High School DxD: Return of the Crimson Dragon Emperor

Chapter 51: Chapter 49: To the Party Venue!!

The day of the party arrived.

I stood in the guest room, decked out in a black tuxedo. Well, ”decked out” might be generous—more like I was stuffed into it by the maids under Venelana-san’s orders. It’s a party, and with Buchou and the others wearing dresses, I guess I had to dress up too.

”Hey, Issei-kun. You’re pulling it off pretty well,” Kiba said.

”Coming from the handsome prince himself, that doesn’t mean much,” I replied.

Kiba’s in a tux too, and damn, he looks good—like some noble straight out of a fairy tale. Is it his face? His poise? Ugh, why wasn’t I born a pretty boy!?

”Yo, Hyoudou, Kiba,” a voice called.

I turned to see Saji. ”Hey, long time no see. What’re you doing here?”

”The President’s entering the venue with Rias-senpai, so us Sitri familiars tagged along. She went to meet Rias-senpai, the Vice-President and others wandered off, so I was just roaming. Ended up here.”

Got it. Saji got lost. The Gremory residence is huge, so I can’t blame him.

He plopped onto a nearby chair. ”Heard you’re not in the game, Hyoudou.”

”Yeah, word travels fast.”

Yesterday, it was decided I couldn’t join the Rating Game. Azazel-sensei said my power’s too far above the others. Man, I really wanted to compete.

”The President was bummed. She wanted to face the full-strength Gremory team,” Saji said.

”That so? Well, even without me, the others aren’t pushovers,” I replied.

”No way we’re underestimating them. Kiba and the rest are plenty strong. That’s why we’re going all out in the game. I trained hard for this,” Saji said.

Looks like the Sitri team trained too. Saji’s aura is way stronger than before—must’ve been a brutal regimen.

”Oh, yeah, I owe you one,” Saji added.

”Huh? For what?”

”At that young devils’ gathering, when the higher-ups mocked the President’s dream, you got pissed for her. Thanks for that.”

”No big deal. Just standing up for a fellow academy student.”

”Still, it meant a lot. Felt like you acknowledged the President’s... our dream.”

Sona-kaichou’s dream: a Rating Game school in the Underworld open to all devils, not just high-class ones. It’s Saji’s dream too, apparently.

”Acknowledge? It’s an awesome dream,” I said.

”Yeah. That’s why we’re dead set on making it real. And to do that, we’re beating you guys in the game!” Saji declared.

”Nah, we’re winning! ...Well, I’m not playing, but still. Kiba, say something!”

Kiba gave a wry smile. ”Passing it to me, huh? We’ll win, Saji-kun. No way we’re losing.”

Kiba’s smirk was fearless, and Saji’s grin held a serious glint in his eyes.

The door opened. ”Sorry to keep you waiting, Issei, Yuto. Oh, Saji-kun’s here too,” Buchou said.

The club members strutted in, dolled up in dresses, makeup, and styled hair—looking like princesses! Well, Buchou is a real princess. Akeno-san’s in a Western dress, and she’s beyond gorgeous—super ultra-beautiful! Asia, Koneko-chan, even tomboyish Xenovia look amazing!

But one issue... ”Oi, Gasper, why’re you in a dress?”

”B-Because I wanted to wear one!” he stammered.

This guy...

”Saji’s here too, I see,” Sona-kaichou said, also dressed to the nines. Wow, she’s cute!

”Woooo! Kaichou, you’re crazy cute!!” Saji shouted, nosebleeding. Watch the suit, man!

”Aw, I wanted to go too,” Miu said, popping up in casual clothes.

Miu’s staying behind—makes sense, it’s a devil party. ”Looking cool in that outfit,” she told me.

”Thanks. These stuffy clothes aren’t my thing, though.”

”You have to dress properly for these things,” she said.

Spoken like a true former princess—strict about etiquette.

”Sucks you can’t come, Miu. Would’ve loved to see you in a dress,” I said.

”Really? Maybe I’ll show you next time.”

”Don’t stress about it. What’re you doing today? Won’t you be bored alone?”

”Nah, I’m learning Underworld cooking from Rias-san’s mom.”

Huh, didn’t know Venelana-san could cook. Then again, Buchou can, so maybe it’s not surprising.

The door opened again, and a butler entered. ”Pardon me. Tannin-sama and his familiars have arrived.”

Outside in the courtyard, Tannin stood with ten dragons as big as him. Talk about a sight! So, all his familiars are dragons?

”As promised, I’m here, Issei Hyoudou,” Tannin said.

”Thanks, old man.”

”We’ll generate a special barrier while you ride, so your clothes and hair won’t get messed up. Relax,” he added.

Nice! That’s Tannin for you—total gentleman!

”Thank you, Tannin. There are Sitri members too—can you take them?” Buchou asked.

”Oh, Rias-jou, looking stunning. Of course,” he replied.

We hopped onto the dragons’ backs and headed to the venue. Riding on Tannin’s head, I took in the view—absolutely breathtaking!

Never thought I’d see this from a dragon’s back, Ddraig said, chuckling.

Yeah, must be weird for a dragon like you.

”Oh, I’ve been meaning to ask, old man. Why’d you become a devil?” I said.

”Lots of reasons, but mainly Dragon Apples.”

”Dragon Apples? What’re those?”

”Apples dragons eat.”

Straight to the point, huh?

”Some dragon species can only survive on them. They used to grow in the human world, but environmental changes wiped them out,” Tannin explained.

”That’s bad, right?”

”Yeah. Now they only grow in the Underworld, but dragons are outcasts here—shunned by devils and fallen angels. So, I became a devil, claimed a territory with Dragon Apples, and made it my own. High-class devils and above can get land from the Demon Kings. I saw my chance.”

”So, those dragons live in your territory now?”

”Exactly. We’re researching how to grow Dragon Apples artificially. It’s a special fruit, so it’ll take time, but it’s worth it for their future.”

That’s incredible. Saving a whole species? Tannin’s a true Dragon King.

”You’re a great dragon, old man,” I said.

”Hahaha! First time I’ve heard that, especially from the Red Dragon Emperor! But I’m not doing anything special. Preserving a species is natural, right? Those with power help those without—don’t you think?” he said.

”Yeah, but that ’natural’ stuff is tough. You pulling it off is amazing.”

”Is that so?” Tannin chuckled.

Near the venue, we parted with Tannin and headed to the party in limousines prepared for the Gremory and Sitri teams. We arrived at a towering luxury hotel. Armed guards were everywhere—probably tight security for a Demon King-hosted event.

The limousine stopped at the hotel entrance, where a ton of staff welcomed us. Akeno-san checked in at the front desk, and we headed to the elevator.

”The top floor’s the venue,” she said.

What floor is that? I glanced at the elevator display—two hundred!? The Underworld’s scale is insane.

As we reached the top, the doors opened, revealing a dazzling hall. The floor was packed with devils and mouthwatering food, with a massive chandelier overhead. Way too fancy!

”Ohh!” the crowd gasped as Buchou entered, drawing all eyes.

”Rias-hime is even more beautiful now...”

”Sirzechs-sama must be proud.”

Buchou’s a star wherever she goes.

”...So many people...” Gasper mumbled, nervous but keeping up. Training’s paying off—normally, he’d be hiding in a cardboard box. Gotta praise him later.

”Issei, come with me for greetings,” Buchou said.

”Huh? Oh, got it.”

Lots of devils in the Underworld know me, and apparently, a ton of high-class ones want to say hi. They seemed super curious.

”Ugh, I’m beat,” I groaned, slumping into a chair at the edge of the floor with Asia and Gasper.

Buchou and Akeno-san were chatting with female devils far off. Kiba was swarmed by fangirls squealing. Damn it, pretty boys are the enemy!

I’m ready to go home. The greetings dragged on forever, and some idiots even asked about trading—like swapping me for one of their familiars. Trading’s a system where devil Kings exchange familiars of the same piece. Me, traded? Get real.

Devils are a greedy bunch. Naturally, some want a powerhouse like you under them, Ddraig said.

No way. I’m Buchou’s and nobody else’s.

”Issei, Asia, Gasper, I nabbed some food. Dig in,” Xenovia said, skillfully carrying a stack of plates.

”Thanks, Xenovia.”

”No biggie. Asia, at least sip a drink,” she urged.

”Thank you, Xenovia-san. I’m so nervous my throat’s dry...” Asia said, taking a glass.

I grabbed some food—delicious!

As I savored it, a girl in a dress approached. ”I-It’s been a while, Red Dragon Emperor.”

”Uh... Ravel Phenex, right?”

”Yes.”

Buchou’s ex-fiancé’s little sister. Been a few months—nostalgic.

”You look good. How’s your brother?” I asked.

Ravel sighed dramatically. ”Since losing to you, he’s been holed up. The defeat and losing Rias-sama to you hit him hard. That final blow you landed... he’s still traumatized.”

Yikes. I heard he was a shut-in, but it’s true, huh?

”He relied too much on talent and got cocky. It was a good lesson,” she added.

Harsh! Cutting her own brother like that?

”Wow, brutal. He’s still your King, right?” I said.

”No issue there. I’ve been traded to Mother’s familiars. She doesn’t play games, so I’m basically free.”

So, she’s not Raiser’s anymore.

”By the way, Red Dragon Emperor...”

”No need to be formal. Just call me Issei, like everyone else.”

”C-Can I really call you by name!?” she said, oddly thrilled.

”Why’re you so excited?”

”Ahem! Then, I’ll call you Issei-sama.”

”No ’-sama’ needed!”

”No, it’s important!”

...Is it? I don’t get it.

Another familiar face appeared. ”Ravel, your husband’s friend is calling,” said Isabella, Raiser’s Rook.

”Understood. Well, Issei-sama, I’ll take my leave. N-Next time we meet, would you like tea? I-I could bake a cake if you’re okay with it!” Ravel curtsied and left.

What a weird girl.

”Hey, Hyoudou Issei. Been since the game,” Isabella said.

”Yeah, good to see you, Isabella-san.”

”You remembered my name? Nice. I hear you’re making waves.”

”Not that much... Can I ask something?”

”What?”

”Did I do something to Ravel? She seemed super nervous talking to me.”

Isabella chuckled. ”She’s not scared of you—quite the opposite, actually. But I’ll leave it at that.”

”Huh? Okay... Tell her tea’s fine.”

”Really? She’ll be thrilled. Catch you later, Hyoudou Issei.” Isabella waved and left.

”Issei-senpai, you’re friends with a lot of devils,” Gasper said, eyes full of admiration.

Am I?

Then, I spotted a small figure—Koneko-chan, chasing something, looking urgent. Bad feeling...

”Asia, Xenovia, Gasper, I’m stepping out for a bit.”

”What’s wrong, Issei-san? Sirzechs-sama’s speech is soon,” Asia said.

”Just remembered something. I’ll be quick.”

”Got it. We’ll stay here,” Xenovia said.

I stood and chased Koneko-chan. She took an elevator going down. I hopped into the next one, and someone followed.

”Buchou?”

”Issei, I’m coming too. You’re chasing Koneko, right?”

”Yeah, you noticed too?”

”Of course. I’m always watching you all.”

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