It's an abrupt tale, but humanity once perished.
Human Order was incinerated by one masquerading as the King of Magecraft. The Chaldea Security Organization, the sole survivor of Human Order incineration, conquered seven Singularities and defeated the Beast reigning in the Temple of Time.
However, caught in the world's upheaval after reclaiming time's flow, there was no time for a victory banquet. This applied to Director Olga Marie, the Last Master Ritsuka Fujimaru who fought on the front lines, Mash Kyrielight, and all other Chaldea staff.
Amid this, a new Singularity reaction was suddenly detected. The problem? This Singularity has no impact on this world's Human Order. A complete lack of influence on human history is, conversely, abnormal, even ignoring the Singularity context.
Director Olga Marie decided to execute a Rayshift to this Singularity, ordering an investigation by Ritsuka and her contracted Servants. Not that she was escaping paperwork for the Mage's Association or United Nations—she'd have to do it eventually. This just took priority.
"Rayshift successful. No falling from the sky like the Seventh Singularity, thankfully."
"No way we'd go through that again. My heart couldn't take it."
Naturally, Ritsuka and Mash were included. Four Servants Rayshifted to this Singularity.
First, given it's "Kyoto," Souji Okita and Ibaraki-Douji were chosen. The fact that both threw tantrums is nonexistent, just to clarify.
Due to the many unknowns, ××, with a versatile Noble Phantasm, joined them.
Finally, the Saber-class Knight of the Lake, Lancelot. A discussion among the Round Table Knights led to his selection, though the details are omitted. Needless to say, Mash isn't pleased.
"Is this… a shrine?"
"With all those torii gates, probably."
"It's like Fushimi Inari. I think they worship foxes here?"
"It's relatively modern… no, completely modern. We couldn't pinpoint the exact era for some reason, but was this team the right choice?"
In a modern setting, EMIYA or Illya might have been better suited. Don't point out they don't look Japanese—it's taboo. Few in Chaldea look distinctly Japanese. Mixed-blood Kintoki Sakata or foreign-blooded Kotarou Fuuma are examples. Becoming a Heroic Spirit often involves unique traits. Surprisingly, Nobunaga Oda or Ryougi Shiki have the most Japanese appearances.
"It shouldn't stand out too much. Kyoto has plenty of foreign tourists."
"Especially Okita-san, you'd blend in perfectly in a hakama."
"Got it, I'll wear the hakama for the first time in a while. How about you, Master?"
"Then I'll wear a suit."
"Shouldn't Sir Lancelot just dematerialize? Senpai, Okita-san and I will protect you."
"N-No, walking with just women is dangerous. I don't doubt your or Okita-dono's strength, but to avoid unwanted attention…"
"××-san's here, so it's fine."
"…Mash, it's tough for a bandaged, scarred guy like me to walk in a modern city. Too conspicuous. I'd rather leave the knightly duties to Lancelot-dono."
"Sir Lancelot will just be busy flirting with women, so he's useless."
"N-No, that's not—"
"Lancelot-dono… you need to firmly deny that."
As ×× sighed in exasperation, voices of the Round Table Knights came through Chaldea's communication.
"I'm sad. Why did I give Lancelot my spot?"
"Sir Lancelot, fight on!"
"At this rate, the Berserker Lancelot will monopolize favorability!"
So that's why Lancelot was chosen.
"Hm…? Director, the coordinates are slightly off."
"What? You made it to Kyoto, right? A Singularity isn't literally a single point. If it's a minor deviation, just walk."
"No, it's not that. The map doesn't match."
"The map?"
"Doesn't match?"
"No, the Kyoto map in Chaldea doesn't quite align with the data from this Kyoto. Building sizes, positions, numbers, types—there's a subtle mismatch. You wouldn't notice without cross-referencing exact maps and coordinates…"
"Oh, you're right."
"It's like… a city that's not Kyoto but shares the same location, history, and people, yet isn't quite Kyoto."
"Not exactly a near-perfect replica either."
They weren't Rayshifting with a GPS, so a small mismatch shouldn't be too inconvenient.
Still, it's concerning.
"Could this mismatch be the Singularity's true nature?"
"Hard to say. Well, let's start investigating. First—"
"Hold your discussion. Looks like we've got company."
Even before Ibaraki-Douji spoke, the Servants, including Mash, were on guard. As expected—or perhaps because instruments don't function well in an unknown Singularity—Chaldea only just detected them.
"Not locals, are you?"
There stood a group unmistakably non-human: crow tengu, fox spirits—yokai, creatures that shouldn't exist in the modern era.
Leading them was a girl of about ten, likely the voice's owner, in a miko outfit with fox ears and a fluffy tail.
"Kuahaha! Look, Master, Mash. Even compared to my era, this is a fine horde of yokai!"
"Indeed, not the sort you'd see in Okita-san's time."
"So, in a modern world with faded mystery, yokai are this blatant. It's starting to feel like a Singularity."
××, as if recalling something, asked with a hint of panic.
"No way, seriously? Could it be… Kyoto's yokai princess, Kunou-hime? Then this Singularity is—!"
The yokai, in a word, were in combat stance.
"You outsiders! How dare you do that to Mother… Attack!"
Yo, I'm Issei! A devil and dragon high schooler dreaming of a harem.
This April, starting my second year of high school, I got my first girlfriend, Yuuma-chan, who killed me. Turns out, she was a fallen angel who deemed the Sacred Gear in me dangerous. But I was revived as a devil by Rias Gremory-sama (I call her President since she's the Occult Research Club leader), my master. Living as her servant, I'm striving to become a high-class devil to build my harem.
Man, these past few months were wild. I fought a fried chicken jerk to break President's engagement, faced a fallen angel cadre stealing Excalibur in town, attended a peace conference of the Three Factions, played a Rating Game against Sona Sitri-sama's peerage, battled a Norse evil god, and communicated with spirits serving a mysterious Breast God. Just before the school trip, I was called to President's house for some weird trial… What was that about? Does it have to do with the Gremory servants calling me "Young Master"?
Now, I'm on a school trip in Kyoto, away from my hometown, Kuoh Town. Asia, Xenovia, and Irina, dispatched from Heaven, are in my group. It's easier to move with people in the know.
…Apparently, my possibility jumped out during the Shinkansen ride. Ddraig says it'll return to me since it's mine, but is that okay? Where'd it go?
After checking into the hotel, we had time, so we headed to Fushimi Inari. We wandered souvenir shops and decided to climb to the top. I was moving a bit faster than the others…
"What's that? Sounds noisy up there."
Thinking it might be a fight at a tourist spot, I hurried to the summit. There, a strange group was battling. No other people around—maybe a barrier keeping them out?
"Um, we just arrived in Kyoto! We don't know anything about your mother!"
"Don't lie! My eyes aren't fooled!"
"It's not a lie!"
It looked like one side was unilaterally attacking. The defenders were holding back, confused but careful not to harm their opponents or the surroundings.
"You lot are useless! Where's that green-haired clay doll? I haven't spoken to her here, but she seems more reasonable!"
"Clay doll? Who're you talking about?!"
"What?"
"Geez, trouble right after arriving? Not very oni-like! Oi, undertaker, throw out your usual mist!"
"Got it! That okay, Master?"
"Yeah, I'll leave the timing to you! …Hm?"
I couldn't ignore it, wondering whether to join one side or stop them. Then, one of the defending group—a weird guy wielding a huge coffin, his face wrapped in bandages—locked eyes with me. Despite the bandages, his expression visibly twisted.
"Hyoudou… Issei…! Why are you here…?! No, wait, which one—!"
His reaction made everyone else notice me.
"Reinforcements, how cunning…! Retreat! You evil beings, you'll return Mother!"
The fox-eared miko girl shouted, and the attacking group vanished instantly. Was she their leader? That tiny girl?
"Uh, um…"
The remaining group must be the defenders, but what a weird bunch. A bandaged coffin guy, a knight-like old man, a petite girl with horns—could she be an oni? And then… whoa!
An orange-haired girl in a uniform-like outfit, a girl in a Shinsengumi cosplay, and a girl in tight clothes with a huge shield. All high-level beauties! The shield girl's got some serious curves, and her outfit's daring. No, the Shinsengumi and uniform girls aren't lacking either. Their unique styles are great! No, no, this is just observing unknown opponents, nothing impure! Gotta look closer!
—Instantly, killing intent hit me.
A thick, life-reaping killing intent, making past hostility feel like a breeze.
The bandaged man stepped forward, shielding the uniform girl.
"Tch. That one, huh? No talking then. Everyone, fall back—Absolute Mist!"
With a click of his tongue, the coffin he carried cracked open, releasing a familiar mist. It swallowed the group, and they vanished.
Footsteps made me turn, and there were Asia, Xenovia, and Irina.
"Issei-san!"
"Issei-kun! Something happened… but it's over?"
"Issei, I only saw it for a moment, but that mist…"
Xenovia's words brought back memories of when Asia was kidnapped.
That was the same mist.
"Those guys… could they be the Khaos Brigade…!?"
I don't know why terrorists are in Kyoto, but this school trip's about to get wild.
We were defeated.
The Control Bureau failed. The light bands dissipated. The Temple of Time collapsed. The great endeavor crumbled. Most of the 72 Demon Gods vanished. Our three thousand years faded into futility.
Those who crushed our ideals: unreasonable Heroic Spirits, the accursed king who returned the ring to Heaven, and an ordinary, average human.
All that remained was the mandate etched in our minds.
I want to ##. I must ##. I have to ##.
To prove this mandate, I sealed myself in a Holy Grail. Maintaining my spiritual core normally was impossible. I no longer recall how many dimensions I drifted through or how much time passed. It's irrelevant. Proving the mandate is my only interest.
This was a gamble, a heavily unfavorable one. I could have wandered spacetime forever. Even if I reached somewhere, I risked being burned by crimson flames. If discovered, I might be found by those who'd destroy me with the Grail. Even if not destroyed, the Grail's value might go unrecognized, left to gather dust in a warehouse. My fading spiritual core would vanish with time.
And yet, I arrived.
"So, this is the magical artifact with insane power?"
"No idea who made it, but getting something like this is a stroke of luck. I haven't told Hades or Indra."
"So? What's it for?"
"It's an extraordinary piece. I think I'll use it against a big target."
"Oh, for the Nine-Tails?"
"Exactly. With this much power, we can definitely summon Great Red."
"And with Dragon Eater, we'll defeat Great Red and become heroes. Perfect."
I won the gamble.
Notes for Those Unfamiliar with the Source Material:
Highschool DxD Volume 9: The volume where the protagonists (second-years and teachers) go on a school trip. Corresponds to the first half of the anime's fourth season.
Issei Hyoudou: Red Dragon Emperor. Rias Gremory's Pawn. Mastered Balance Breaker. Uses Dress Break and Bilingual. Due to Juggernaut Drive, he can face past Red Dragon Emperors in his mental world. Communicated with spirits serving the mysterious Breast God. His Evil Pieces were uniquely tuned by Satan Ajuka Beelzebub. Known as "Oppai Dragon" or "Breast Dragon Emperor" in the Underworld and some circles, making Ddraig cry in his gauntlet. His possibility escaped on the Shinkansen to Kyoto and is causing havoc.
Asia Argento: Reincarnated devil. Rias Gremory's Bishop. Healer. First kiss done. Kidnapped twice, a true heroine. Unlike the main story's steely version, she's purely canon here. Don't say she's "lacking." The author doesn't know why she became like that in the main story. As mysterious as Zepar's heroine-ification.
Xenovia: Reincarnated devil. Durandal wielder. Rias Gremory's Knight. Muscle-brained. Misguided by her master, she wants to bear Issei's child. Asia's protector (though she fails, don't mention it). At Volume 9's start, Excalibur (6/7) is being reforged into Durandal's sheath.
Irina Shidou: Reincarnated angel. Michael's Ace. Issei's childhood friend, a returnee, and former Excalibur wielder. By Volume 13, she's called a self-proclaimed angel or Japanese, but at this point, she's just a low-key character (Soma's opinion).
Yuuto Kiba: Reincarnated devil. Rias Gremory's Knight. In a different class, so he acts separately during the trip. Wields Sword of Betrayer.
Azazel: Fallen angel governor. Kuoh Academy teacher and Occult Research Club advisor.
Rossweisse: Former Valkyrie, reincarnated devil. Rias Gremory's Rook. Kuoh Academy teacher. Loves Japan's 100-yen stores. In Volume 9, she gets her sale-bought tracksuit destroyed by Issei, gets drunk, suffers a hangover, loses to enemies, and doesn't shine much. Believes Issei's Dress Break is environmentally unfriendly, but that's not the issue. Agreed. She's the cover girl for Volume 9, featured three times despite being a late heroine. Soma thinks she's the most beautiful: silver-haired, long-haired, slightly older, busty, flawed, pure, reserved, intellectual, former Valkyrie, ex-secretary, Nordic teacher. Perfect, right? Her magic not meshing with her lineage is a great touch. If not for FGO, Soma might've written an original MC story with her as the heroine. Unrelated to the legendary nine Valkyrie sisters' "Rossweisse."
Saji: Sona Sitri's Pawn. Recently modified by the fallen angel group Watchers of the Children of God, becoming a Vritra monster. All four Vritra Sacred Gears were fused into him (he was born with one, three added).
Other Second-Year Sitri Peerage: Not worth remembering. Barely appear. Soma doesn't recall much about them.
Serafall Leviathan: Diplomatic Satan girl. As yokai and the Three Factions prepare for peace, the yokai leader is kidnapped by terrorists, yet she says, "Enjoy Kyoto☆ I'm enjoying it too☆." Likely a considerate remark to avoid worrying the students.
Kyoto: With leader Yasaka kidnapped, Kunou leads a tense group. Canon setting, so no Kingu. Japan's yokai faction, with Nurarihyon, Yamanba Gorozaemon, and Kanno Aku Goro, has independent territories, not deeply tied to Japanese mythology.
Hero Faction: A major faction of the terrorist Khaos Brigade. With the Old Satan faction's leaders defeated, they're getting cocky. They kidnap and brainwash. While mocking the Old Satans for underestimating Issei's group, they themselves get outplayed in this volume.
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