High School DxD: Return of the Crimson Dragon Emperor

Chapter 204: Chapter 196: The Mastermind Emerges

”With that, the damaged parts of the academy will be repaired later. Thanks to Miu-san’s magic, all the students, including those put to sleep, have been sent home.”

I was receiving a report from Sona, who had just teleported in after I defeated the wizard.

The group that arrived included the Occult Research Club members who stayed in Kuoh Town and Sona’s Sitri clan. Among them was Ravel, looking a bit shaken but supported by Koneko-chan at her side. For now, I’d leave her in good hands.

Following Sona, Senpai Mara spoke up.

”Azazel-sensei’s memory-altering device proved useful. We’ve rewritten the students’ memories of the wizard’s attack to believe a ’pervert infiltrated the school, causing a temporary closure.’”

Thanks to Azazel-sensei’s foresight, that part seemed under control.

However, memory alteration can harm recollection if overused, so it’s typically done with strict conditions. This time, the cover story was a ”pervert’s intrusion.”

”What about the destroyed areas?” I asked.

”We’ve altered memories to believe emergency repairs were scheduled that day,” Sona replied. ”Thankfully, no one escaped during the chaos. Any recordings on devices should be handled with the backing of the Three Factions.”

So, the academy’s hidden truth—our identities and the wizards—remained concealed.

But then...

Mara-senpai’s expression turned bitter.

”The emotional scars of the shocked students won’t fully heal. Even if we erase memories, the fear they experienced can’t be undone.”

...Yeah, she’s right.

That female student taken hostage.

Even if the wizard’s memory is gone, the trauma of being attacked lingers. She’s probably at home now, trembling, unable to shake it off.

The wizards are to blame, no doubt.

But the fact that even academy students were hurt stems from the school posing as a normal institution.

Supernatural beings like us, living among humans—especially those like me, constantly fighting enemies—endanger those around us.

This incident hit that truth hard.

Sure, demons could stay in the Underworld, avoiding human casualties altogether.

But Rias and Sona’s genuine desire to live and study in the human world... that’s real. And me? I want to stay in the town I grew up in.

To humans, it might sound like selfish whims, but even so, we—

”Um, I’ve been wondering,” Miu interrupted, pointing at two figures and asking Sona, ”who are they?”

I followed her gaze. A burly man and a small, robed figure.

The man had gray hair, long bangs covering his eyes, and a refined face.

But the robed figure... wearing a mask and holding a scythe, they looked straight out of a grim reaper tale.

Sona brought them, so they’re probably fine, but...

Sona answered, ”These are my new retainers. This man is Lou Garou, enrolled in Kuoh Academy’s university division.”

The man gave a gruff, brief response. ”...Lou Garou. Sitri clan’s Rook.”

So, he’s the new Rook!

I’d heard about a new retainer, but this guy? Was there someone this built in the university division?

As I reeled, Mara-senpai added, ”We call him Lugal-san. Please do the same, Hyoudou-kun.”

”Uh, sure...”

Lugal-san, huh. He seems low-energy. Any conversation starters?

Sona moved on to the reaper. ”This is my new Knight—”

”I’m Bennia, former reaper turned demon!” the figure declared, removing their mask to reveal... a middle-school-aged girl’s face!

I’d sensed her gender from her aura, but the reaper vibe threw me off!

Long, deep purple hair and golden eyes. A sleepy-eyed, adorable girl!

Her scythe even had cute skull decorations—total girly touch!

A loli reaper?!

”You made a reaper your retainer?!” I blurted.

Sona nodded. ”Yes, Bennia is a reaper. Well, a half-reaper, half-human.”

”She’s the daughter of Orkus, a top-tier reaper,” Saji added. ”Pretty shocking, right?”

The daughter of a top-tier reaper... Orkus must be on par with Pluto, who fought Azazel-sensei evenly. She might be hiding some serious power.

Mara-senpai explained, ”Originally, another person was set to be Knight, but their circumstances changed. Then Bennia stepped up—”

”I volunteered,” Bennia cut in. ”Couldn’t stand Hades’ ways, so I switched sides.”

Makes sense. That skeleton god could drive anyone away.

”There was some suspicion,” Sona said, ”but one thing earned our trust.”

”What’s that?” I asked.

Bennia thrust a colored paper at me. ”Oppai Dragon! I’m your biggest fan! Look, my cloak’s got your emblem embroidered on it. Can I get your autograph?”

Sure enough, my armored form was stitched inside her cloak!

”You embroidered this yourself?” I asked.

”Yep! I’m pretty handy with a needle. Man, working near you’s gonna be a thrill!”

She’s just like Le Fay, begging for an autograph at our first meeting.

I took the paper and signed it smoothly—events have made me a pro at this.

”Thanks! This is a lifelong treasure!” Bennia beamed.

Haha, her enthusiasm’s kinda infectious.

With the situation updated and Sona’s new retainers introduced, I turned to Irina, who was guarding the captured wizards.

”Irina, they’re conscious, right?”

”Barely,” she sighed, exasperated. ”You and Alice storming in like that... you’re as reckless as ever, Issei-kun.”

It wasn’t a big deal for me, and with Alice, it was a breeze.

I crouched before a defeated wizard and demanded, ”Where’s your boss? Not here, is he?”

The wizard, a shadow of his former bravado, stammered, ”I-I don’t know! The boss’s location isn’t shared with grunts like us!”

”...You sure?”

”Y-Yes, I swear!”

His trembling suggested truth. It makes sense—higher-ups often keep info from underlings.

Guess we missed the mastermind this time. I wanted to end this in one swoop...

”Impressive, as rumored.”

A sudden voice.

A silver magic circle flared up ahead, revealing a figure in an ornate silver robe, face hidden by a deep hood. A man, by his voice.

His aura... feels familiar.

Koneko-chan’s sharp glare locked onto him.

I stood, facing him. ”You the mastermind?”

”Yes, I am,” he replied instantly.

So, he’s the boss the wizards mentioned.

Sona questioned him. ”Are you with Khaos Brigade? Kidnapping Ravel, the Phoenix heiress... I can guess your motives from that capsule, but your mindset is beyond me.”

She glanced at the cultivation capsule, her gaze dripping with disgust.

”But attacking the academy in broad daylight? Why? Kidnapping her when she was alone would’ve been easier.”

Good point. Waiting for Ravel to be alone would’ve lowered their risk of clashing with us.

The man answered, ”First, yes, I’m currently leading Khaos Brigade. As for the daytime attack, the wizards simply couldn’t wait. Curiosity got the better of them.”

Sona pressed, ”Was this tied to the Association’s young demon rankings? The wizards mentioned ranks while attacking Hyoudou Issei-kun.”

”Exactly,” he confirmed. ”They were curious about their magic against the Association’s rated demons. They planned to contact you later for a rematch, but Issei and Alice intervened.”

So, if we hadn’t shown up, they’d have kept up their arrogant stunts? Selfish bastards.

He continued, ”Young wizards lack restraint.”

Sona nodded, understanding. ”With the Old Demon Faction and Hero Faction gone, Khaos Brigade’s power structure is in disarray, making their whims easier to indulge.”

”Indeed. Without Shalba Beelzebub or Cao Cao, I’m managing part of it. It’s... challenging. This time, higher-ups allowed their demands.”

I cut in, confused. ”Higher-ups? You’re not running Khaos Brigade?”

”No. I act under someone else’s orders.”

Someone else? The one Azazel-sensei said is rallying Khaos Brigade’s remnants?

As my questions grew, the man flipped his robe dramatically.

”Now, let’s discuss our demands. Some among us wish to fight strong opponents like you. That’s why I waited until you were all here.”

He summoned a massive magic circle, its light tracing a glowing ring on the floor.

A fight? He’s got someone he wants us to face?

That circle... I’ve seen it before.

It’s like the one used to summon Midgardsormr, the dragon king.

Saji muttered, ”Dragon Gate?”

Exactly! It summons powerful dragons!

The gate’s color indicates the dragon. Ddraig’s red, Albion’s white, Tiamat’s blue, Vritra’s black, Fafnir’s gold, Yulong’s green, Midgardsormr’s gray, Tannin’s purple.

This gate glowed green.

”Green... Yulong, one of the Five Dragon Kings?” I wondered aloud. ”Why would a dragon king be here?”

Yulong’s with the First Sun Wukong. Would he really join Khaos Brigade?

Sona shook her head. ”No, it’s not green. It’s darker...”

She’s right. It’s deep green.

”A dragon tied to deep green?” Irina mumbled.

”Could it be... No, but he...” Ddraig seemed to know something.

”There was one,” the robed man declared. ”A dragon of deep green, long ago.”

The Dragon Gate’s glow intensified and burst!

GUOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!

A roar shook the white space.

Before us stood a massive, bipedal beast with dark scales. Thick limbs, sharp claws, fangs, horns, and vast wings, with a long, heavy tail. A dragon—or rather, a giant with draconic features, its head unmistakably dragon-like.

”The legendary dragon, ’Crime Force Dragon Grendel,’” the man announced.

The beast’s gleaming battle lust and killing intent flooded the space.

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