High School DxD: Return of the Crimson Dragon Emperor

Chapter 165: Chapter 160: Aiming for High-Class Devil!

The high-class and mid-class devil promotion exam venues are in separate locations.

Parting with Kiba and Akeno, I followed Ravel to the high-class exam venue. We crossed a corridor to a different wing from the reception area. Soon, a sign in devil script read: High-Class Devil Promotion Exam - Written Test Venue.

Here, I said goodbye to Ravel.

”I’ll head to the hotel now,” she said. ”I’ll return an hour before the exam ends.”

The high-class exam has more subjects, so it runs longer than the mid-class. Kiba and Akeno would head to the hotel first.

”Sorry, Ravel.”

”No! As your manager, it’s my duty!” she replied cheerfully.

”Haha, thanks. I’m off, then.”

”Good luck!”

With Ravel’s encouragement, I opened the venue door. Inside, long desks lined the room, like the university section of Kuoh Academy I once toured.

My exam number was ”001”—front row seat.

As I sat, whispers came from nearby.

”Is that... the Red Dragon Emperor?”

”Yeah, the promotion rumors were true.”

”He’s still low-class, right? A skip promotion?”

They’re really talking me up.

Four of us were in the room, including me, and three were gossiping. Should I join in?

[”Feeling lonely? Want big sis to hug you?”] Elsha teased.

Tempting, but later. That’d make me stand out too much here.

[”You’re already standing out.”] Ddraig quipped.

Shut up.

How’s your condition, Ddraig? You nearly had a mental breakdown last time.

[”Ugh... I’m fine. The prescribed meds must be working.”]

Those mental stabilizers... After hearing Elsha and Belzard’s screams, I checked the Sacred Gear and found Ddraig foaming at the mouth, eyes rolled back. Ophis and Ignis’s double whammy hit him hard—mostly Ignis’s fault.

Thanks to her, Ddraig’s on meds now.

[”Teasing Ddraig’s fun!”] Ignis chirped.

Stop it! The Dragon Protection Agency will sue you!

[”Is there such a thing? If so, I’d like protection...”] Ddraig groaned.

No idea! The Red Dragon Emperor begging for protection? Seriously?

The examiner entered, prompting report submissions. I handed mine over, prepared my exam sheet, and braced myself. What kind of questions await? I’m nervous but determined to deliver.

”Time’s up. Begin.”

”Ugh, what was with those questions? ’Levia-tan’s’ first-season villain names? Who knows that!?”

At the cafeteria downstairs, I slumped over a table.

The hours-long written exam was over. I tackled basic and advanced devil questions, even my weak areas like politics and economics, filling every blank. Some were guesses—leaving it to fate (or devil’s luck).

A sociology question about Serafall’s magical girl show, Levia-tan, stumped me. I skipped it. But the Breast Dragon Emperor questions? Nailed those. I’m the star, after all! I’ve checked the show.

Questions about the Khaos Brigade were easy too. Fighting them gives me better insight than most higher-ups.

Overall, the written exam went decently. I gave my all, but tough questions left some doubts. No use dwelling—time to score on the next tests.

The next exam was chess with an examiner in a private room, followed by an oral test.

I headed to the venue, finding a wooden door labeled Tactical Exam Venue. Knocking, I heard, ”Come in.”

”Excuse me.”

Inside, a round table held a chessboard with two chairs. A large table with a switch-like device sat in the back.

”Welcome, Hyoudou Issei-sama. I’ll be your examiner,” said a stunning woman in a sharp suit, long black hair, and glasses—capable, like a vice president.

”Pleased to meet you,” I bowed.

She smiled warmly. ”No need to be so formal. This is a high-class promotion exam, but overthinking can backfire. Enjoy the chess like a tea break.”

She’s kind—not the stern examiner I expected. She poured tea into two cups.

”Please, sit.”

I did, and she placed a teacup before me, sitting opposite.

”Here’s the exam outline,” she said. ”First, we play chess. Win or lose, it’s about your piece placement and decision-making process.”

Got it. No zero points for losing—just testing my ability to read tactics.

”After, we’ll move to that table for an oral exam. It projects terrain fields, and I’ll ask how you’d act under specific conditions—like a Rating Game simulation.”

Like Rias’s map strategy during our game with Riser. Cool.

”That’s the overview. Any questions?”

”None.”

”Then let’s begin.”

Hours later, I was back at the cafeteria, slumped again.

”So tired...” Mentally drained, not physically.

I lost at chess. That woman was too good. I held my own, thanks to practice with Rias and Ravel, but her strategy trapped my king. She said win or lose didn’t matter, but I wanted to win. I think my process was solid—I wasn’t completely outplayed.

[”The oral exam went well, though,”] Ddraig said.

True. My battle experience made answering smooth. She seemed impressed at times.

[”Last exam’s next. Give it your all.”]

Right. Indoor arena, twenty minutes, change into gym clothes.

Kiba and Akeno must be done and at the hotel. They probably aced it—smart, knowledgeable, and way past mid-class combat level. They’d need to hold back against examinees.

”Ise-sama, there you are,” Ravel called.

”Hey, Ravel, you’re back already?”

”Yes, it’s an hour before the exam ends.”

”Already?” I glanced at the clock—yup, one hour left.

”The practical exam pits examinees against each other,” Ravel said. ”With only four high-class candidates, it’ll be quick.”

True, just four of us.

”Great job, Onii-chan,” Miu said.

”How’s the exam?” Alice asked.

They were supposed to wait at the hotel.

Seeing my confusion, Ravel explained, ”They were at the hotel, but when I said I was coming for you, they insisted on joining.”

”Sorry, Ravel-san, for being selfish,” Miu said.

”It’s fine. Accompanying me here isn’t an issue,” Ravel replied.

”Why come, though? We’d meet at the hotel,” I asked.

Miu looked sheepish. ”I... I got worried.”

”Your promotion’s a big deal for us too,” Alice added, hand on her chest.

Right, my promotion affects their lives. Their request from before—I didn’t expect to face it so soon.

”How’s it going?” Alice asked.

”Uh, decent, I guess?”

”Decent? Get it together!” she snapped.

I’m trying! I’m mentally exhausted.

”For the practical, go all out. Show them your power,” Alice urged.

”Easy for you to say...” If I go all out, the venue’s toast, and the exam’s over.

Time for the final exam approached. ”Last one. Let’s do this!”

In gym clothes, I entered the indoor arena. Other examinees were warming up. I stretched lightly.

Examiners gathered, taking roll call. Only four of us—obvious enough.

They pinned number badges on us and explained, ”The practical exam is simple, like the mid-class version. You’ll fight each other, opponents chosen by lot. We assess overall combat ability—losing doesn’t disqualify you. Aim for a good match. Use all your abilities and weapons, but killing results in disqualification. Accidental deaths are reviewed by us.”

Rules continued, but... what’s a ”good match”? Details, please!

A box with lots was placed before us. I drew ”1”—same as my exam number.

”Matches are one-on-one. First, numbers 1 and 2,” an examiner announced.

My opponent and I stepped into a circular, magically drawn battlefield.

A good match, huh...

[”Still thinking about it?”] Ddraig asked.

Yeah.

The examiner checked us. ”Ready?”

We nodded. His hand dropped, and instantly, a fiery magic blast shot from my opponent, a man.

An opening blitz!?

I swatted the flames away with my right hand.

”Tch!” He clicked his tongue, leaping back to channel more magic.

A massive flaming serpent formed behind him—ten meters long?

”Go!” he commanded. The serpent lunged, jaws wide to swallow me.

BAM!

My energy blast shattered it, sparks scattering. No resistance?

Then I noticed—the man vanished with the serpent. A decoy to distract me while he hid using magic.

Impressive. Worthy of a high-class exam.

As I admired his move, flames shot from behind. I dodged, then evaded more from all directions with quick footwork.

”Why won’t they hit!?” the man growled.

Even if you’re invisible, I can sense your energy’s position.

[”Time to counterattack,”] Ddraig said.

[”Don’t drag it out,”] Ignis added.

Right. I kicked off the ground, charging straight at him.

”How do you know where I—!?”

BOOM!

My flying kick connected before he could finish, sending him crashing through the arena wall, outside.

Silence fell. Even the examiners gaped.

”Uh... it’s over?” I said.

One examiner rushed after the man.

The other two examinees muttered, ”I’m glad I didn’t face the Red Dragon Emperor. That without a Sacred Gear...?”

”Today, we’re the luckiest in the Underworld.”

Was it that bad!? I held back to avoid killing him!

With that, the practical exam—and my high-class devil promotion exam—ended.

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