High School DxD: Return of the Crimson Dragon Emperor

Chapter 141: Chapter 137: Press Conference Time!!

”Ugh, it’s not working...” I muttered, munching an onigiri during a break.

Our Gremory team was training in a vast underground space in Gremory territory for the upcoming game. Usually, I coach the frontline—Kiba, Xenovia, Koneko—but lately, I’ve been focused on Kiba’s intensive training to unlock his two potential paths. He’s already nailed one. Damn, his talent’s insane. Jealous!

My training? Sparring with Tiamat, no armor. I’m chasing my own new potential, but zero progress. Talentless tears!

In the distance, Rossweisse trained Xenovia, while Gasper and Koneko supported. Rias and Akeno clashed with magic. Asia, Irina, and Reyna practiced spells learned from Azazel and Rossweisse. Miu and Alice advised each group.

With the game nearing, everyone’s grinding, but our schedule’s brutal: classes, festival prep, devil jobs, training. Stray devil requests? We crush them. One hit for the nasty ones—no time to waste.

”You’re already strong. No need to rush,” Tiamat said, eating a mentaiko onigiri. Mine’s salmon.

True, rushing’s bad. I build power slowly.

Kiba, sipping tea, said, ”I’m stuck on the second path too. Don’t sweat it.”

”That one’s super irregular, per Azazel and Ddraig. Even you can’t crack it easily,” I replied.

Kiba’s next stage... tricky.

”I’m considering Zone training, but too soon?” Kiba asked.

”Hold off. Too much at once will wreck you. Focus on what’s ahead,” I said.

Tiamat nodded. ”Don’t rush, Issei. Talent or not, overdoing it breaks the body.”

Zone training—Kiba’s antsy knowing Cao Cao uses it. Our enemies know our strength and are training hard. Kiba wants to keep up, but simultaneous training risks burnout.

”Issei-sama, can anyone use the Zone?” Ravel asked, handing me tea.

”Thanks. It’s extreme focus, unrelated to ability. Everyone has potential, but few access it. Entering by chance is hard; doing it consciously is tougher. It’s high-level,” I said.

”You can, right?” she asked.

”Sorta.” I stumbled into it against Sirius, mastered it consciously with Master’s training. It’s a risky shortcut, though—pushing qi directly to my brain. Overdo it, and my brain’s toast.

”Skip Zone training for now, got it?” I told Kiba. He nodded, ending the topic.

As I relaxed with tea, Rias approached, her tracksuit tattered from sparring. Underboob visible! Erotic! Eye candy!

”You done?” I asked.

”Yeah, Xenovia’s group too,” Rias said.

Xenovia and Rossweisse were collapsed, exhausted. Miu and Alice, done advising, started sparring—BOOM! Miu’s magic cannon clashed with Alice’s white lightning. Intense.

Alice got serious after learning this world’s stakes. Only Miu, me, or sometimes Tiamat can match her. She’s faster than Kiba, with bursts stronger than Xenovia.

Rias, fixing her clothes with magic, sat beside me. ”I can’t picture beating those two.”

”Haha...” They’re top-class devil level. Tough for Rias now.

”Rias-sama, know the game’s venue?” Ravel asked.

”Aerial city Agreas in Agares territory. They’re expecting a big crowd, so it’s not a long-term match,” Rias said.

Floating island Agreas—pure fantasy vibes. Short battle for the audience, then.

”Games are entertainment too. Fans matter,” Rias said with a wry smile.

”Rias-sama’s Gremory team and Sairaorg-sama’s Bael team are big news. Both defeated terrorists, and Issei-sama’s debut is hyped daily,” Ravel added.

”Seriously!?” My debut’s that big? Oppai Dragon fame?

”You’re a star as Oppai Dragon, a low-class devil with Maou-class power. Of course you’re hyped,” Ravel said.

I’m floored. Didn’t know! Can’t afford a weak showing.

”Tiamat, one more round!” I said.

”Stop. Overdoing it affects tomorrow’s press conference,” Rias said.

”Huh?” Press conference?

Blinking, I stared. Rias smiled. ”Didn’t I mention? Tomorrow, we and Sairaorg’s team have a joint press conference before the game. It’s televised, so no weird faces.”

”Whaaat!?” First I’m hearing this!

Next day, we waited in a fancy hotel’s upstairs lounge in Gremory territory. Lavish furniture, tables with fruit, cakes, snacks. The conference was downstairs, a simple pre-game hype session. Rias and Sairaorg would lead, but I’d get questions—Oppai Dragon, after all.

What to say? First interview, kinda nervous.

”You faced Michael without flinching but this scares you?” Ddraig teased.

Ast-Ade meetings desensitized me to big shots.

”Your sense is off,” Ddraig said.

Whatever.

”Issei-senpai, try this,” Koneko said from my lap, feeding me a snack.

”Thanks!” Her butt’s divine!

Asia and Rossweisse fussed over makeup. ”Is this okay?” ”Does it suit me?” They’re gorgeous without it.

Xenovia, lightly made up, read a magazine, calm. Rias and Akeno, in school uniforms like us, radiated allure post-makeup. Our stunning big sisters.

”Gasper, girls’ uniform again?” I asked.

”Y-Yes... too late for boys’... I don’t wanna do this! Too much for a shut-in!” he wailed.

Kiba patted him, chuckling. ”Hang in there.”

Koneko’s extra clingy today, tugging my uniform earlier, now glued to my lap.

Noticing my curiosity, she blushed. ”No fried chicken today, so I want your lap.”

”Ara, Koneko’s worried Ravel’s stealing Issei,” Akeno teased.

”Stealing...” I started.

”Issei-senpai’s too kind, it’s troublesome,” Koneko said.

Haha, Koneko and Ravel, same age, turned rivals. She’s worried I’ll favor Ravel. Cute! Senior pride!

”Koneko, too adorable!” I hugged her.

”Nya!” She blushed, tail wagging, embarrassed but happy.

Her tail’s swish cut the air—super excited?

Rias stared. ”What’s up?” I asked.

She shook her head, flustered. Lately, she’s awkward around me. Worried?

A staffer entered. ”It’s time.”

”Gremory team has arrived!” the announcer said amid applause.

We entered a packed conference hall, reporters everywhere. A banner read ”Sairaorg Bael vs. Rias Gremory” in devil script.

Bael’s team was seated. We took our spots—Rias center, Akeno right, me left, others behind.

Gasper was already panicking, eyes darting. ”S-So many people...”

Too soon, Gasper! Tough it out, trap!

The emcee started, outlining the game’s basics. Rias and Sairaorg gave regal, spirited remarks.

Sairaorg’s aura felt leagues stronger. How’d he grow so fast?

Questions went to key players. Gremory’s women, popular with men, answered smoothly. Kiba, a ladies’ man, nailed it. Gasper, stiff, managed.

Then, me. ”To Oppai Dragon, Hyoudou Issei!”

”Yes?” Game hype? A word for kids? I’m big with them.

”Rumor says you power up by poking women’s breasts. Whose will you poke this time?”

”Pfft!” I choked. What!?

”Who said that!?”

”Governor Azazel. He said in an interview your show’s based on you gaining power by poking breasts.”

That guy again! Toying with me! Sure, poking Alice’s chest triggered my Balance Breaker, but don’t broadcast it!

”So, whose breasts this time?” the reporter pressed, eyes serious.

Do I have to answer? It was one time! I’ve powered up normally since!

I whispered to Rias, ”Help—”

”Rias! Did you say Rias-sama!?” a reporter shouted.

”What!?” I meant ”Rias, help!” How’d they hear that? No mic pickup!

”It’s not—” I tried, but reporters erupted.

”Poking your master’s chest for power, like the show! Rias-hime, comment!”

”I-I don’t know!” Rias, red-faced, hid behind her hands.

Sorry, Rias! No clue how this happened!

Akeno’s cackling. Help, don’t laugh!

”Sairaorg, your thoughts?” a reporter asked.

Don’t drag him in!

Sairaorg, deadpan, said, ”Poking Rias’s chest would make him terrifyingly strong.”

”Ooooh!” Reporters went wild.

Sairaorg, why!?

The conference exploded with excitement.

After, I groveled to a teary Rias. ”I’m so sorry...”

When Alice heard, she apologized to Rias, teary, and punched me.

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T/N: While I am an inexperienced Translator, I have a Patreon! While it may seem empty as of now, webnovel will get 2 Chapters Every Day, and advanced Chapters will be uploaded on Patreon.

There should be... around 20+ advanced Chapters?

[email protected]/Greyhounds

If you guys wanna check it out.