High School DxD: Return of the Crimson Dragon Emperor

Chapter 324: Chapter 314 The Final Piece

—The first time we spoke, I thought he was the same breed as Rizevim. But something is different. That guy... sorry, I don’t know what he wants to do either. If we can figure that out this time, I think it’ll be a few steps forward.

Originally, he was said to be a Benevolent God of Ast-Arde. Maybe I can find out why he’s baring his fangs at this world...?

I silently sat down in the seat opposite Asem.

”Mm, good reaction.”

Asem smiled at my action and took a sip from his teacup.

I asked Asem:

”I’m going to ask you straight. What are you acting in this world for? You’re supposed to be a God of Ast-Arde, so why are you cooperating with Rizevim? Don’t tell me you’re also thinking of invading the other world?”

”Starting with a barrage of questions, I see. For now, I’ll answer the last one: I’m not thinking of any inter-dimensional invasion, okay? To begin with, the likes of Old Man Rize... sorry, Ast-Arde cannot be brought down. Not even if he uses the Evil Dragon Army.”

Did he just say... ’the likes of’?

Even though they’re supposed to be cooperating?

Asem continued while munching on a cookie.

”If it were the Ast-Arde of a little while ago, it might have fallen. But the current Ast-Arde has become one united world. Humans, Demons, and even Gods. The proof is that you defeated Rothwald, isn’t it? Even if the Hero-kun was the one who physically fought and defeated him, he couldn’t have done it alone. Yes, precisely because the world became one, you were able to defeat that child.”

At that time, thanks to Big Brother manifesting Ignis-san’s power, the world of Ast-Arde was protected from Rothwald.

But that was something Big Brother couldn’t have achieved with his power alone.

It was only possible because of the cooperation of people all over the world—humans, demons, and the Divine Layer included.

While I agreed with Asem’s words, I also felt something was off.

This feels different from the atmosphere Big Brother and the others described before...?

I heard that in the Vampire town, he spoke as if he were treating people like objects, but right now, I don’t sense that kind of atmosphere...

”Old Man Rize has no hope of bringing down a world connected that strongly. I’ll say it clearly: even if he managed to go to the other world, he’d just get beaten back.”

”In that case—”

”In that case, why am I cooperating with Old Man Rize—is that it?”

”...”

I nodded silently to his question.

Asem drained his tea, then floated a beaming smile.

”Let’s see... Before I answer that, let me ask you a question too. Say, Miwa-chan. What do you think of this world?”

”Eh?”

What do I think of this world...?

What should I say? I wasn’t expecting a question like that.

The people around me—starting with Big Brother, Dad, Mom, Rias-san, and the others—are all incredibly kind people.

Of course, everyone has their flaws, but I think they are warm people.

But Asem isn’t asking about my narrow personal world; he’s asking about the world as a whole.

Currently, the various mythological factions have formed an alliance and are moving step by step toward peace.

That’s what Azazel-sensei and Rias-san’s brother, Sirzechs-san, are working so hard for.

As if seeing right through my thoughts, Asem spoke.

”Thanks to the work of Azazel-kun and the others, this world is trying to turn in a good direction. But that alone is insufficient. There’s a thought that the world turns even without gods, but that is wrong. ——Gods, humans, and existences other than them are all parts of the world. The world moves precisely because each of those existences is there. The beings of this world don’t understand that.”

——Gods, humans, and other existences are all parts of the world.

Me, Big Brother, Rias-san’s group, everyone at school—we all live in this world.

Not only that, but Azazel-sensei, Sirzechs-san, and even the Norse God Odin live in this world.

Every single person living here is a component that makes up this world.

And, it is likely also a fact that there are people who do not understand that.

”Those with power become arrogant for no reason, and some fixate on trivial things. And the weak, spoiling in their position, separate themselves from the world, claiming they are unrelated. These people deny others, shut themselves away, and refuse to try to understand one another. And what is born is a world where one-sided unreasonableness is permitted. Don’t you think such a world is wrong?”

”...So, you intend to change the way this world is?”

”No. The ones who actually move this world are, strictly speaking, those who live in it. My role is maybe to make them realize it. ——If they don’t realize it, then at that time, this world will eventually collapse. That’s all.”

”Is that because you will intervene?”

”Well, if I got serious, I think I could take it in a few days. It would probably be a one-sided game.”

To bring down this world in a few days... implies that even considering fighting the gods of every mythology, he possesses enough power to make them all submit.

In this world, the power of gods is absolute.

They can exert tremendous influence over the world.

To speak of such gods with that comment, and that smile of composure.

I truly cannot see the bottom of his power.

When we fought Loki, I realized the terrifying nature of a god’s power, but the god before my eyes feels like a bottomless abyss.

——I found myself thinking that the god named Asem has transcended the very dimension of ’godhood.’

I swallowed hard and steadied my breathing.

”If you have that much power, why don’t you make a move? If you’re going to cooperate with Rizevim, wouldn’t it be faster to do it yourself...? You’ve already conquered the Underworld...”

When I asked that, Asem raised his index finger and wagged it side to side, tsk-tsk-tsk.

”That’s different. I defeated Hades to have him serve as my billboard. Qlippoth is also necessary for my objective. The time I make my move is——when the final piece is filled.”

KA-BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM!

Immediately following Asem’s words, the wall at the back of the room shattered into dust and was blown away!

E-Wh... What?!

In contrast to my shock, Asem wore a smile that said ’I’ve been waiting for this,’ his gaze fixed on the other side of the billowing smoke.

Sweeping away the smoke, the one who appeared was—

”Asem, you bastard... What the hell are you doing to my little sisterrrrrrr!”

[Miwa Side Out]

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