High School DxD: Return of the Crimson Dragon Emperor

Chapter 169: Chapter 164: Sister’s Feelings, Dragon’s Smirk

”Reapers appeared in the parking lot. A lot of them,” Kiba reported, returning to the hotel room where we were gathered.

”That bastard Hades is making his move!” Azazel spat.

After Cao Cao left, with so many injured, we holed up on the hotel’s upper floor in this fake space. Azazel explained the situation: Hades is linked to the Hero Faction. Damn him!

Asia and Miu healed Azazel, Xenovia, and Kuroka, but Kuroka, hit hard by Vali’s attack, was resting in another room. Koneko’s with her, worried. Vali’s healed but wracked with pain from Samael’s curse, also resting separately. I want to help, but Azazel stopped me—Samael’s curse is toxic to dragons.

This space is Georg’s Dimension Lost Balance Breaker, Utopia of Mist. It creates a bounded field with fog, replicating the hotel and surroundings perfectly, down to the fluffy beds. No electricity or water, though.

Lefay sighed. ”Official word from headquarters: ’Vali’s team plotted a coup, deceiving Ophis to seize the organization. The Hero Faction rescued Ophis. Eliminate Vali’s team on sight.’”

What a load of crap! Vali trying to control Ophis? No way. He’d never rely on someone else’s power. And the real Ophis is right here!

”In their minds, the power stolen from Ophis is the ’real’ Ophis, and this one’s ’fake,’” Azazel said. ”The Hero Faction targeted Ophis, and this is the fate of Vali’s team for trying to fulfill her wish. Tough break.”

Lefay slumped. ”We just investigated mysteries like Great Red, sought legendary warriors, and occasionally granted Ophis-sama’s wishes. The Hero Faction disliked our freedom. Siegfried especially hates us, and Arthur joining Vali’s team from the Hero Faction didn’t help.”

So that’s the drama. Arthur’s defection makes sense.

A thought hit me. ”Hey, Lefay, what about Diarmuid? He doesn’t seem tight with the Hero Faction and barely does terrorist stuff. Why not join you?”

”There was talk, but Diarmuid declined,” Lefay said.

”Why?”

”He says the Hero Faction’s food is better. He won’t join us or other factions.”

”What!?” I blurted. So, he stays for the food? Cao Cao did call him ’Hero Faction’s freeloader.’ Why are the pretty ones so weird? Like Rossweisse or that lesbian goddess! Maybe my home’s gourmet meals could sway Diarmuid!

Lefay asked Azazel, ”Governor, it’s a Longinus festival lately. How’s the Canis Lykaon guy at Grigori?”

Azazel looked up. ”Slash Dog, huh? He’s on another mission—tricky stuff. He hates Vali.”

”I’ve heard,” Lefay giggled.

I asked Azazel, ”The Hero Faction has three of the four top-tier Longinus, right? Who’s got the last one?”

”Zenith Tempest. Its owner’s known—a Joker in Heaven’s Brave Saint system. Irina, what’s he up to?”

Joker. I’d heard about the church’s top exorcist taking that role.

Irina tilted her head. ”Dulio-sama? He’s wandering, chasing good food.”

Another foodie!? Do strong people just love food?

Azazel was stunned. ”A Seraph candidate, and he’s food-hunting? What’s Michael doing!?”

”I-I don’t know!” Irina stammered.

Azazel lit up. ”I’ve found a pattern among modern Longinus wielders! They’re unpredictable—boob freaks, battle maniacs, selfish dreamers! I’m noting this down!”

Boob freak? Me!? That’s harsh! I just love them!

”Another pattern,” Azazel continued. ”They use Longinus differently from past wielders, pushing boundaries. Are kids today beyond us?”

He’s lost in his own world again.

Miu asked, ”Any ideas for escaping?”

She’d enveloped five floors in layered barriers, blocking intrusions.

I scratched my head. ”Not yet.”

”Not even with Ignis?” she asked.

[”I could, but the power needed would roast everyone.”]

”Let’s find another way,” Miu said, twitching.

Ophis returned, having left to ”check the floors.”

”How you feeling, Ophis?” Azazel asked.

”Weakened. Now only two levels stronger than peak Heavenly Dragons,” she said.

”That’s... weak?” Azazel said.

”That’s still stronger than peak Ddraig!” I exclaimed. ”How strong was she!?”

”The strongest across all factions,” Azazel said.

Right, she’s the Infinite Dragon God, despite her cute loli look.

Kiba mentioned Ophis saved Asia and Irina. ”Why’d you help them?”

”They gave me tea. Played cards,” Ophis said.

”From our house?” I asked. She nodded.

Maybe she’s not bad—just pure.

Azazel mused, ”Still two levels above the Heavenly Dragons? Cao Cao called her ’scraps,’ but that’s plenty strong.”

Ophis raised her hand. ”Cao Cao doesn’t know. While Samael took my power, I turned some into a snake and hid it in another dimension. I retrieved it. That’s why I’m this strong now.”

We were floored.

”You went to recover your power!?” Azazel shouted.

Ophis nodded. Azazel chuckled. ”Cao Cao thought he took most of her power, but she hid some and reclaimed it. The Hero Faction underestimated her.”

Ophis summoned a black snake. ”I turned my power into this, sent it to another dimension, and retrieved it. But something here traps me.”

That’s clever for Ophis.

”What’s trapping her?” I asked.

”Likely Utopia of Mist’s barrier. Trapping a weakened Ophis is impressive for a Longinus,” Azazel said.

Miu raised her hand. ”This barrier?”

Multiple surveillance-like images appeared in her hand, showing black-robed figures and three devices shaped like Ouroboros biting its tail.

Everyone stared. ”Miu, you scouted this!?” I said.

Kiba slumped. ”My scouting was pointless...”

Miu panicked. ”No, no! This takes time to deploy and only shows one direction—super inconvenient!”

That’s not helping, Miu! Her intel’s way better than Kiba’s.

She casually does amazing things.

”Donmai, Kiba,” I said.

”Thanks...” he mumbled.

We rested to prepare for the escape.

With time before the plan, I visited Kuroka’s room. Her injuries were healed, but Vali’s attack and constant vigilance at my house drained her physically and mentally.

”Hey, Kuroka. How you holding up?” I asked.

She grinned mischievously. ”Oh, Red Dragon Emperor-chin, visiting me? So sweet.”

”You saved Koneko, so...”

”Just a fluke,” she said.

Sure. Rias said Vali’s attack was redirected at Koneko, who froze, and Kuroka shielded her.

Koneko, looking down, and Ravel, worried, were nearby.

”Why...?” Koneko muttered, then shouted, ”Why save me!? I was just a tool to you!”

”What’re you talking about?” Kuroka teased.

”Don’t dodge! You abandoned me! I was mocked, suffered, then found happiness with Rias-buchou. But you tried to take me away!”

Koneko poured out her pent-up feelings.

”I don’t understand you!” she cried, storming out.

”Ravel, can you follow her?” I asked.

”Of course,” Ravel nodded, chasing Koneko.

I sat in Koneko’s chair. ”You’re not honest, huh?”

”Your tone’s all old-man now,” Kuroka quipped.

”Shut it. I’ve suspected it, but you’re a huge siscon, right?”

”Not from you, the famous siscon Red Dragon Emperor.”

I grinned. ”Fair. No denying it.”

Then, serious, I asked, ”What happened with your old master? They say you killed him for power, but I don’t buy it.”

”Why not?” she asked.

”Someone power-hungry doesn’t shield others. Some reform, but...”

Kuroka’s usually playful, but she’s a solid big sister—like during Koneko’s heat.

Her playful smile faded. ”My idiot master was obsessed with our Nekomata powers. He forced me, his servant, to use them, and even targeted Shirone.”

”Not a servant?”

”Nope. He did crazy things to boost servant power, demanding it from their families too. Shirone could’ve gone berserk following orders.”

Kuroka became a wanted stray devil for killing her master—to protect Koneko.

”You shielded her,” I said.

”Not that dramatic,” she shrugged.

It’s the only explanation. She tried taking Koneko from us—me, specifically—because my Red Dragon Emperor power attracts trouble.

”I love pranks, power, and fun. I’m a stray cat, wandering freely with like-minded friends. But Shirone’s a housecat. She fits with you,” Kuroka said, eyes earnest. ”Take care of her. With you, she’ll be happy.”

Didn’t expect that from her. She’s clumsy but a good sister.

I ruffled her hair. ”What!?” she yelped.

”Cute reaction!” I laughed. ”Don’t worry, I’ll make sure Koneko smiles.”

Kuroka blinked, stunned.

As I turned to leave, I added, ”Be more honest. I’ll help.”

Closing the door, I heard a faint, ”Thanks, Red Dragon Emperor-chin.”

Next, I visited Vali. He was sitting up, pale, breathing heavily, sweating from Samael’s curse.

”Looks rough,” I said.

”Pathetic,” he replied. ”Came to take down Cao Cao, but here I am.”

”Samael’s dragon-slaying is that bad. If it got you, I’d be the same.”

Its aura made me sweat buckets. Without Ignis, I’d be bedridden too.

”I was pathetic too. Cao Cao nearly had me, even with Tenbu,” I admitted.

His Balance Breaker and Medusa’s Evil Eye—Azazel got pinned by it too. Cao Cao’s leagues above our Kyoto fight. My old wound on him was a fluke.

”Cao Cao guarded Georg and Samael, stole Ophis’s power without flashy attacks, and fought us without killing, all alone. You saw his strength. He’s a human challenging the supernatural,” Vali said.

Yeah, he outplayed us all. A dangerous foe.

”His Balance Breaker’s a subspecies, designed to fight multiple supernatural beings alone,” Vali added.

”And he’s in the Zone. Caught me off guard in Kyoto,” I said.

”He’s got Truth Idea, close to our Juggernaut Drive but volatile, granting immense power.”

Another trump card?

Speaking of... ”Did you surpass Juggernaut Drive?” I asked. Lefay mentioned Vali’s training to transcend it.

”What if I did?” he asked.

”Curious. But one thing—”

”What?”

”Cao Cao’s mine to beat. I’ll show him my potential.”

Vali smirked defiantly.

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