The Greedy Frog
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DxD: DO System Chapter 20
🕑 Added 2024-12-31 14:49:14 +0000 UTCChapter 20: The Devils of Kuoh (½)
Kiba was struggling. What should have been a decisive strike to finish the fight had turned into a desperate battle for survival. His opponent, Freed, was relentless.
“Shit,” Kiba hissed under his breath, gripping his sword tighter.
The rest of the team wasn’t in great shape either. They were still reeling from the Fallens’ suicide bomb attack, barely able to hold their ground. Help wasn’t coming anytime soon.
“Ugh!”
“Die! Die! Die!” Freed’s manic voice rang out, each strike heavier than the last. “Die, you damn bat bastard!”
Kiba’s sword trembled under the force of Freed’s blows, cracks forming along its edge. He bit his lip hard enough to draw blood. ‘I have to do something.’
“Die, you son of a—”
The impact Kiba had braced for never came. Instead, a deafening explosion rocked the area.
“G-Gah!” Freed stumbled backward, blood gushing from his side.
Kiba looked up in confusion, only to see Issei walking toward him, his crimson gauntlet glowing ominously, the green orbs on it pulsating with power.
“You just going to stand there?” Issei asked casually, his tone tinged with irritation.
Kiba blinked, snapping back to reality. “I—no.”
Freed was still alive, clutching a glowing light sword. Its holy essence burned the air around it. Something inside Kiba snapped.
“Kiba, stop!”
Rias’s warning fell on deaf ears. With a crazed shout, Kiba lunged at Freed, his blade sinking deep into the priest’s skull.
“Ahhhh!” Kiba roared, driving his sword deeper as blood sprayed everywhere. Freed’s body convulsed before going still, his lifeless form slumping to the ground.
“Why would you do that, Kiba?!” Rias’s voice was sharp, filled with anger and disbelief. “We needed him alive!”
<Congratulations! You have completed the quest!>
<Quest Completed: Get rid of the Cockroach Priest!
Help in killing Freed Sellzen.>
<Rewards Obtained: {Dragon Scales}>
<Dragon Scales: Enables the host to create scales anywhere on their body. The scales are 10x harder than steel.>
‘You’re twisted, kid,’ Ddraig muttered, clearly unimpressed.
Issei, meanwhile, fought to keep a grin from creeping onto his face. Freed’s death wasn’t just satisfying—it was necessary.
‘You’re not a sociopath, are you?’ Ddraig’s voice held an edge of concern.
‘Would you have preferred a sadistic lunatic running free?’ Issei shot back, his tone cool.
Ddraig fell silent, conceding the point.
Kiba finally seemed to regain control of himself, though his face was pale. He glanced at Rias, guilt written all over his features. “President, I…” He trailed off, unsure of what to say.
“It’s fine,” Akeno interjected smoothly, stepping in to diffuse the tension. “If you hadn’t acted, he could have killed you.”
“But the Fallens…” Rias pinched the bridge of her nose, clearly frustrated. “They got away.”
“I’ve already informed Sona,” Akeno said reassuringly. “She’s looking into it.”
“The rest are dead,” Koneko added bluntly, brushing off bits of Fallen flesh from her uniform with a grimace. “They don’t have the numbers anymore.”
Rias sighed, finally relenting. “At least we’re all safe.”
The room fell quiet for a moment before everyone’s gaze turned to Issei.
“We’re glad you’re unharmed, Issei,” Akeno said, stepping closer with a sly smile. Her eyes dipped briefly below his waist, and her smirk deepened. “Everything seems… in perfect shape.”
“Uh, thanks?” Issei replied, amused by her teasing but not entirely uncomfortable.
“Fetch him some clothes, Koneko,” Rias instructed, shaking her head. “It’s cold.”
Koneko scowled but complied, muttering pervert under her breath as she walked away.
It was only then that Issei realized he was still stark naked. For a moment, embarrassment flickered through him, but he quickly brushed it off.
‘Nothing to be ashamed of,’ he thought confidently.
‘Agreed,’ Ddraig chimed in. ‘Clothes are merely a social construct.’
Rias approached him, her piercing gaze locking onto his. “Well, Issei, do you want to explain everything here, or would you prefer to talk over tea?”
“Tea sounds good,” he replied, his tone light.
Akeno chuckled. “Of course it does.”
…
…
[Minutes Later — Occult Research Club, Kuoh Academy]
Issei stepped out of the bath, his skin still warm from the shower, feeling somewhat refreshed after the chaos earlier. Finally dressed, he no longer had to deal with the awkwardness of being naked—something Akeno seemed to enjoy a little too much.
Unfortunately, he wasn’t back in his usual casual attire. His clothes had been caught in the crossfire and reduced to ash.
‘Four months’ worth of pocket money… gone.’ He clenched his fists at the thought, bitterness creeping into his mood.
“How are you feeling?” Rias’s calm voice pulled him from his thoughts. She was seated gracefully on the couch, legs crossed, a steaming cup of tea in her hand. “Akeno prepared some tea if you’d like.”
He nodded, taking a cup from the table and settling into the empty couch. “I’m fine, thank you for asking.”
In truth, he was exhausted. Every bone in his body ached, but there was no way to escape the weight pressing on him now.
He brought the cup to his lips, inhaling the fragrant aroma. His brows raised slightly as the rich scent of jasmine hit him.
“It’s Darjeeling,” Akeno said, her tone filled with pride as she watched him take his first sip. “With jasmine essence extracted from Rias’s garden back home.”
The taste was heavenly. The floral notes of jasmine paired perfectly with the bold flavor of the tea. “This is… probably the best tea I’ve ever had,” he admitted, his voice betraying his amazement.
Akeno giggled, clearly pleased with his reaction.
“I’m glad you’re enjoying it,” Rias interjected, swirling her own tea with a slight smile. “But I’m sure you realize we didn’t call you here just for tea.”
Issei set the cup down, his expression hardening slightly. “I figured as much,” he replied evenly. “But if you’re going to ask questions, I hope you’re ready to answer a few of mine too.”
Rias blinked, caught off guard by his confidence. She’d expected timidity, perhaps even fear. Instead, Issei exuded a quiet defiance that unsettled her.
‘Can I beat her?’ Issei wondered, his eyes narrowing as he studied the redhead.
<Race: Pure-Blood Devil>
<Rank: Foundation-High Class>
‘If we activate the Juggernaut Drive—’
‘Don’t be an idiot,’ Ddraig interrupted, his voice sharp.
‘It’s possible… If she’s untrained or hasn’t fully mastered her powers, we might have an opening.’
It was a reckless thought. Issei knew the gap between their ranks was massive, but something nagged at him.
‘Check your status.’
‘What are you talking about?’
[Status]
<Name: Issei Hyoudou>
<Age: 17>
<Race: Human>
<Rank: Core-Middle Class>
<Gear: Boosted Gear (Stage 1)>
<Abilities: Draconic Eyes, Draconic Physique,Boost, Dragon Shot, Penetrate, Dragon Breath, Hokuto Shinken, Draconic Detect, Flight, Dragon Pheromones, Dragon’s Vigor, Dragon’s Cleave, Dragon Scales >
<Magic: None>
‘Wait… how did I jump ranks so quickly?’
‘You didn’t exactly jump,’ Ddraig explained. ‘You were already progressing. You just never checked. Killing Freed pushed you from Peak-Lower Class to Core-Middle Class. It’s an accumulation of experience and power.’
Issei’s eyes narrowed further. ‘So I’m stronger than I thought.’
He leaned back slightly, crossing his arms as he met Rias’s gaze head-on.
"Are you alright, Issei?" Rias asked, her voice pulling him from his momentary trance.
"Ah, yes. I’m fine," Issei replied, shaking off the lingering daze.
‘Don’t worry, I’m suppressing your powers,’ Ddraig’s voice echoed in his mind. ‘If you want, I can release them. I can even enhance them with boosts—your call.’
‘It’s fine,’ Issei thought back, appreciating the dragon’s offer. ‘Thanks.’
Rias gave a small sigh before continuing, "As for your questions, feel free to ask. If anything, we encourage it. Most of our questions will likely relate to what you’re curious about anyway."
Issei nodded politely, taking another sip of the tea. “Alright then. My first question is... why are you here?”
The group exchanged amused glances.
“Not who, but why,” Akeno remarked with a smile. “Interesting.”
“I’d be a fool not to recognize that you’re devils,” Issei said, looking around the room. “The Fallen and that insane priest made it clear enough. And you—” he pointed to Rias with his teacup, “you led the group, and they were heavily focused on you. It’s obvious you hold a high rank among devils.”
Rias nodded, her expression calm. “You’re quite perceptive. I am Rias Gremory, heiress of House Gremory—one of the 72 most powerful devil families in the underworld.”
Issei raised an eyebrow. “There are 72 more devils like you? All with similar power?”
“Not exactly,” Rias clarified. “Many of the families went extinct in wars that happened thousands of years ago. But yes, Gremory is one of the strongest surviving houses.”
“Gremory…” Issei repeated, narrowing his eyes. “Like in the Ars Goetia?”
Rias’s eyes widened slightly. “You’ve read the Ars Goetia?”
Issei nodded. “Am I right?”
“More or less,” Rias replied. “Although the book isn’t entirely accurate, our family’s rank is correctly listed.”
“Yet you don’t look anything like the descriptions in the book,” Issei said, raising an eyebrow.
“That’s because the devils summoned during that time—our ancestors—took on forms that suited human expectations. The appearances described in those texts aren’t what we actually look like,” Rias explained.
Her answer was oddly reasonable, so Issei decided to move on. He leaned forward slightly, his gaze steady. “Alright, so why are you here?”
Rias hesitated, glancing at Akeno and the others before speaking. “I… came here to experience the human world, to live a normal life.”
“Pardon?” Issei blinked, baffled.
‘She’s delusional.’
‘Shut it!’
“The underworld is... different,” Rias continued with a sigh. “It’s boring, restrictive. I wanted to experience life on my own terms. But once I arrived, I realized the human world wasn’t as peaceful as I imagined. Other supernatural factions were fighting to control this area. I couldn’t let that happen, so I started protecting it.”
“And the Fallen Angels? They’re one of those factions?”
She nodded.
“Funny,” Issei chuckled. “Devils, who are supposed to be the bad guys, protecting the human world.”
“And devil is supposed to be singular,” Akeno chimed in with a playful smile. “Yet here we are—multiple devils. Goes to show how inaccurate most of what you know is.”
“Fair,” Issei admitted. “Not everything is as it seems.”
“Nothing is,” Kiba added with a smile. “And hello, we’ve seen each other a few times, but I don’t think we’ve formally met. I’m Yuuto Kiba.”
"I know, Kiba," Issei chuckled, leaning back slightly. "Your reputation precedes you."
"And yours is practically in the dirt," the petite white-haired girl, Koneko, jabbed without missing a beat.
"Now, now, Koneko," Akeno teased, a soft laugh escaping her lips. "No need to antagonize Issei."
"She’s Koneko," Rias interjected. "Your junior."
"I know," Issei said with a small smile. "None of you could ever be called average. Everyone at school knows who you are."
Akeno and Rias exchanged glances before responding simultaneously, "That’s... I see."
Issei set his now-empty teacup on the table. "Alright, let me get this straight: you came here with your group—your friends?"
"Peerage," Rias corrected.
"Got it," Issei said, nodding. "So, you left the devil world because it was boring and wanted to experience the human world?"
"Exactly," Rias confirmed.
"And now that there are supernatural threats running rampant, you’re protecting this place?"
"Precisely," Rias said with a firm nod.
Issei leaned back in his chair, raising an eyebrow. "Do you realize how absurd that sounds?"
"And yet," Rias countered, her gaze steady, "you’ve seen firsthand how dangerous the supernatural can be. Those Fallen Angels wanted to kill you."
She leaned forward slightly, her expression serious. "Which brings me to my question: how are you still alive?"
"What do you mean?"
"We were late," Rias admitted with a sigh, setting her cup aside. "You were attacked before we could intervene, but somehow, you managed to fend them off. How?"
‘Hah, liar. They were right there when it all went down,’ Ddraig grumbled in Issei’s mind. ‘Hypocrites.’
"I’ll answer that," Issei said with a calm smile, his tone unreadable. "But first, why don’t you tell me what you plan to do about me?"
He crossed his legs, settling into a more relaxed position.
Rias studied him for a moment but chose not to comment on his posture. "We’ll decide based on what you tell us," she explained. "If you’re a threat to Kuoh or the people here, we’ll have to deal with you. If not, we have a proposition."
That piqued Issei’s interest. He smirked. "And what might that be?"
"First, answer me this: are you a threat?"
"Unless you plan on hurting me or the people I care about, not really," Issei said honestly.
The group exchanged approving nods, seemingly satisfied with his response.
"Good," Rias said, leaning back. "Then let me ask you something else. You’re human, correct? Despite the power you wield?"
"Certainly," Issei confirmed without hesitation.
"Then… would you like to become a devil, Issei?" she asked directly, her words carrying no ambiguity.
"That’s… quite the offer," Issei said, his tone equal parts intrigued and amused.
"The truth is, my peerage isn’t complete," Rias explained. "A peerage’s meaning may vary from devil to devil, but to me… my peerage is my family—a group of people I trust and care about."
"That’s nice and all," Issei replied, leaning forward slightly. "But you’ve yet to explain what a peerage actually is."
"Do you play chess, Issei?" Akeno asked, her voice calm and measured.
"I know the rules," Issei replied. "Though I’m not much of a player."
"Perfect," Akeno said with a pleased smile. "Think of a peerage as one side of the chessboard—black or white. It consists of a king, a queen, two rooks, two knights, two bishops, and eight pawns."
Issei nodded, following along.
"I’m the queen in Rias’s peerage," Akeno continued. "Koneko is a rook, Kiba is a knight, and we have a bishop as well. Together, we’re a team that supports one another."
"Okay, but why?" Issei pressed, his curiosity still unsatisfied. "Why does a peerage even exist?"
"It exists to support one another," Kiba said, his tone steady. "Rias—the king—relies on her peerage to handle challenges she can’t face alone."
"And in return?" Issei asked all while narrowing his eyes slightly.
"In return," Rias said, "you gain power. A lifespan spanning thousands of years, unimaginable wealth, and the kind of abilities you’d only read about in fantasy novels. It’s a chance at a completely different life—a supernatural one."
"Interesting," Issei admitted, though his tone remained guarded.
"What do you desire, Issei?" Rias asked, her voice taking on a calculated edge. "Women? Big breasts? Big asses? Devoted to you beyond your wildest dreams? As a devil, all of that could be yours."
"Tempting," Issei said with a squint, clearly amused. "But you still haven’t answered my real question. What does being in a peerage actually entail? What does it mean to help the king?"
"It's... mostly political," Rias explained, her tone measured. "There’s a societal aspect to it as well—games, if you will, against other peerages. Competitions to see which peerage is stronger. And when you’ve achieved a certain level of power, you can form your own peerage."
Issei couldn’t help but find her explanation amusing. It was full of gaps and lacked substance. Still, he recognized something: Rias probably never had to try this hard before to convince someone to join her peerage. At least, not when it came to explaining what a peerage truly entailed.
"I think..." Issei sighed, leaning back. "You don’t have much to offer me."
"You… don’t want women?" Rias asked, genuinely shocked by his response.
He was a known pervert. He should have jumped at the first mention of the word women.
But now… He felt different.
"I think I can manage that on my own," he said with a smirk, his confidence catching everyone off guard.
"You’re not quite the person I thought you were, Issei," Rias remarked, her lips curving into an amused smile, despite her growing nervousness. "So tell me, what do you want? Wealth? A long, healthy life? Power?"
"You can have all of it," Akeno chimed in, her voice soft but persuasive.
Issei leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees. "Like I said, I can find a girl on my own. Wealth? I believe I can earn it myself—no need to sacrifice my humanity for that. A long, healthy life is tempting, and so is power. But," he added with a sly grin, "I think there’s someone else who can help me achieve all that. Someone who doesn’t require me to give up my humanity."
He paused, letting the tension hang for a moment before calling out. "Isn’t that right, Ddraig?"
Right on cue, a crimson gauntlet materialized on Issei’s arm, its emerald jewel glowing brightly. The room was filled with an overwhelming pressure as Ddraig’s voice roared out, shaking the very air.
"As if you bats could ever offer him anything that I can’t!"
The sheer presence of the Heavenly Dragon sent shivers down their spines, and even Rias’s composed demeanor faltered as her eyes widened in shock.
