?”

It had always bothered me. Asia, so kind and devout, didn’t deserve to be cast out just for healing a demon. I needed to know why.

”After God vanished, only the ’System’ remained, governing miracles, mercy, and blessings,” Michael explained.

”The ’System’?” I echoed.

”Yes. It powers exorcisms, holy relics, and the like. But without God, it’s hard to control. Even with all the Seraphs, including me, its effects are weaker. We can only save so many. Anything that might disrupt the System must be kept at a distance from the Church.”

”So, Asia’s exile...” I trailed off.

”Exactly. Her Sacred Gear, Twilight Healing, can heal demons. If word spread that a believer could heal demons or fallen angels, it would shake faith—our source of strength. We had to eliminate any threat to that faith.”

So that was why. It wasn’t just Asia.

”Was Xenovia exiled for the same reason?” I asked.

”She learned of God’s absence, making her a heretic. My failure forced them both to suffer. I’m truly sorry,” Michael said, closing his eyes in regret.

He’d made tough calls as Heaven’s leader.

”I understand. Will you tell them this?” I asked.

”Of course. I plan to apologize to Asia Argento and Xenovia directly.”

”Thank you, Michael-san.”

”Now, to the main reason I called you here,” Michael said.

Light radiated from his palm, sending a tingling sensation through my body. When it faded, a sword appeared, radiating an aura like Excalibur or Durandal. A holy sword?

”This is Ascalon, the dragon-slaying sword of Saint George,” Michael revealed.

Dragon-slaying? That sounded bad for a dragon-demon like me. A critical hit waiting to happen.

[”Dragon-slayer refers to weapons or people that kill dragons,”] Ddraig chimed in.

Great, so I’m a target too?

”It’s been ritually modified so you can wield it,” Michael added.

I could use it? Was that safe?

”Why give this to me?” I asked. A holy sword was valuable, and I was a demon Heaven’s enemy.

”Since the Great War, major conflicts have ceased, but skirmishes between the three factions persist. If this continues, we’ll all perish, or worse, other forces might strike first.”

Other forces? Like Greek or Japanese mythologies?

[”Correct. Many mythologies exist. They usually stay in their domains, but with the Biblical God gone, their moves are unpredictable. Hiding His absence makes sense,”] Ddraig explained.

I really needed to study more.

”During the Great War, the three factions united once, when the Red and White Dragons disrupted the battlefield. I’m betting on you, the Red Dragon Emperor, to help us unite again,” Michael said.

I got it. If accepting this sword could unite the factions, I’d take it. Plus, I couldn’t fully control my current sword. Another weapon was welcome.

”I’ll accept it gladly,” I said.

”Extend your Sacred Gear and let it merge,” Michael instructed.

Merge? Was that possible?

[”It is. Sacred Gears respond to will. If you desire it, it’s not impossible,”] Ddraig assured.

I summoned my gauntlet, grasped Ascalon, and focused, aligning their energies. Holy aura flooded in, uncomfortable at first, but it soon settled. A red flash erupted, and Ascalon’s blade sprouted from my gauntlet. Success.

Michael smiled. ”Well done. I must go now, but I’ll make amends to Asia and Xenovia. Until the summit.”

Light enveloped him, and with a flash, he was gone.

”Here’s some tea,” Akeno said.

”Thanks, Akeno-san,” I replied.

After Michael left, I relaxed at Akeno’s home within the shrine grounds. Her tea was bitter but paired perfectly with the sweets.

”I was impressed. You faced Michael-sama without flinching,” Akeno remarked.

”Haha,” I laughed nervously. Had I been rude?

”Did you and Michael-san modify Ascalon here?” I asked.

”Yes, we adjusted its properties at this shrine.”

The boss and Akeno were juggling so much summit prep, errands. That life wasn’t for me. I was better at fighting or training with the team.

Then I remembered something Kokabiel had said.

”Can I ask you something?” I said.

”What is it?” Akeno replied.

”During the fight, Kokabiel mentioned you were the daughter of a fallen angel leader...”

Akeno’s face darkened. ”Yes. I’m the child of Barakiel, a fallen angel leader, and a human.”

She continued, her voice heavy. ”My mother was a shrine maiden. She saved Barakiel when he was injured, and I was born from their bond.”

Her expression was pained. That fight with Kokabiel her anger when he mentioned Barakiel hinted at a deep wound. What happened between her and her father?

Akeno shed her miko top, revealing demon wings and black fallen angel wings. ”I have both. Tainted wings. I hated them, so I joined Rias and became a demon. But all I became was a monster with both demon and fallen angel wings. Fitting for someone with filthy blood.”

She laughed bitterly. ”A wretched creature like me neither demon nor fallen angel shouldn’t exist.”

I slammed the table and stood. ”Don’t say that! You’re not tainted or a monster. To me, you’re Akeno-san.”

”Issei-kun...?” she gasped.

I grabbed her shoulders. ”It doesn’t matter whose blood you have or what you are. You’re my kind, precious comrade. Please, don’t talk like that!”

Panting, I locked eyes with her.

”Issei-kun...” she whispered.

Snapping back, I released her and dropped to my knees. ”I’m so sorry, Akeno-san! I got carried away!”

Stupid me! I’d asked the question, and now I’d upset her.

No response. I glanced up Akeno was crying.

Oh no! I made her cry!

I bowed deeper. ”I’m sorry! Please forgive me!”

”Issei-kun,” she called.

”Y-Yes?” I stammered.

”Those words...”

”I just wanted you to understand how I feel,” I admitted. I didn’t want her to blame herself anymore. But I could’ve worded it better.

Her hand touched my cheek. ”Issei-kun, look at me.”

I sat up, facing her. She leaned closer and hugged me.

”Akeno-san?” I mumbled.

”Thank you... for accepting me,” she whispered.

”Accepting? You’ve always been important to me,” I said.

”...! Say that, and I might take it seriously,” she teased.

Seriously? What did she mean?

She whispered in my ear, ”When we’re alone, can you call me ’Akeno’?”

”Uh, isn’t that disrespectful to a senior...?” I hesitated.

”...Is it too much?” she asked, her eyes glistening.

How could I resist those pleading eyes? ”Akeno...?” I tried.

”I’m so happy, Issei!” she exclaimed, hugging me tighter.

She was adorable not her usual elegant persona, but a regular girl. And her chest pressed against me, soft and bare beneath her loosened clothes. Heaven.

Then came the ultimate bliss: Akeno’s lap pillow. She stroked my head, a soothing contrast to when I pat Miu or Asia. Her thighs and hands felt incredible.

I started to doze off.

”Does it feel good, Issei-kun?” she asked.

”Amazing. So relaxing, I’m getting sleepy...” I murmured.

”It’s okay. Rest on my lap,” she cooed.

My eyelids grew heavy, and I drifted off.

Later, the boss caught me sleeping on Akeno’s lap.

That sparked a whole other storm...

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