High School DxD: Return of the Crimson Dragon Emperor

Chapter 308: Chapter 298 Countdown to New Year’s! (Part 2)

[Miyu Side]

”Reyna-san, can you hold this side for me?”

”Sure thing.”

I’m carrying something a little heavy together with Reyna-san.

So far, the year-end cleaning is going perfectly smoothly.

Everyone who could make it today is pitching in, and we’re making great progress.

Whenever anyone has a question, we just ask the veterans—Rias-san, Akeno-san, Koneko-chan, or Kiba-kun—and keep moving.

”Master, where should these offerings go?”

”Ah, over there, someone said.”

Even Dill-san is helping out.

She’s wearing miko robes too, and she looks absolutely stunning in them.

There’s this mysterious, almost sacred charm about her—it’s breathtaking.

”Dill-san, you look adorable in those miko robes.”

”Thank you very much. But you far outshine me, Master. You look both divine and adorably cute at the same time. I could never pull them off with such grace.”

Dill-san says it modestly, but... really?

I think Dill-san wears them way better...

She does look more mature than me, after all.

Well, anyway...

”Master! Is it okay to eat these?”

”No way! You can’t eat those! You’ll get a terrible stomachache!”

Some things never change—she’s still a total glutton.

To me, though, it’s just cute.

It kinda feels like I suddenly got a little sister.

I wonder if this is how Onii-chan felt when he finally accepted me as his little sister?

”Hey! Wait, Ignis!”

”Kyaa~! Tia-chan’s stripping me~♪”

Running wildly across the tatami are a shrunken Ignis-san and Tia-san chasing after her.

Ignis-san’s miko robes are practically falling off—she’s basically naked at this point...

Tia-san yells.

”Who’s stripping who?! You’re the one who took everything off! Put some underwear on already!”

”I’m on the no-underwear team. It’s so much more liberating this way~”

”You’re liberating way too much! Read the room! It’s not even evening yet! Save that stuff for nighttime!”

”Exposing everything in broad daylight—that’s what makes it burn hotter!”

”Enough, you exhibitionist!”

”Oh my, only noticing now? Why don’t you strip too, Tia-chan? Half-off miko robes are seriously sexy!”

Ignis-san stops running and leaps at Tia-san!

She grabs Tia-san’s white coat and starts messing it up beautifully!

”Idiot, cut it out!”

”Isn’t it fine~♪ Isn’t it fine~♪”

”What kind of corrupt official are you?!”

”Mmm~ Tia-chan’s boobs are so soft and squishy~”

”Aahn! Hey, don’t—nngh! Stop pinching there!”

...Tia-san got caught by Ignis-san.

I want to help, but the moment I step in, I know I’ll get dragged into the chaos too.

Everyone else must be thinking the same thing—we all quietly go back to cleaning.

Then a violent blue aura erupts from Tia-san’s body.

The tables instantly turn as she unleashes an enormous amount of power.

Breathing heavily, Tia-san flashes a fearless grin.

”Haa... haa... Heh heh heh... You think I’d fall that easily, Ignis?! Behold the power of your big sister Tia!”

”Ehhh?! Tia-chan’s face just got super serious?!”

”I’ve always been serious!!”

Tia-san shouts, scoops tiny Ignis-san under one arm, and sprints off at full speed!

”Kyaaaa~! Tia-chan’s gonna ravish meeeee♪”

Ignis-san’s voice echoes through the shrine... but for some reason, she only sounds like she’s having the time of her life.

That last scream didn’t sound like a scream of terror at all.

Just where are they planning to go? Tia-san and Ignis-san vanish far into the distance...

In my line of sight, I catch Asia-san and Irina-san talking to Rias-san.

Irina-san says,

”So yeah, we’re heading to the church now.”

”All right. Thank you both so much for today—it really helped.”

Rias-san smiles gently as she answers, but...

Something bothers me, so I call out to the two of them.

”Asia-san, Irina-san—are you leaving already?”

”Yes. Sorry, Miyu-san.”

”Sister Griselda just contacted us. She says she has some questions about Darling.”

Darling...

Lately, Irina-san has started calling Onii-chan ”Darling.”

When I asked Onii-chan about it, he said it was a super old-fashioned way of calling someone that was popular a long time ago.

The other day I saw Alice-san try to call him that too, only for Onii-chan to frantically stop her.

Anyway, Sister Griselda apparently summoned them to ask about Onii-chan...

At this point it’s obvious what she wants to talk about.

Just what did Xenovia-san tell her...?

The two of them quickly change and head off to the church.

Hmm... I hope Onii-chan’s gonna be okay...

”...”

Suddenly Koneko-chan’s expression darkens.

Reyna-san notices and asks,

”What’s wrong?”

Koneko-chan glances around at everyone present and mutters,

”...Everyone has... done it with Issei-senpai, right? Miyu-senpai, Alice-san, the President, Reyna-senpai... even Ravel... I’m the only one falling behind.”

We all exchange glances.

Ever since Asia-san and the others slept with Onii-chan the other day, the only girls in the Occult Research Club who haven’t been embraced yet are Akeno-san and Koneko-chan.

I’ve done it many times myself...

It feels amazing, of course, but more than that—it makes me feel truly loved by Onii-chan.

Rias-san and the others blush faintly, probably remembering their own times.

Alice-san is even discreetly rubbing her belly so no one notices.

Koneko-chan mumbles,

”Maybe I really don’t have any charm... My chest isn’t big like everyone else’s... And I don’t have the same appeal as Alice-san or Asia-senpai...”

She places a hand on her small chest and sinks into depression.

I crouch in front of her and gently put my hands on her shoulders.

”That’s not true at all. You’re super cute, Koneko-chan, and Onii-chan thinks so too. Everyone has their own kind of charm.”

”But...”

”None of us—including me—were asked first by Onii-chan, you know? We’re the ones who asked him. We threw our feelings at him and told him exactly how much we love him. That’s the first hurdle.”

The first time is always us making the move.

...Well, after the first time he starts asking us too, though.

”You already proposed to him once, Koneko-chan—so go for it! It’ll be fine. Onii-chan will definitely accept you. His dream is to be a harem king, remember?”

”Lately it feels more like Miyu-chan’s the one pushing the harem plan forward,” Alice-san quips.

I ignore her and continue.

”There’s no such thing as turns or order. Attack when the time feels right for you, Koneko-chan. Here, take this.”

I hand her a small box.

On it is written: 30 pieces + 1 bonus.

”Babies are still too early, but practice is totally fine! You can do it, Koneko-chan!”

I give her a big thumbs-up and a wink.

Yeah, she’ll be just fine!

Absolutely fine!

”...I always wonder, Miyu—where on earth do you get these?” Rias-san asks, puzzled.

Buying them in person is way too embarrassing, so I order online.

Kiryuu-san recommended a great site.

[Miyu Side – End]

▽

Utterly doomed.

A situation from which there is absolutely no escape—cornered, driven into a hopeless deadlock.

I’ve been in that kind of life-or-death crisis more times than I can count.

I’ve nearly died, and I even died once in the Underworld during the Astarde incident.

So yeah, the phrase ”utterly doomed” and I are old friends.

...but right now, I’m experiencing a completely different kind of ”utterly doomed.”

A tatami-matted room.

This is the same room where Akeno once revealed she had fallen-angel blood.

And right now, I’m sitting face-to-face with Barachiel-san in that very room.

”I’ve prepared some tea.”

”Thank you.”

”Ah, thanks...”

Akeno places teacups on the table, and both Barachiel-san and I thank her.

Th-the pressure radiating from Barachiel-san is insane!

Of course it is—I was literally about to strip his precious only daughter!

What I was planning to do next doesn’t even need saying!

He stares at me in complete silence, eyes narrowed...

Is he glaring?! Is he actually glaring at me, Barachiel-san?!

This silence is killing me!

But if I open my mouth first... I can’t! I literally can’t!

One wrong word and a massive bolt of holy lightning is gonna fry me on the spot!

S-someone... anyone... save me from this soul-crushing atmosphere!

Akeno finally speaks.

”Father, what brings you here today?”

”Official business as Vice Governor-General. I had to see Azazel. Since I was nearby, I thought I’d drop by and see how my daughter’s doing. I’m glad you look well, Akeno.”

Barachiel-san smiles warmly at Akeno.

The air between them is completely different from before—they’re talking like a normal, loving father and daughter.

Good, I’m really glad their relationship is healed.

Just as I’m thinking that—Barachiel-san’s sharp gaze locks onto me!

”...It’s been a while, Issei Hyoudou-kun.”

”Y-yes, sir! Long time no see, Barachiel-san!”

”You look well. That’s good.”

”Y-yes... You look well too...”

Scary! Every single word feels like it weighs a thousand tons!

I want to beg Akeno for help, but the moment I look away I’m pretty sure lightning’s coming!

Barachiel-san continues,

”...About earlier—what exactly were you planning to do with Akeno?”

Guh!

Straight to the gut!

He just landed a verbal body blow!

”I-I... um...”

”Well? Speak clearly.”

I can’t dodge this—if I stammer, it’ll only make me look worse!

I have no choice but to be honest!

”I was planning to make babies with Akeno!”

”PFFFTTTTT!”

...Huh?

Barachiel-san just did a spit-take?!

Coughing violently, he manages,

”Y-young man! Couldn’t you have phrased that a little more delicately?! And jumping straight to making babies?! Is that how fast kids move these days?!”

So things weren’t that rushed in his generation...

All the girls around me go at light speed...

Barachiel-san wipes his mouth with his sleeve.

”Akeno is still a high school student! Next year she’ll be in university—still a student! If she got pregnant now, she wouldn’t be able to enjoy her student life properly!”

”Th-that’s why it’s just practice! We’ll use protection! Real baby-making will wait until after she graduates!”

”I-I see...! W-wait, no—hold on! I don’t remember ever approving of you dating my daughter in the first place!”

”Ah...”

He’s right!

Come to think of it, we never got parental permission!

And here I was yelling about baby-making left and right!

Crackle crackle crackle

Golden holy lightning starts sparking around Barachiel-san’s body!

This is bad—he’s entering combat mode!

”Issei Hyoudou-kun... how do you really feel about Akeno?”

His whole body trembling, he asks me the big question.

How do I feel about Akeno?

There’s only one answer.

”I love her! She always shows me the most beautiful smiles! She gets hurt easily, but she has the strength to grow stronger together with all of us—she’s an amazing, charming woman! That’s why I want to protect her!”

It comes straight from the heart.

Normally Akeno is mature and elegant, the perfect ”Queen” of the Gremory peerage who guides the younger members.

But deep down she’s just a girl her age, with a fragile heart that bruises easily.

Especially before she accepted her fallen-angel blood.

Yet now she’s trying so hard to become stronger—physically and emotionally.

I want to stay by her side and protect that Akeno.

”But I’ve heard you’re in relationships with multiple women.”

”Who told you that?!”

”Azazel.”

That blabbermouth!

What else has he ratted out about me?! He better not have mentioned the Twin Oppai System!

”You’re aiming to become a harem king, correct? Then let me ask—if Akeno joins that harem, how will you treat her? Some men who build harems see women as nothing more than objects to satisfy their lust. Are you—”

Something inside me snaps.

Treating them like objects for my own desire?

Don’t screw with me...!

”Of course I’d never do that! Every girl who loves me—I’ll answer their feelings with everything I have! I’ll make them happy with everything I have! I’ll protect them with everything I have!”

Miyu and all the others love me from the bottom of their hearts!

A pervert loser like me!

Every single girl around me is so wonderful I sometimes feel I don’t deserve them!

There are moments I think I’m not good enough!

Yet they still say they love me!

And I love them too!

That’s why—!

”I’ll make Akeno happy! For the rest of our lives! So Barachiel-san—no, Father—!”

I unleash my ultimate technique: the Moonsault Jumping Dogeza, slamming my forehead into the tatami!

”Please—give me your daughter—Akeno—please!!”

I said it!

I really said it!

I landed my ultimate attack on Barachiel-san!

The Moonsault Jumping Dogeza—my secret weapon passed down from old man Maurice!

I have no stronger move than this!

Please... let my feelings reach him!

”Issei-kun...!”

I can see Akeno covering her mouth with both hands, tears streaming down her face.

Even though she’s trying to hold it in, tiny sobs echo through the now-silent room.

Silence falls...

Sunlight streams through the shōji, then the sun sets and the sky grows dark.

Ten minutes, thirty minutes, one hour, two hours—I keep my forehead pressed to the tatami, feeling time crawl by as I wait for Barachiel-san’s answer.

And finally—

”...How many?”

Those are the first words out of his mouth.

...Huh? How many?

”U-um... how many what?”

Timidly I ask, and Barachiel-san replies,

”How many grandchildren are you going to give me?”

Grandchildren!

And that ”how many”!

You’re one of those ”I want grandkids yesterday” dads?!

W-what am I supposed to say...?

One...? Two...? No, three...?

While I’m panicking, Akeno wipes her tears, smiles, and answers for me.

”A bit cliché, but... enough for a whole soccer team, perhaps?”

A soccer team?!

W-wait, how many is that again?

A lot, definitely a lot!

We’re talking huge family here!

B-but Akeno’s got those perfect childbearing hips...

Demons have low birth rates anyway, so does that mean we have to try extra hard...?

Barachiel-san stares at me, waiting for my answer.

”U-uhh... I’ll do my best!”

”Good.”

He just said ”good”!

You’re seriously asking for a soccer team?!

...Just how much ”practice” are we talking about here?

Every day’s gonna feel like the sports festival...

And that’s with Miyu and the others already in the picture.

...I might actually die, but I’ll do it!

Suddenly Barachiel-san bursts into a waterfall of manly tears.

”Shuri... our little girl grew up and brought home such a fine man... Our daughter who used to be so small... uwaaaah... UWAAAAAHHHH!”

He’s full-on sobbing...

Yeah... I guess this is what being a dad is like.

I don’t have kids yet (and it’ll be a while), but... when my own daughter brings home a boyfriend one day, will I cry like this too?

”Honestly, Father...”

Akeno blushes, looking both embarrassed and overjoyed.

Then—in the next instant—

BAM!

Barachiel-san slaps both my shoulders with enough force to sting!

”Issei Hyoudou-kun!”

”Y-yes, sir!”

”I’m entrusting my daughter—our daughter—to you!”

”Yes, sir!”

”And the soccer team too! I want Shuri to see them!”

”Y...yes, sir!”

I’ll do my best.

▽

By the time Barachiel-san leaves, night has completely fallen.

Checking my phone, I see a message from Miyu saying she’s heading home first.

There’s a P.S.:

”Fight hard tonight! ♡ –Miyu”

My little sister sees right through everything.

I send a quick reply.

Since it’s already late, I decide to stay at the shrine.

Akeno cooks us a lovely Japanese dinner.

And after that—

”Ufufu... Being able to wash my husband’s back like this... makes me so happy.”

Akeno scrubs my back with a towel, her voice bright and cheerful.

We’re both in the shrine’s cypress bath.

The pleasant scent of hinoki wood fills the air... but Akeno’s appearance is far, far more stimulating!

She’s not naked—she’s wearing a thin white shrine garment!

It’s completely soaked and see-through in places, clinging to every curve...

Honestly, it’s way sexier than being naked!

After a while of back-scrubbing, Akeno rests her cheek against my back, hands gently on my shoulders.

”I was so happy... To know you felt that way... And to say all that right in front of Father...”

”Ahaha... I was insanely nervous.”

I seriously thought I might die.

Like, actually die.

As I give a strained laugh, Akeno slips around to my front.

She gazes at me with slightly forlorn, longing eyes and says,

”Tonight... finally... my first night. If I was ever going to be embraced by you, I decided it had to be here.”

”Here... this shrine?”

When I ask, Akeno nods.

”This is the place where you accepted me. The place where you got angry for my sake. That day, you completely stole my heart. That’s why I wanted to be with you here, like this—”

...So that’s what she meant by ”that place” before.

And it’s because of what happened back then.

Well, I always thought Akeno was kind from the start, and I never thought what I said was a big deal...

But it meant the world to her.

At that moment—

The bathroom door slides open.

Akeno and I both jump, turning to look—

”Um... Issei-senpai. Me too... please.”

There stands Koneko-chan in a white shrine garment—cat ears and all!

Her tail swishes behind her!

An absolutely adorable Koneko-chan is right in front of me!

”E-EEEEH?! Koneko-chan?! Didn’t you go home?!”

”I went home once, ate dinner, then came back.”

”WHY?!”

”W-well... I heard that Akeno-san tonight... um... with Issei-senpai... mumble mumble... so I thought... me too... And Miyu-senpai gave me these...”

She shows me a familiar box.

Written on it:

30 pieces + 1 bonus

That’s the exact same brand Rias and Rossweisse used!

Miyu-chaaan?!

You’re way too prepared!

So that’s what you meant by ”fight hard tonight”?!

”Miyu-senpai, Alice-san, President Rias... even Ravel have all done lewd things with Issei-senpai... I don’t want to be the only one left out...”

”N-no, I didn’t mean to leave you out—”

”I feel bad for Akeno-san. But I don’t want to be left behind anymore... Issei-senpai!”

Suddenly Koneko-chan throws herself at me!

She clings to my chest and looks up at me with teary, upturned eyes.

”It’s not just instinct like before. I... I love you, Issei-senpai. I love you so much. You made the weak old me strong. Not just my body—my heart too. The one who changed me is you.”

...!

Come to think of it, not long ago Koneko-chan was suffering because she couldn’t accept herself.

She was afraid of her nekomata power—afraid of what would happen if she used it.

She couldn’t accept who she was.

But now she has, and she’s moving forward.

That’s something she and Akeno have in common.

Maybe that’s why they’re so alike in some ways.

Suddenly Koneko-chan’s body glows white—and she transforms into Shirone Mode!

UWOOOOOOOOH!

Gorgeous, mature-bodied Koneko-chan is right in front of me!

Her grown-up breasts push against the wet shrine garment, jiggling right before my eyes!

”This body can handle it even if you get rough. I’ve suppressed my purification power too... Even like this... is it still no good?”

It’s not no good at all, but...

I glance sideways—Akeno is smiling gently.

”Ufufu, it’s a little disappointing not to have Issei-kun all to myself, but it’ll be more fun with a fellow first-timer. And two of us together feels safer in its own way.”

Well, yeah... it is both their first times.

First times can be pretty nerve-wracking.

Xenovia didn’t seem too nervous, though...

Akeno and Shirone-mode Koneko-chan close in on me.

”Issei-kun...”

”Issei-senpai...”

▽

The next morning.

I wake up on the futon.

Akeno and Koneko-chan are using my arms as pillows, sleeping peacefully with the most blissful expressions.

They’re just too cute.

Healed by their sleeping faces, I drift back to sleep once more—

-------------------------------

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