Human perception of the world is always distorted.
What one person considers normal may turn out to be completely irrational in the eyes of another, and what seems like a miracle to someone might just be an everyday occurrence for a different group of people.
However, if we are talking about the "protagonist" in stories—whether it be manga, novels, or any kind of tale—
It seems they always have something in common.
They are always thrown into the center of problems by fate, whether they want to be or not.
Some start out as ordinary people.
Some are weak.
Some are looked down upon.
Some even seem like people who lack anything outstanding whatsoever.
Yet, as the story unfolds, those very people somehow turn into a central force that bizarrely draws others toward themselves.
Friendships, conflicts, romance, war, or even world-altering events all have a chance to happen simply because they are there.
It is as if the mere presence of a single protagonist is enough to make a story that should have progressed normally begin to deviate from its original path.
And the most frustrating part is that they tend to grow far too quickly, even if their own mouths say otherwise.
Even if they deny having talent, claim they are no more special than anyone else, or insist that everything they have achieved is purely the result of their own effort... the results right in front of them almost always contradict those words.
An ordinary person might spend years of training just to overcome a single wall.
Fail.
Start over.
Fail again.
And keep trying.
Yet some protagonists take only a few minutes in a critical moment to tear down the very wall that others spent their entire lives trying to climb over.
It is truly unfair to the people trying their absolute hardest behind them.
Even so, it keeps happening over and over again.
Because protagonists always possess one thing that ordinary people do not.
A "miracle."
Even when driven into a corner.
Even when injured to the point of barely being able to stand.
Even when the possibility of victory is reduced to practically zero.
They almost always discover some kind of power at the very last second.
A power they never knew they had.
A way to use an ability they never thought they could perform, or some unbelievable coincidence that happens at the exact right moment, as if the entire world is trying to say...
"This person cannot lose just yet."
Of course, there are many types of protagonists. Some are geniuses who calculate everything in advance.
Some are champions of justice who are willing to shoulder the pain of others.
Some merely desire an ordinary life, only to be dragged into endless trouble time and time again.
And some have nothing outstanding about them at the start, possessing only a strange stubbornness, the ability to get back up after falling,
and the desire to never give up on what they want. But no matter how different they may be...
They all share one thing in common.
When the world pushes them down,
they will find a way to climb back up.
And that might be the single most important trait of being a protagonist—the ability to keep moving forward, even when there is no reason to guarantee that tomorrow will be any better than today.
And if we are talking about the protagonist of this world,
Hyoudou Issei,
that guy is one of the clearest examples. His drive might sound so absurd that it is almost unbelievable.
Women's breasts.
Yes.
Just women's breasts.
A reason that sounds perverted, stupid, and makes you sigh with a headache. But the problem is... it works.
That guy's ridiculously straightforward desire can transform into a drive so intense that it becomes terrifying.
The more pressuring the situation becomes, the more there is something he wants to protect,
the more power that guy can pull out. It is as if his absurd desire can truly become fuel for battle.
And that makes me think that perhaps training Issei through normal methods might not be a good idea.
The Boosted Gear is a power directly linked to its user. It is not a sword where simply practicing the movements correctly will make you better at using it, nor is it magic where merely memorizing the formulas accurately can increase its power.
Its power responds to the mind, thoughts, imagination, and desires of its possessor.
Therefore, the way Issei grows does not necessarily have to be like anyone else. Perhaps what he needs is not answers, but simply situations that force him to find those answers himself.
Training, even if done until sweating every drop out of one's body, is merely building a foundation. As long as there is nothing forcing one to break past their limits, people will always choose to stop right at the edge.
But when life is hanging by a thread,
when fear comes right up to your face,
when despair tells you that if you do not become stronger right now, everything important will be lost,
uncovered potential can be dragged out in a single instant.
People do not discover how strong they truly are until they are forced into having no other choice.
And this is the most interesting part of a protagonist. They do not grow because the world is kind to them.
On the contrary.
Many times, they grow because the world is actively trying to destroy them.
The world throws a problem at them,
they find a way to handle it.
The world ramps up the intensity,
they have to become stronger.
The world corners them,
they have to break through their own walls.
Sounds cruel, doesn't it?
Of course it is cruel, but the world never promised to be gentle with anyone to begin with.
Because the world is cruel, we must be cruel in return.
Not by becoming a bad person or hurting others simply because we can,
but by accepting that sometimes, gentleness is not enough.
If I keep extending a hand to help Issei every time he falls, he might get up faster than before.
But he will never know that he is capable of standing up without anyone's hand being there.
If I keep giving him the answers every time he gets stuck on a problem, he might learn faster, but he will never learn how to find those answers on his own.
Therefore, what I must do is not make Issei strong in his place,
but push him to the point where he has to become stronger on his own.
I can teach him the basics, point out his mistakes, and tell him what to be careful of.
But after that... the rest is his job.
Because no one can become a protagonist in place of someone else, and no one can walk on the exact same path as a protagonist either.
Hyoudou Issei will have to be the one to discover his own way.
With his weird imagination, with his absurd desires that ordinary people might never understand,
with his headache-inducing stubbornness, and with his ability to turn all of those into power.
As for my duty, it is to give him the chance to discover it faster.
Before this world takes its turn to teach him a lesson through methods far more cruel than anything I could ever do.
Because if being a protagonist means having to be pushed forward by the world,
then before the world pushes him to the point of hitting the ground,
I will be the one to push him myself.
If fear is what makes him break past his limits, then I will introduce him to fear.
If despair is what awakens his potential, then I will make him understand what despair truly feels like.
Issei is not someone who becomes stronger by being given answers, but someone who becomes stronger every single time he is forced to find those answers on his own.
Therefore, if I want him to grow... what I must give him is not an answer, but a question cruel enough to force him to find that answer by himself.
….
Apartment
Nom nom—
"Tomorrow I'll be going somewhere else, and I probably won't be back for fifteen days."
"Huh? Where are you going?"
I raised my head mid-meal before looking toward Kalawarna and Raynare, who were sitting opposite me.
Should I tell them?
If it were just Kalawarna alone, it wouldn't be a problem since I can trust her well enough. But if it's Raynare…
Raynare, who was quietly chewing her food, felt the gaze directed at her before looking up to meet my eyes.
"What are you looking at? Got a problem?"
Rude in every single aspect, this woman.
Can't I even just look?
"No, not really."
"Your face says otherwise. You're thinking of looking down on me in that empty brain of yours, aren't you?"
"Raynare, I never knew you could read minds."
"You... are you really looking down on me?!"
"Unsatisfied? Or... would you prefer I tell you I love you instead? Raynare~"
I deliberately raised an eyebrow before sending a provocative smirk her way, my tone dropping slightly with overt playfulness.
Raynare froze instantly, the spoon in her hand nearly slipping from her fingers onto the plate. Her face, which had been haughtily raised, flushed bright red, her eyes widening in confusion and embarrassment, as if those words were something she had never prepared to handle.
"W-What crazy stuff are you talking about!! Has your brain flipped upside down?!!"
She shouted in a high-pitched voice while retreating so fast her chair scraped noisily against the floor.
"Not at all."
I let out a soft sigh while picking up a glass of water to take a sip.
"You just looked like you wanted attention. If I threatened your life, you probably wouldn't care, so threatening you with love seemed like it would terrify you more... Judging by your reaction, it worked better than expected."
"You idiot! Who's seeking attention from you! Utterly repulsive!"
Raynare cursed and vented, her body shaking visibly before she quickly lowered her head and shoveled food into her mouth repeatedly, as if trying to hide her intensely reddened face.
Kalawarna, sitting beside her, let out a soft chuckle before turning to meet my eyes with a exasperated yet amused look.
"That's quite a creative way to subdue her... I wish you would use that method with me too, Hikage-sama~"
"I'd rather pass. I don't want to fan the flames and take things further. Your desire meter is already sky-high. If I stimulate it any more, it'll probably burst past the limit and get out of control."
Kalawarna giggled with a amused smile.
"Fufufu, what can I do? I'm captivated by you after all. Isn't it only natural to want to hear words of love from the person you like~"
"..."
I won't pretend to be naive and act like I don't understand her feelings for me. But right now, I'm not ready, and to be honest, I don't even know what kind of feeling is actually called 'true love.'
This matter needs to be clearly distinguished. What I am questioning is romantic love, not the kind of love among family members.
And that right there is the main problem... Since my past life never experienced anything called romantic love even once, I can't distinguish whether what I feel toward Kalawarna is truly romantic love between a man and a woman, or just a feeling of attachment and concern for an important person.
Even with Onee-san, I love and care about her very much as well—enough that I won't allow the trust or expectations she has in me to shatter. You could say she's the No. 1 person I care about most.
Therefore, accepting or making promises regarding something I'm not even sure about myself is simply something a person like me cannot do as they please.
As for another person... Kazumi Yoko.
She herself is another problem that I accidentally created for myself. I foolishly accepted a crazy promise that if she still couldn't find a worthy man, I would become her boyfriend.
At that time, I simply thought that once she sobered up, she would forget the nonsense she spoke back then. Who would have thought she would take those words so seriously? It seems I'll have to find a way to deal with this matter as well.
Considering my current physical condition, along with the dangerous path I am walking on... frankly speaking, I don't think my life will survive long enough to reach that destination called the "future."
Maybe in the future, I might die from some utterly absurd event, and that's another reason why I don't want anyone tying their future to mine.
Because for someone who doesn't even know if they'll still be alive tomorrow... promises about the future sound a bit too irresponsible.
"And about not being here for fifteen days, can you tell us whether it's related to work or a personal matter?"
"Well... a bit of both."
I set the glass of water down.
"It just so happens that the young lady of the Gremory clan is being forced to marry a man she hates. Since neither side is willing to back down, a competition was held to settle it... and I was requested to lend a hand in training them... especially Raynare's ex-boyfriend."
"Are you still not going to stop talking about him?!!"
Raynare immediately shrieked in a high voice, her face—which had just faded from red—turning hostile and filled with utter irritation again.
"The wielder of the Boosted Gear, right..."
Kalawarna completely ignored her fellow Fallen Angel's outburst. She tilted her head slightly before continuing in a curious tone.
"Still, I don't quite understand why you would agree to train him. Someone like you would have definitely refused if you viewed it as a troublesome, pointless matter."
I let out a soft sigh at her deep understanding of me, knowing that what she said was entirely accurate.
Telling the two of them about this probably wouldn't hurt. After all, nee-san intends to reveal my identity eventually anyway. Telling them now or later likely wouldn't make much of a difference.
"Do you two know who I am... and where I came from?"
"Huh? Who would want to know your useless background?"
"Raynare, when you fought me for the first time, was there anything bothering you or on your mind?"
Raynare knit her brows tightly as she recalled the past event she didn't want to remember. After a moment, her eyes widened slightly.
"Come to think of it... back then, you used demonic power, even though you're clearly a human..."
"Demonic power?"
Kalawarna put on a bewildered expression, not understanding why a human like me would possess the power of a devil. All this time, she had never even considered it.
"Are you a Half-Devil, Hikage-sama?"
"Not quite. If I had to define strictly whether I am or not, I'd say no. But whatever, just understand it like that for now."
Raynare suddenly picked up on something.
"Wait a minute!? If you're really connected to the Devil faction, then why were you working for the Grigori organization?!"
"That's a matter tied to my life and death. To put it simply, it's just like your current situation. Choosing wrong meant dying, so back then, I had no choice but to go with the flow first."
Although it wasn't a crystal-clear answer, Raynare could guess and understand to a certain extent.
"Even so, that still doesn't explain why you agreed to help them..."
Kalawarna tilted her head and asked inquisitively.
"Or do you have some connection to the Gremory group?"
This was likely the most logical and plausible answer in Kalawarna's mind.
"Indirectly, yes."
"Argh! How annoying! Why ask so indirectly and make it complicated! Do you think you're setting an exam question or what?! Stop stalling and just speak directly! It's a waste of time!"
My eyelids twitched repeatedly before I let out an exhausted sigh at this washed-up Fallen Angel's impatient demeanor.
"If I told you I am the disciple of the 'Strongest Queen of the Underworld,' would you believe me?"
"C-Cough!... Wh-What?!"
"Hikage-sama... Do you mean Sirzechs Lucifer's [Queen], the one rumored in stories?!"
Both of them were so stunned they could barely breathe. Raynare gasped with her mouth wide open, her eyes wide in a mix of awe and disbelief, while Kalawarna raised her hand to cover her mouth, her face showing extreme shock.
The reputation of Grayfia Lucifuge, or the 'Silver-Haired Queen of Annihilation,' was famous across the realm to Heaven and Grigori as the servant and companion wife of the Demon Lord Sirzechs Lucifer. Behind her legendary power and strength was a terror that Fallen Angels of their level understood all too well.
"Heh... How hilarious."
Raynare tried to force a laugh to save face, though her voice trembled noticeably.
"A lowly human like you being the disciple of that monster woman? That's a huge lie!"
"Think whatever you want."
I shrugged casually, leaning back against the chair in a relaxed posture.
"But knowing this now, you can probably guess why I have to get involved in the troublesome affairs of the Gremory young lady, right?"
Kalawarna quickly pulled herself together. She took a deep breath before looking at me with eyes filled with even greater respect and awe.
"If it's an order or a request made through the [Queen]... then it's no surprise you couldn't refuse..."
She nodded in full understanding of the truth.
"It's as you say. Truthfully, I didn't intend to tell you two either; I was just too lazy to explain it all awkwardly later on."
Kalawarna narrowed her eyes slightly, sending a playful, teasing smile my way.
"Isn't it actually because you trust us that you were willing to tell us?"
"..."
I pretended to ignore her perceptive gaze, turning my head away indifferently.
This girl... with every passing day, she gets better at reading my thoughts, to the point of being downright irritating.
(Break)
.
Somewhere.
Right now, I'm on a mountain located within the Gremory family's territory. The area is quite far from the town, surrounded on all sides by dense foliage and a quiet atmosphere.
"Heh!... Haa! ...Hikigaya, give me some water! ...Haa."
"Here."
I tossed a cold plastic water bottle to the owner of the panting voice with an indifferent expression.
On the summit of this mountain sat a large wooden mansion in quiet solitude. The mansion itself was concealed by an illusion barrier created from demonic power, allowing it to blend seamlessly into the surrounding environment and completely hide its existence from the eyes of ordinary humans.
And from this point onward, this place would become a rigorous training ground specifically for them—especially the man in front of me.
"Wow! ...I never thought there'd be such a huge mansion on a mountain like this!"
"Indeed, Issei-san. It doesn't look like a place where anyone would build a house. It's quite far from the town."
"It's basically just a holiday villa. It was just upgraded to suit rich people's taste... It's an utter waste of resources."
I cut in with a sarcastic tone, looking at the magnificence of the building.
"Ara ara~ It seems Hikigaya-kun doesn't particularly like young masters and ladies, does he?"
Akeno gave a gentle smile, tilting her head and letting out a flirtatious chuckle in her throat.
"I just happen to have a past trauma with sweet-dreaming, money-throwing rich kids."
Actually, that "young master" was me, though. I just hated the fact that I was deceived by my own family, so I indiscriminately vented it on others.
"Alright, everyone."
Rias Gremory stepped forward, turning back to gather the gaze of every member. Her tone instantly became serious.
"From now on, this place will be our training ground for the next fifteen days. Let's do our best together and seize victory in this Rating Game!"
"Oh!! We'll definitely win!"
Issei clenched his fist tightly, his eyes filled with determination.
"I'm gonna get stronger! Then I'll punch that guy Riser right in the face, Buchou!"
"Mm, that's the spirit, Issei. Never lose that determination, because that's what will lead us to victory."
"We can never win if we give up before we even start. No matter how strong the opponent is, as long as we don't give up, there's always a chance for victory! So, everyone, give it your all until the final day!"
"Yes!"
"Oh!!!"
Everyone's voice called out in unison with high spirits.
"So we don't waste the limited time we have, let's start the training! Everyone, go unpack your luggage and change your clothes. We'll start right away!"
While the others filed into the mansion one by one, Rias turned to me.
"Hikigaya, although I've already been informed by Grayfia that you'd be helping us with extra training, as her disciple, I have no objections to this at all. On the contrary, I should even thank you. But I'd like to know what kind of training program or routine you have that could help us?"
"I don't have any."
"Eh?"
"Originally, all of you already have plenty of real combat fundamentals. It's just a matter of switching to compete under the rules of the game. Honestly, having you guys enter the match right now would be fine too, except your piece count isn't full yet, which puts you at quite a disadvantage in this battle."
"From what I've observed of Riser's matches in the past, if you exclude Riser and his Queen, you guys could easily defeat the rest. In terms of quality, you're several times superior to them. The only problem you have right now... is just Riser."
"Therefore, the key variable that will decide victory in this battle is Issei... For the first ten days, you guys take care of him first. Lay a foundation for him to understand and control his own power system as you see fit. As for the remaining five days, I'll take over myself."
"I understand. Thank you for your help. I owe you one..."
Suddenly, an idea came to her mind.
"Hikigaya, are you interested in joining—
"I'll pass. Stop thinking about making me one of your pieces."
Rias let out a hopeless sigh. The thought that had just popped into her head a few seconds ago was instantly shot down by me.
"It's a pity. If you joined us as well, our chances of winning would increase even more."
"It's not always like that. Even if I wanted to join your peerage, I couldn't anyway. Actually, your older brother once offered to make me your servant."
"Onii-sama did?"
I nodded in response before adding,
"But my Shishou rejected that offer. It seems back then she was overly concerned about my identity. Otherwise, two years ago, I might have become a gift for your first Kuoh admission celebration."
That could be called the first time I saw Grayfia seriously reject Sirzechs's order. It was a scene that left me thoroughly stunned as well.
For the me back then, if it meant repaying the debt I owed, no matter what Sirzechs wanted me to do, I probably would have agreed to all of it. I never thought Nee-san would step in to stop it.
And that happened before the relationship between me and Nee-san developed to the level of siblings like today.
Rias herself was quite shocked upon hearing that her sister-in-law had once rejected her own brother. Because as a maid and her sister-in-law, Grayfia usually followed Sirzechs's orders obediently. Her choosing to reject him seriously was a rather abnormal thing for Rias.
Furthermore, she felt even more that every time Grayfia revealed something new, Hikigaya would always be involved in it.
"And what about now?"
"That's another reason I can't tell you right now. You'll know in the future anyway. What I can tell you is... I can't become anyone's servant."
"Sigh... I understand. You really have way too many secrets, it's frustrating, Hikigaya."
I shrugged indifferently before turning around to walk into the forest.
"Where are you going?"
"Going to survey the surrounding area a bit. Want to find a suitable place for Issei to go all out."
"Go all out?"
I didn't explain anything further, simply disappearing into the forest, leaving Rias standing there watching me with doubt.
.
.
Evening
"Whoa! Hikigaya, did you make all of this yourself!?"
Issei's eyes sparkled the moment he saw the feast laid out on the table before him.
"No, Himejima-senpai helped as well. Eat up before it gets cold."
"Don't mind if I do then!"
The moment the sentence ended, Issei quickly shoveled food into his mouth. He chewed again and again with sheer delight, looking like someone who hadn't eaten in days.
Nom, nom…
After a short while—
"Sniff… gulp…"
Suddenly, tears rolled quietly down Issei's cheeks.
"Damn it… Isn't this ridiculously delicious? It pisses me off!"
Even as he offered praise, he couldn't help but complain all the same.
"I agree, Issei-san. This is the most delicious food I've ever eaten."
"Mhm. Senpai's cooking is amazing."
"As expected of Grayfia-sama's pupil. It's very delicious, Hikigaya-kun."
Besides Issei, Asia, Koneko, and Kiba all voiced similar opinions.
"Don't overdo it with the exaggeration. Even if you praise me, I don't have any reward to give you. Originally, when people are extremely exhausted, even bland food naturally tastes delicious. And don't forget that all this food wasn't made by me alone."
"Fufufu~ Hikigaya-kun, you should accept the compliments. Being too humble isn't good, you know."
"I'm just stating the facts, that's all."
After finishing the meal and completely washing the dishes.
"Now that everyone is full, let's go take a bath next. It's an open-air hot spring bath too, so it'll be super relaxing."
Rias spoke in a pleasant tone.
"An outdoor bath... Does that mean open-air!?"
'This guy... I can tell exactly what's going through that perverted brain of his.'
I looked at the gleaming look in Issei's eyes and could only sigh inwardly.
"I won't peek, Issei-kun,"
Kiba said with a dry smile while giving his friend a reprimanding glance.
"Shut your mouth, pretty boy! I didn't even ask you!"
"Oh... Issei, you want to peek at us?"
Rias gave a teasing smile, tilting her head slightly.
"I don't mind, you know, if you want to join us for a bath~"
"Eh!? Really, Buchou!?"
"Yes... Asia agrees as well, right?"
"I... I... If it's Issei-kun... it's alright."
Asia lowered her head close to her chest, her sweet face bright red as she agreed with extreme embarrassment.
Give me a break... Better leave them to enjoy developing their relationships in harem-logic fashion. As a side character on the sidelines, I'll excuse myself right about now.
I slowly got up from my chair, attempting to slip away from the circle of conversation as quietly as possible. However, Himejima-senpai beat me to it and addressed me first.
"And are you interested in joining us, Hikigaya-kun~?"
She asked while offering a teasing, playful smile characteristic of her usual demeanor.
"Sure."
"Eh!?"
My short response caused the room's atmosphere to fall dead silent in an instant. Everyone looked utterly flabbergasted, turning to stare at me as I was about to walk out with supreme surprise.
"Provided that Toujou-chan agrees, that is."
I continued with my usual indifferent expression, without even stopping my steps.
"My~ Why does it have to depend on Koneko-chan's opinion?"
"Because her answer... is the answer I strongly agree with, that's why."
Koneko, who had been sitting quietly the whole time, immediately rejected the idea, intentionally glaring solely at Issei.
"Minimum sentence... prison."
"Well, there you have it. A bit unfortunate for you, Issei."
"Oh, no!"
I waved goodbye without looking back.
"Good night."
(Break)
.
.
...Ten days passed.
BOOM!!
"Whoa! Is this really my power!?"
Issei stood slack-jawed, staring at a mountain up ahead that had now been blasted into a giant crater.
Just a moment ago, he had gathered his demonic aura and fused it with the exponentially boosted power from his Boosted Gear, compressing everything into a massive sphere of energy before unleashing it all at once.
The result was the immense destructive force currently displayed right before his eyes.
"That is the fruit of your efforts over the past ten days, Issei. The stronger you train your body to transcend your limits, the more your body will be able to handle and draw out the power of the Boosted Gear. See? Even if your original foundation was weak, once you activate your Sacred Gear, you can still produce miracles, break through the wall of your potential, and surpass your previous limits all the same."
"That is because the true nature of the Boosted Gear can multiply and amplify the power of its host limitlessly. It will continuously accumulate power until the host's body can no longer bear that heavy burden and collapses on its own."
Rias gazed at Issei, who was collapsing onto the ground before her. Her tone was filled with expectation, yet underlying it was total seriousness.
"Therefore, the core essence of the training over these past ten days hasn't been just about controlling power... but rather expanding your body's physical capacity so that it can endure a high-level 'Boost' long enough to defeat the enemy in actual battle, Issei."
Rias then turned to ask me, who was lost in thought.
"What are you going to do next, Hikigaya?"
"Hmm?.. Oh... That's a secret. If you knew how I was going to train him, you might object tooth and nail."
Upon hearing those words—which felt no different from an ill omen—Rias instantly knitted her brows. But before she could say anything, I cut her off.
"If you want to win, leave the rest to me. Don't question anything. And let me emphasize: absolutely do not come and interrupt my training. No matter what this guy screams out—be it cries of pain or even pleas for mercy... do not get involved under any circumstances."
"Wait, wait! That sounds way too terrifying! Are you throwing me into a den of tigers!?"
"Tigers right now are no match for you, Issei."
"That's not what I meant, damn it!"
"Don't be so pitifully weak-willed, Issei. In another five days, you're going to have to face a Phenex, a High-Class Devil. He's completely different from all the enemies you've fought before—you could even say they don't compare at all. So what do you have left to lose? You promised you'd make Buchou win no matter what happened, didn't you?"
"W... Wait, you heard that!?"
"Just a little. It so happened that I couldn't really sleep, so I intended to come out for some fresh air, but I accidentally overheard the entire sweet love confession, as well as the hugging scene that looked like the starting point for a newlywed couple."
"That's not 'just a little'! Besides, I was just encouraging Buchou!"
Rias, standing nearby, had cheeks slightly flushed red as last night's event was exposed in front of everyone.
"T... That's true, isn't it? Buchou is beautiful, so it's no wonder Issei-san would confess his love... As for me... I have nothing at all..."
"Wait! Asia! It's not like that!"
Sigh... This is the problem with people who want to have a harem. Just thinking about the future feels troublesome. But since this anime has a harem plot... it'll probably end nicely, I suppose.
"Then if you're ready, follow me, Issei... Oh, and for the next three days, the two of us won't be returning to the lodge. As for food and drinking water, I'll handle finding them for you myself."
"What!?... Hey! Are you serious!? Wait! Hikigaya, wait up!"
I turned around and walked into the forest, ignoring Issei's loud shouting that followed right behind me.
.
.
"Hey Hikigaya, where are we going?"
"To the training ground. We'll be there soon."
After walking through the dense forest for a while, we finally arrived at our destination.
The scenery before us was a small waterfall. Gentle currents cascaded down from the rocky cliff before softly hitting the basin below. Fine water droplets drifted and collided with the faint sunlight filtering through the trees, creating shimmering sparkles and faint rainbows in the air.
The surrounding atmosphere was filled with tranquility. The sound of rustling leaves swaying with the wind blended with the sound of the flowing water, soothing the mind into a surprisingly clear state.
And not far from the waterfall area, there was a medium-sized open space cleared of trees, perfectly suited to be used as a dueling arena for combat training.
"This is the place."
"Wow, I thought you were going to throw me into some monster pit somewhere. Turns out it actually looks like a good place. So... what are we doing next?"
Issei let out a sigh of relief.
"We aren't doing anything today. I want your body to be in the best possible condition for tomorrow..."
I slowly sat down on a rock before shifting my gaze to the bright red gauntlet on Issei's left arm.
"In the meantime, the two of us are going to have a talk... with one more presence."
"Huh? One more presence? Who?"
"It's your Boosted Gear."
"Eh!? This thing can talk!?"
Issei had a stunned look on his face, raising the arm wearing the red gauntlet and staring at it, unable to believe his eyes.
"Don't forget that inside your Sacred Gear resides the Red Dragon Emperor, the Welsh Dragon. Among all Sacred Gears, there aren't many weapons that possess their own will or have a spirit residing inside them like this. And for the most part, if they aren't high-tier weapons... they usually belong to the dragon race."
"Does that mean there are others... people who have something like mine...?"
Issei muttered softly to himself, his expression showing awe and a momentary daze.
"Hey, Issei... Let me ask you directly. Have you ever dreamed of, or seen any kind of vision about, the Red Dragon?"
"Ah!... Now that you mention it, yeah. It used to appear in my dreams too..."
Issei raised his hand to scratch his head, recalling the memory.
"It was a gigantic dragon, its body covered in fiery red scales. Its green eyes were freakin' terrifying... But the weird thing is, in that dream, it felt like it was constantly trying to say or tell me something."
"That wasn't just a dream."
I interrupted in an indifferent tone.
"What you saw was the soul and a reflected vision of the Red Dragon Emperor. It was trying to communicate with you and connect directly to your subconscious."
"As for the reason why a dragon-level soul remains silent or refuses to respond to you directly under normal circumstances... it's not because he can't speak."
"It's because your current state of mind, body, and understanding of your power are still too green for him to fully accept you as a partner."
"Does that mean I suck?"
"Pretty much."
"At least try to give me some words of comfort!"
"Reality is always harsh. Learn to accept it. Besides, words of comfort are just lies made up to appease losers, entirely devoid of sincerity."
"I don't wanna hear your sarcastic jabs!... So how are we supposed to talk to this gauntlet then?"
"Hmm... There is a way, but it might hurt a little."
"Might!? Be straight with me! If it hurts too much, count me out!"
"Come on, think of it as doing it for your Buchou. If you don't wake this Red Dragon up, there's no way you can defeat Riser. Advice from it plays an extremely important part in developing your strength."
"Ugh.. Okay, fine!"
Just by dangling a girl in front of him, this guy swallowed my bait completely.
"Then stretch out your left hand."
Issei extended his left hand wearing the Boosted Gear toward me with a fearful expression, right before I reached out to gently touch the green gem on the back of his hand.
To wake a dragon, one must also use a dragon. Dragons always respond to the 'instinct' and 'pressure' of their own kind, especially when an unfamiliar dragon intrudes upon their territory.
I squeezed out the aura of power from another cell hidden deep within my body. It was something dark and deeply malevolent... Even I myself didn't fully understand it, but every time I released this aura, I always felt as if I were being swallowed and overtaken by it bit by bit.
Waves of black aura slowly flowed through my palm before shooting directly into the green gem, subsequently expanding to cover the entire gauntlet.
Rumble—!
Whoosh!
The green gem on the red gauntlet suddenly flashed brightly, accompanied by violent vibrations that jerked Issei's arm repeatedly.
"A... Arghhh!! What's happening?! ...Ughhh!!"
Issei screamed out in pain. He gritted his teeth, enduring a burning sensation as if acid were corroding his hand. Yet even though he was in excruciating agony, he still refused to pull his hand back—not after he had explicitly given his consent.
Shortly after, the dragon power from inside the gauntlet suddenly erupted, instinctively clashing with and neutralizing my black pressure.
Like an ancient dragon raging as an intruder stepped into its territory.
『Brat... Do you realize what you've done? Your reckless action just now could have killed your partner!』
A deep voice, steeped in authority and majesty, suddenly echoed directly from the green gem before resounding through the auditory nerves of the two of us.
"Whoa! The... The voice really came out of the gauntlet!—Wait! Did it just say I could've died?!!"
Issei shouted in a panic, clutching his arm in extreme shock.
I didn't care about Issei's noisy shouting in the slightest. My eyes remained unfazed, fixed on the gauntlet in front of me, particularly the green gem that was the source of the voice moments ago.
"He didn't die though... Don't worry, your host won't die from something like this."
Because main characters don't die easily just from being pressed by a little pressure like this.
『Hmph... What an arrogant brat.』
Ddraig's voice bore a trace of surprise while letting out a quiet sigh.
『Regardless, since you've awakened me... What do you want?』
"You should already know. Since this guy wants to get strong enough to defeat an opponent who is an immortal Phoenix, the short preparation time we have isn't going to be enough..."
"Advice from you will be immensely useful for his strength development. After all, the one who knows and understands the power of the Boosted Gear best is the owner of that power like you, isn't it?"
『Even though I agree with your view that I play a crucial role in the host's development, and naturally that is the reality, I am still displeased with how you skipped steps to wake me up.』
"It's only natural to risk one's life for something like this... If you want results that surpass human limits but are so afraid of pain that you dare not trade anything, then push off back to your bedroom and sweet-talk your dreams."
『...What a hilariously straightforward thing to say. Quite interesting indeed...』
Ddraig let out a low chuckle in his throat before gradually calming down the power circulating within the gauntlet.
『It is true as you say. To overthrow a Phoenix who possesses immortal regenerative power with my host's current power level... If he doesn't trade it with sweat, agony, or even his life, it remains nothing more than a shallow dream. And I myself am sick and tired of having to endure my host's current state.』
"Hey! What's that supposed to mean!"
Issei bared his teeth and immediately complained.
『Sigh... If the White One saw this, I'd probably be mocked to the point of not knowing where to hide my face... Partner, you must hurry up and get stronger. I can feel his presence... It isn't very far from the town where you live.』
"The White One? You mean the other Heavenly Dragon?"
『That is correct... That guy is the Vanishing Dragon, Albion. A Heavenly Dragon who is both my destiny and my eternal rival.』
Ddraig's tone shifted instantly. From sounding relaxed earlier, it became noticeably deeper and serious.
『Tracing back to the ancient Three-Way War, Albion and I fought each other relentlessly, bringing ruin across Heaven and Hell. Ultimately, the God of the Bible together with the Four Satans had to join forces to slay our physical bodies before sealing my soul inside the Boosted Gear and sealing Albion inside the Divine Dividing...』
『However, that was not the end.』
The green gem on the gauntlet flashed brightly, as if responding to the thousands of years of memories belonging to this Red Dragon Emperor.
『Our souls became Sacred Gears and were passed down to human bodies across every era. And that was the beginning of an endless cycle...』
『Whichever human possesses my power or Albion's will eventually be drawn together by destiny, ending up slaughtering one another until a victor is decided.』
『In some eras, my host and his never met at all because one side died before their power could fully awaken. Some eras were merely brief battles for supremacy...』
『But no matter how many eras have passed, the bloodline and will of the Two Dragon Emperors... have never spared anyone.』
"Then why were you guys fighting?"
Issei asked in confusion, tilting his head without understanding.
『Hmm... I have forgotten myself. Or... perhaps there was no reason right from the start.』
Ddraig's answer caused the surrounding atmosphere to fall quiet for a moment. The sound of the waterfall behind us continued to surge down against the cliff face incessantly, as if emphasizing the absurdity of a cycle that had persisted for thousands of years.
『Originally, the White One and I merely happened to meet on an ancient battlefield. Both of us were supreme entities that had surpassed the limits of living beings.』
『At first, we simply wanted to fight to prove who was number one, wanting to know who among all dragons was truly the strongest... But the longer we fought, the more our power interfered with the Three-Way War. In the end, both Gods and Devils couldn't take it anymore and had to team up to deal with us. Haha.』
A low chuckle leaked from the green gem, resembling a laugh mocking his own memories.
『After being slain and having our souls sealed inside Sacred Gears, instead of our grudge ending... the desire to defeat the other became deeply engraved into our souls instead. The hosts of each era had to carry on this will of slaughter... from one generation to the next.』
『Until finally, it was no longer a matter of reason... It became nothing more than a crazy instinct that no one could stop anymore.』
"Sigh... Should I even be happy about getting your power? Why couldn't you guys just reconcile... Does this mean that one day, I'll have to fight someone sharing the same fate as me...?"
Issei muttered to himself, his expression turning sorrowful as his shoulders slumped visibly at the thought of the heavy burden lying ahead in the future.
The green gem on the gauntlet glowed slowly before pausing for a moment, as if Ddraig were sighing at his young partner's anxiety.
『Partner... Don't make a face like the world is coming to an end just yet. Although the fate of us Two Dragon Emperors is filled with slaughter, possessing my power doesn't bring only bad things, you know.』
"Eh? What do you mean?"
『Hmph... You might not know this yet, but dragons have been entities of absolute power and wealth since ancient times. And one of the special characteristics of a dragon's aura is... it possesses an immense attraction toward the opposite sex.』
"EH—!! A... Attraction toward the opposite sex?!"
『That is correct.』
Ddraig's deep voice was clearly tinged with pride.
『Almost every male human host who possessed my power in the past, excluding those who were so obsessed with fighting that they ignored the outside world... each had beautiful women and powerful ladies surrounding them at all times. That is the natural, irresistible charm of the dragon race.』
"R... Really?! Surrounding me... like a harem!!"
Issei's eyes sparkled brightly. His sorrowful expression from moments ago vanished in the blink of an eye, as if it had never existed.
I looked at Issei's sudden change of expression before letting out a quiet chuckle in my throat.
'So easily tricked... Just dangling a big juicy bone regarding women made him completely forget about the death waiting right in front of him.'
『Alright, partner... Now that you know what reward awaits you if you survive and get stronger, we can worry about the fate with the White One later. Right now, you must quickly become stronger to prepare for the coming enemy.』
"Oohhh!! I'm completely fired up now, dammit!! No matter what kind of training it is or who I have to fight, I'm ready for it all!!"
Issei raised his fist to the sky with full enthusiasm, as if his anxiety from a moment ago had never existed in his head to begin with.
『Hahaha... Once in a while, meeting a host like this isn't too bad either.』
"Then that's settled..."
I stood up, gently brushing off the dust sticking to my pants.
"Issei, I'm going to do some hunting to prepare dinner. In the meantime, talk and get acquainted with that dragon."
I was about to step away, but the deep voice of the Red Dragon held me back first.
『Brat... Aren't you going to introduce yourself?』
"Hmm?"
I glanced back slightly.
"Ah... My name is Hikigaya Hachiman. Just a 'human'."
『Can you really still call yourself a human? Even if your outer shell remains as such... the inside of your body is so chaotic that hardly any trace of the original remains.』
『In all my life, I have never encountered anything like this before... What a laughable combination.』
"Mind your own business."
I turned my back and began walking forward, paying no mind to the dragon's words that continued to chase after me.
『It's not as if I want to pry into your business either... I do not know what you've done to make your condition turn out like that... but there is one thing I wish to warn you about.』
『That dark aura you released earlier... That malevolent power, even though a vast amount of time has passed, I still remember its feeling vividly.』
My footsteps paused slightly.
『Once upon a time... I encountered it before. I cannot say for certain what it actually is... but the feeling I sensed from that power feels surprisingly familiar. Though it is so faint it's almost impossible to piece together, and cannot compare to the power I encountered in the past... I can still feel something similar within it.』
『I do not know why such power resides within you, but if you continue to force its use without care...』
Ddraig's voice lowered, leaving behind a grave warning.
『One day, you might be swallowed by that thing... until not even a trace of yourself remains.』
My back remained quiet and still. A gust of mountain wind blew past, carrying mist from the waterfall against my face.
"...Well, thanks for the warning then."
I replied briefly without looking back, before disappearing deep into the dense forest, leaving the dragon and his useless partner to spend time alone together.
.
~Third Person POV~
The next day.
"Hikigaya, then how are we going to train?"
Issei asked his friend who was standing in front of him.
The dark-haired young man, who had a streak of white hair on his front bangs, was standing still with his eyes closed in a calm manner, as if quietly organizing his thoughts and processing the various steps that were about to happen inside his head.
"There's not much to it..."
Hachiman replied in a flat voice while still keeping his eyes closed.
"After this, you just do what you think you should do... to everything you see, that will be enough."
"...?"
Issei tilted his head slightly, not quite understanding what Hachiman was trying to convey.
"Are you ready?"
"Of course! Whenever you start, come at me!"
"Then..."
Hachiman slowly opened his eyes. The anomaly in Issei's sight was that Hachiman's left eye was now a radiant gold, shaped like the eye of a beast, before a magic crest of gold alternating with black emerged and terrifyingly overlaid upon that eye.
"Welcome to a world that is cruel for you."
Whoosh—!
Suddenly, the scenery in front of him distorted and changed completely.
The image of the training ground and the waterfall instantly collapsed and vanished in the blink of an eye, leaving behind only a spacious, luxurious hall. And right in front of him... was the sight of Riser Phoenix standing with a sneering smile, while tightly wrapping his arms around the body of Rias Gremory.
"Buchou...!!"
Issei's eyes widened, his heart dropping violently.
"Haha! Look at the state of this trash, Rias..."
Riser's voice rang out mockingly. The Phoenix youth bent down, arrogantly using his finger to lift Rias's chin, before intentionally imprinting his lips onto the crook of her neck right before his very eyes.
"How could someone like him come to protect you? In the end, you belong to me anyway~"
"Get your filthy hands off Buchou right now, you damn yakitori!!"
At that moment, a feeling of choked suffocation and an unoriginated fury suddenly surged forth from the deepest depths of his heart! Issei felt as if the blood in his body was pumping to a scorching heat. The sight before him insulted his dignity as a man and crushed his heart into pieces. The frustration of being so weak that he could only watch someone important get snatched away before his eyes was more agonizing than having his body burned by acid!
"boosted gear!!"
Rumbleee!
A gauntlet appeared covering his left hand. The green gem on the gauntlet flashed brilliantly and instantly let out a roaring echo in response to that inner impulse!
[BOOST!!]
The dragon flame aura exploded and soared out of Issei's body, causing the training ground in reality to shake violently!
.
.
On another side...
At the practice field in front of the mansion lodge.
"Rias... is something wrong?"
Akeno, who was walking out of the kitchen to call everyone for dinner, spoke up upon seeing Rias standing absentmindedly, her eyes staring off toward the direction of the deep forest—the same direction where Hachiman and Issei had separated to train since this morning.
"No, nothing..."
Rias averted her gaze back while letting out a gentle sigh.
"I just recalled hikigaya's words from yesterday, and I have a bad premonition, to the point where I can't help but worry about Issei."
"Do you mean... about the training where he said you might not agree with his methods?"
"Yes..."
Akeno fell silent for a moment. The smile adorning her face calmed down before she asked further in a flat tone.
"Rias... Do you not trust hikigaya-kun?"
"Hmm... Saying it like that sounds a bit cruel, for someone who is even a disciple of Grayfia..."
Rias lowered her eyes, clearly showing a troubled expression.
"I know very well that he is capable, and I can sense his genuine intention... But precisely because he is Grayfia's disciple, I am all the more worried. His way of thinking and handling problems is decisive, cold, and disregards the process, as long as it achieves the desired result. I'm just afraid that Issei won't be able to handle that kind of pressure—"
Boommmmm!!
As Rias finished her sentence, a thunderous explosion suddenly shook from the direction of the deep forest where Issei was. The vibration spread throughout the area, accompanied by a shouting curse that echoed across the valley.
"You damn yakitori!! I told you to let go of Buchou!!"
Boommmmmmm!!
"Aarghhhhh!!"
Even though the scream and explosion were far away, due to the superhuman senses of Devils, both of them could clearly hear the sound waves and the commotion.
"Issei!"
Rias's expression changed instantly.
She quickly spread her Devil wings, preparing to rush to the scene in an anxious frenzy. But before her body could launch into the sky, her wrist was grabbed by Akeno first.
"Wait, Rias! Have you forgotten Hikigaya-kun's warning from yesterday?"
"But just now I heard Issei shouting Riser's name! Something must have happened over there!"
Rias turned back to reply with a serious tone.
"Calm down first, it's so unlike you."
Akeno said in a slightly serious tone while gently tapping her finger against her lips, before turning back to look at the black smoke rising and drifting above the forest.
"If the real Riser came here, shouldn't we have been able to sense the presence of the Phoenix power? But the energy pulse erupting over there is only Issei-kun's dragon power aura. Perhaps all of this might be hikigaya's own doing."
"Did he use illusion magic?"
"Perhaps so... Earlier during the clash at the meeting as well."
Rias knitted her brows tightly, pondering over a certain illogical aspect regarding hikigaya's ability.
"But... even if it's high-level illusion arts, it shouldn't be able to go to this extent, right? Why couldn't I sense any illusion magic flow at all... whether back then, or even right now?"
Whirrr—Boom!!
Crash!!
Another wave of explosions rang out, followed by a large crash of breaking trees. The sound of heavy impact echoed loudly as if something was colliding violently. Every sound echoed throughout the forest and valley, even if the source was several kilometers away.
Akeno continued to look in the direction of the explosion sound before speaking to Rias.
"Rias, you're only half right."
"Eh?"
Rias raised her eyebrows slightly in curiosity.
"Part of the reason for the training method looking so decisive and coercive might be due to this short time limit, you know."
Akeno paused while clasping her hands in front.
"Besides, didn't he inform you in advance that it might be necessary to be cruel in order to force Issei-kun to become stronger in time for this battle?"
"Moreover, wasn't Issei-kun the one who chose to step behind him voluntarily? That boy, although he looks perverted and nonsense day in and day out, when he decides to get serious, his heart is as strong as anyone's... So, as a leader, why don't we try placing a little trust in both of them?"
Akeno's words made Rias's beautiful blue eyes quiver slightly. The worry that had once eaten away at her heart began to ease. She closed her eyes to take in the mountain breeze for a moment before letting out a soft smile.
"I suppose so... I'm really useless, aren't I? Even though I'm their leader, I turned out to be the one worrying needlessly instead."
Rias shrugged gently while turning around toward the lodge building.
"Thanks, Akeno... Then let's go call the others to eat..."
A moment later, Rias remembered something and turned to speak to Akeno.
"Come to think of it, there's one thing I wanted to ask you."
"What is it?"
"Why do you like to tease hikigaya? Don't you hate men?"
Rias stared closely at her best friend's expression. She knew well what kind of past trauma Akeno had, so she couldn't help but wonder.
Akeno fell silent, as if reflecting on her own reasons.
"Umm... I don't really understand it myself either."
She raised her finger to gently touch her lips while tilting her head slightly.
"Maybe... I just wanted to try making that man lose his composure a bit."
Akeno laughed softly.
"Fufufu~ But sadly it hardly worked. He barely responded to anything... Maybe that's why."
She stopped talking for a moment before the smile on her face turned into a subtle amused smile.
"...But that time was the very first time I saw him blush."
"Ah... When Grayfia praised him, right?"
"That's right. It was a little cute.. Someone who usually has a poker face and looks cold like him actually blushing like that too. That's why I wanted to try making him like that again."
"You really are an odd person, Akeno."
"My, my~ Still, I'm not as much as you, Buchou."
"What does that mean?"
"It's nothing."
(Break)
~Hikigaya pov~
.
.
"Hah!... Haah... Haah... Ugh... I have to... save Buchou no matter what... One more time [BOOST]!"
"[EXPLOSION!]"
"Take this!! Dragon Shot —!!"
Wheeeeen—! Vwooooomb!
As expected of the protagonist... Even though his power was practically completely exhausted, he showed no signs of giving up easily. On top of that, his physical state was so battered and beaten that it was painful to look at. Suffice to say, it exceeded my expectations by a wide margin.
Perhaps... if no one came to stop him, or if he wasn't truly injured to the point of drawing his last breath, this guy would definitely grit his teeth and get up to keep fighting endlessly.
This must be another one of those personal miracles reserved for the 'protagonist role'...
I reached my hand forward, quickly accelerating the creation of a defensive magic barrier right in my palm to intercept Issei's attack.
BOOOOOOM!! CRASHHHH!
Perhaps because the time spent charging and accumulating power was too short, the attack's ray lacked sufficient intensity... Even my single layer of ordinary magic barrier didn't have so much as a single crack on it.
"Damn it! Wh... Why didn't it work?!"
"[RESET]"
After blocking the magic beam, I summoned a medium-sized fireball into my hand before immediately hurling it straight into Issei's body.
Whooosh—BOOM!!
"Aaaaaarrrrggghhh!!!"
'This much should be enough...'
"Ugh... Cough! Splat!"
Issei collapsed to the ground, his body trembling violently before spewing fresh blood, staining the earth.
The wounds from taking a direct hit from the fireball, his battered state, and the fatigue from forcing and squeezing out dragon power far beyond its limit forced his ordinary human body into ultimate turmoil.
He slowly raised his face, soaked in sweat and blood, with great difficulty, attempting to reach out a trembling hand toward me... The eyes staring at me were like those of a madman pleading, desperately wanting to reach out and protect the single most important thing in his life.
Even if the figure right before him at this moment was merely an empty illusion.
"B... Buchou... I have to... save..."
Those were the final words he squeezed out from his dry throat before his eyelids gradually closed, and his entire body fell flat, losing consciousness just like that.
I looked at the image in front of me stilly before closing my left eye to release all the illusion spells.
'...Ugh'
The moment I canceled the spell, my body stumbled backward to the point of almost falling, but luckily I managed to grab the tree beside me just in time, allowing me to brace myself back into a firm stand.
"Haah... Hah..."
Sigh... Looks like I forced my own body a bit too much as well.
I had never used this skill continuously for this long before. No wonder the side effects were more severe than any previous time.
I'll probably have to hold off on using it for another stretch of time.
It's a skill that requires three times more brainpower than usual. To explain it in easy-to-understand terms, it's like having to play a game on two screens at the same time, with each screen on a different side, and having to control both sides simultaneously.
Because of that, it demands high concentration and consumes quite a lot of brain energy.
Every time I finish using it, my head feels dizzy, followed by a throbbing pain to the point where I almost want to throw up.
That's why I can't use it frequently.
Otherwise, I'd end up actually throwing up.
『Kid... Even though I agreed to cooperate with you, don't you think this is a bit too cruel?』
The reason Issei was completely unable to perceive that what he was seeing was merely an illusion was because Ddraig didn't say a single word to tell him.
Last night, after Issei fell sound asleep, I talked with Ddraig and made an agreement regarding this aggressive training method. Although at first he didn't seem quite onboard with it, in the end he agreed after I brought up Albion to use as an excuse.
I answered the dragon sealed inside the gauntlet in a flat tone, while squatting down to check the pulse on the neck of the unconscious person in front of me.
"I suppose... But for a guy like him, even if you preach to him with a hundred chapters of logic or theory, it will never enter his head."
"The only thing that can stimulate the instincts inside him... is fear, resentment, and the pain of loss."
The pulse was still beating, though faint, but steady and strong.
Tough beyond human limits, really, this guy—oh, right, I forgot that this guy isn't a human anymore.
After that, I used healing magic to perform basic first aid on Issei to stabilize his condition and prevent it from deteriorating any further.
Unfortunately, even if I could use almost every branch of magic, healing itself still had its limitations. Because ultimately, high-level magic still needed to rely on the user's talent and innate abilities that were predetermined from the beginning.
To put it simply... Just because I knew a vast amount of magic didn't mean I would be able to heal every wound perfectly.
At least for now, stabilizing his condition and letting his body recover on its own was probably the best choice.
"Anyway... So how is it? Does his determination meet your liking?"
『Hmm... Although this brat's demonic power is lowly, that won't be a problem once he receives my power. What is most necessary is an unyielding determination, because a Sacred Gear responds to the mental state and strong desires of its user...』
Ddraig's voice sounded slightly more serious than usual.
『Perhaps my host this time might be shockingly compatible with the power of the Boosted Gear...』
Then that voice instantly shifted into an exhausted tone.
『The only regret is that this guy is just a bit too crazy about women's breasts.』
"Not really... The very motivation driven by breasts might actually make him stronger than anyone else."
I raised the corner of my lips slightly before continuing in a mocking tone.
"Heheh... Perhaps in the future, this guy might gain the title of 'Oppai Dragon'."
『...』
Silence covered the area for a moment.
It seemed Ddraig had no idea what he ought to answer back.
『..Sigh… Regarding that, please.. don't let it happen.』