Re degli Harem - [High School DxD / Campione!] (2024)

Chapter XXXII
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"Your form could use some work."

"So could your face."

"Is that how you treat a senior when he offers you help? Have you no respect?"

"Did you expect any? I remember you called me a viper."

"Yes, but that is simply your state of being. Even a scorpion may be courteous to the toad they ride upon, should it find itself in need of safe passage across the pond."

"I'm gonna punch you."

"I'd rather you didn't. Lady Miki washed this uniform recently and this Yinghua would rather not trouble her with dirt and sweat stains. Disciplining older brother's juniors will have to wait until appropriate attire may be procured. Also, it would expose your indecency."

Kiba chuckled as Koneko finally lost her cool, jumping after the younger boy with the full intent of twisting him into a knot. Yinghua, the disciple boy, and that was a strange thing for Kiba to think, merely sighed as he side stepped her lunge, carefully jumping over the second attempt as the Rook caught nothing but wind with the follow up.

They really didn't get along.

'Like cats and dogs.' He was tempted to comment, but that might earn him some of the wrath the diminutive Rook was trying to vent on the Chinese boy.

The distraction gave him time to think. Time to process what he'd just witnessed today and what it meant for the future, as well as how to better explain it to his King when she returned from the extended training camp back home. She'd want to be kept abreast of the situation, after all, and even left him an emergency means of contacting her.

Not that he'd needed to use it so far.

Things had calmed down in Kuoh over the past week and a half.

The city was completely rebuilt and there hadn't been any other issues with people trying to start fights with them, or with Issei. Their friend had been on his best behavior too… even if he'd been caught trying to sneak into ballet club practice and was chased around the gym by a mob of angry tutus.

'It's hard to believe he is a godslayer.'

If he hadn't seen how wide the gap between their powers and his were, Kiba would have never suspected. Even now he still remembered that woman, Luo Hao, kicking Issei out of the city with enough force to send nearby cars flying. And the fact he'd fought that freak of nature and survived… well, it confirmed Kiba's fears that their lives were about to get a whole lot more interesting.

Sparring with the godslayer was a good way to prepare for it.

He might not be very experienced, but he had good instincts, not to mention the endurance and resilience to tough it out. What astonished Kiba the most was how fast he was growing.

Situational awareness.

Proper forms.

Simple breathing exercises and pacing.

All of that and more were being steadily absorbed the more Issei practiced with them. Theory might fly over his head from time to time, but in practice it was like his body knew what to do once it had experienced it.

And that was all before he killed another god and awakened a Sacred Gear of all things.

Kiba found himself pondering many things. But most pointed of all were the chances of something happening like just the awakening of a Seventh Campione were already astronomical. But what truly impressed him were the results. The Boosted Gear had already paid more than enough dividends and that begged the question of how this all came about.

Though, watching as Yinghua balanced on Koneko's thrown fist, flipping off, bounding off the bleachers, and dodging her one armed strikes, he found that even his friend was enjoying this situation. At least going by the fact he could practically see the corner of her lips twitching.

Koneko was, perhaps, the strongest person in Kuoh presently. Physically speaking, not even he was a match for the Rook, despite being older and having trained for longer.

'And yet he can overpower her so easily.'

Thirty seconds.

He made sure to properly record it. Half a minute and the Campione ramped up to the point that a reincarnated devil with enhanced physical abilities was sent flying with a single punch. To say nothing of the speed with which he'd moved on that split second.

'I'll need to step up my own training soon enough.'

"Mah, mah, I suppose this Yinghua is happy to be of service."

Turning to see the conclusion of the one sided grudge match he'd been all too happy to ignore, Kiba actually chuckled.

"I see you accepted his jacket." Koneko, glaring at him, refused to comment. But the young man's jacket was wrapped around her shoulders, concealing the girl's dignity. "I'm surprised you'd trust a 'python' with your clothing, though."

"A lady in need should never be ignored, Sir Knight. Surely you know this?"

"Well said."

"Ah, excuse me? Have you seen Issei around?" A very awkward looking young woman with twintails was currently in the doorway of the gym. "We kinda sensed the surge of energy and wondered if something was happening…."

Trailing off, the exorcist seemed very unsure about how to continue. And, seeing she was only carrying a totally normal covered package and not a sword, he forced himself to focus on the robed girl's face and nothing else. At least for the moment, Kiba violently forced down his desire to do something that would make trouble for both Rias and Sona.

He was being trusted.

He was being counted on.

"Yes, he was just here. Unfortunately, he needed to head to the infirmary for a bit. Do you need directions?" So what if his smile didn't quite reach his eyes, he was a Devil and they were Devil Hunters. It was totally natural to be awkward.

"Oh, um, can we wait with you?" Wincing, she seemed hesitant to ask. "You know there are… other groups around. And we're supposed to avoid… too much trouble."

"Ah."

"Yeah."

"I'll go with her."

Koneko tugged on his sleeve.

"I need to change my shirt, Ms. Exorcist. You can go with me to the girl's locker room."

"Oh, well, you see…."

Kiba sighed and rubbed his forehead.

"And I'll keep your partner company."

"Then I should go, too, Sir Knight. I contested her peeping tom of a partner the other day." Kiba turned to the Chinese boy with confusion, though it appeared he wasn't lying given the venomous look that the other girl was shooting him, which Yinghua returned with a rude gesture as he followed Koneko and the other exorcist out of the gym.

He didn't need to worry.

Yinghua was strong, probably stronger than anyone other than Issei right now.

But that left him alone with the other exorcist.

'What are they here for?' The answer was obvious, of course. They were here for Issei, perhaps to establish relations with him and make sure that he toed the line and didn't side with one of the Church's enemies. Dealing with devils and fallen angels was already enough, so Kiba figured that a Campione would be the kind of distraction they couldn't afford.

Even so, he couldn't help the gnawing, ugly feeling inside his chest.

He wanted them out of here.

Out of the school.

As far away from the life that he'd managed to cobble back together with Rias' help as he could. Because he knew that if they stayed, he wouldn't be able to ignore the part of himself who would throw everything away for a shot at revenge, no matter how far removed they might have been.

"I was surprised to learn your group was still here."

The words surprised him, the thus far silent exorcist ramping up the tension.

"Why wouldn't we be? This is still our territory." And that's how he felt. Kuoh was still their home, no matter how many government officials or outsiders thought they could waltz in. They weren't going to just roll over and abandon their city because circumstances had changed.

"It doesn't look like that to me."

"What does it look like, then?"

"It looks like the devils are trying to save face by pretending this was some kind of arrangement. That they still have some kind of say over this place." The response was blunt, to the point, and immediate. And as much as Kiba would like to refute it, there was part of him that felt helpless at times.

Not that he would admit it, though.

He was still Rias Gremory's Knight.

"And is the Church any better? It doesn't take a genius to see what you are trying to pull here. I thought we devils were supposed to tempt people, but your lot doesn't seem like they are above it either."

The blue haired girl frowned

"This is merely a show of goodwill."

"Is that what you're calling it? Sending young women to the territory of a Demon King sends a very particular message." Not that he was surprised, the Church had never shied away from sacrificing others if they felt they could get something out of it.

It was reassuring to know that hadn't changed.

"I don't see a problem with it."

What?

"What?" He repeated out loud, bewildered.

"It's a worthy price to pay. Though perhaps you're not familiar with the way Campione are usually handled. I was taught that, for the most part, they can be useful allies of convenience or deterrents, depending on how you appease them. Considering the horror stories about the Strongest Wolf and the King of Swords, this one might turn out to be very cost effective."

The response rubbed him the wrong way, touched on a wound that was still raw even after all these years.

"And you are just fine with that? You're being tossed away and discarded like that."

"Yes." She answered, just as bluntly.

"Why?!" This time he demanded an actual answer.

"Because Irina likes him."

The Knight realized she was talking about the other exorcist. The one who left with Koneko and Yinghua.

"She might not always be the best judge of character, and her faith gets her in trouble when it comes to money. She also can't seem to understand that not every inconvenience and happenstance is an act of the Lord to test her faith…."

Was she getting to the point anytime soon?

This felt like she was venting rather than making an argument.

"Yet, despite all the warnings about what the Demon Kings are and how dangerous our mission was going to be, she never appeared afraid, angry, or scared. She just couldn't conceive that the boy she grew up with would become a monster or hurt her in any way."

That was a useful bit of intel.

The Church sent someone who personally knew Issei, someone who lived in Kuoh at some point in the past. That was an interesting avenue of research, which he would pass along to his King when she and Akeno came back.

"You're willing to risk it just for that?"

This time the blue haired girl scoffed.

"I have faith in Irina, but I'm not willing to just leave it to her. That's why we were given insurance just in case the Demon King turned out to be less than agreeable." At this, she motioned towards the wrapped package hanging from her back. It was pretty large, but Kiba recognized the type of wrappings around them.

The type used to conceal an object's aura.

The emblem on the package was also familiar, and it made his skin crawl and his eyes burn. Even then, he had to check, had to know, had to see for himself.

"A holy sword, I assume."

"Quite perceptive, for a devil. Then again, you would be familiar with them as a fellow swordsman, right?"

Kiba took a breath, focusing himself.

"I can also tell you that it's not gonna work. Demonic swords barely graze the skin of a Campione, and I doubt that whatever knock off they gave you isn't gonna fare much better."

He sneered, wanted to spit, wanted to scream at her. Because screaming would be childish, it would be a temper tantrum. And that meant he wouldn't manifest Om, the gravity sword he'd touched on when facing Issei back then.

And if he didn't have a sword in his hand, he couldn't drive it through her skull.

Because, right now, all he was seeing was the inside of a cell. With a bunch of starving children disappearing one by one.

"Tch. I can accept insults aimed at me, but certainly not at the Holy Sword Excalibur. Not when my mentor entrusted me with this blade directly!"

Yanking the bandages free, the Exorcist did not bear her fangs. But she did display it, pride and joy in equal measure, with a surety that he would cower at the holy aura washing over him. But he did not shrink, not as his eyes watered, or the skin on his lips dried and cracked, not as his flesh began to tingle in discomfort.

He did not shrink back for one simple reason.

Kiba's anger was gone.

Kiba's face turned into a smile.

Kiba's hand gently formed a pair of swords.

"Shall we have a little duel, then. Swordsman to swordsman."

Suddenly frowning, the girl lifted her blade, wrappings falling to the side as she took up a guard. The immense, ornamental blade so similar to how Sword Birth's creations had once been. Now, though, the tri flanged axe-sword was nothing like the pair of simple, silver arming swords he wielded in each hand. Their properties no longer identifiable by their shape, but just as potent as ever.

"You don't look like you want a friendly spar."

He slowly walked down the stands, watching Akeno's oni pop away, back to their mistress's side.

"Well. I didn't say it would be friendly."

"Engarde, heretic!"

And that was that.

Kiba grinned widened so far his face hurt as the massive weapon came scything straight for his head.

"Engarde!"

Bursting forwards, under the sweep of the blade, he didn't try to block the massive attack head on. He wasn't stupid enough to think he could overpower it - Issei had taught him that lesson all too well. So, instead, he aimed his attacks in a very simple manner.

His off hand, holding a cursed blade, angled up and at the exorcist's wrist.

Without a true hilt, she was exposed, and if she didn't try to maneuver her immense weapon to deflect the strike, she'd lose a hand. And his second strike came from above, slicing down at her head. Space already started to ripple as Om began to focus its edge.

He did not expect her to simple straighten her blade out and charge at him, attempting to smash him into the ground with the hunk of holy metal she wielded.

It forced him to divert his own strikes - the edges of both blades striking at the flat of Excalibur Destruction's body and pushing it off target.

Spinning to the side, trying to slip behind her, he found the fanatic was skilled enough to turn, lowering her blade and keeping the point up in a guard as she did so. He, himself, had to deflect the wide tip no less than twice as the sheer hunk of metal meant that staying close to her risked its aura, and its weight, being brought to bear.

Not that being away from her was any better.

No, she was only too happy to continually try to skewer him, driving her swordpoint straight at his throat over and over and over again.

It was a simple tactic, with simple footwork. Use the length of her blade to keep him from maneuvering, with her arms close to her sides and the angle just right so she could dip or raise the point as needed. While he had the advantage in mobility, his speed eclipsing her, Kiba knew that if he wanted to win, he'd need to close. Ranged attacks from a Devil, after all, fared poorly against those with enough of Heaven's power.

"My, my, Ena didn't think that you would already be behaving so naughtily!"

Kiba immediately dodged away from the Exorcist, coming about to see another human… holding another holy weapon!

"Tch. You breed like rats."

"She's not with me, blasphemer."

"Ah! Ena sees! You are lovers, having a quarrel behind the Demon King's back! Perfect cover for star crossed warriors from enemy factions."

This time he couldn't keep the sneer off his face, gesturing at the sword that clicked free from its sheathe.

"If you want, I'll snap that piece of pig iron in half, too."

"Ena will enjoy spanking you. And maybe cutting you. We shall see. Either way, after Ena disciplines you, little Devil, the foreign barbarian using a spell to translate her words is next."

"I see. You're the sort of pagan that likes to martyr believers. I suppose my sword can redeem you just as easily as that Devil boy."

For a moment there was quiet, a tension that stretched like a string pulled at the edges to its limit, fibers fraying and buckling at the escalation before snapping with a resounding echo.

And a wave of danger slammed onto him.

The whistling of a blade cutting the air and a searing presence were the last things Kiba felt as the blunt side of the sword slammed against his stomach, shattering his own blade in a single uninterrupted arc and sending him flying off his feet, bouncing of the ground, before falling onto a heap on the floor.

His sole consolation being that not a moment after, the ground trembled as the exorcist girl was driven face first into the floor, leaving her sprawled and immobile.

Maybe he'd gotten a little ahead of himself.

Just maybe.

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"So you guys got into a fight?"

Issei couldn't believe his own ears. Really, he was the one who was used to being ambushed and making a mess, but somehow he kinda expected the others to have better luck than him, or to at least be a little bit more responsible. That wasn't something difficult to ask for, right?

He got into loads of trouble!

It should have been easy!

"Well, technically it was a spar. We weren't actually planning to hurt each other."

Turning to Kiba, the Campione felt there was a 'much' missing from that statement. Because his classmate had spent the entire time glaring at Irina's friend from the moment he got up, not saying a single word as Issei tried to understand what exactly happened and why their gymnasium was now split in half.

"I don't suppose you have another one of those repair scrolls? No? Okay." He rubbed his face in his hands. "Alright, first things first. I'm not angry at you guys. But we do need this to be dealt with."

"Ena thinks-"

The Campione turned his eyes on the girl with a sword that made his spine crawl.

"Ena thinks she will wait."

"Go call your mom, please, and ask her if she can come here. Or Mr. Amakasu. Either way, you were the one who cut the building, right?"

A firm nod, without hesitation.

"Then the Committee will cover the repair costs. Did either you, the Exorcist lady, or Kiba cause any additional damage?"

The blonde knight opened his mouth, forced himself to calm down, and nodded with a wince

"Yes. I think I broke the bleachers."

"Then would you please ask President Sona to come here? Can we, like, bill Rias's parents? I know she mentioned something about being nobles, but, um, is it going to be an issue?"

"The Gremorys are, by human standards, functionally incalculably wealthy. I can, from the income of my own lands, cover the full costs of replacing the bleachers. But I will also go get the President."

As Kiba walked away, Issei, dissatisfied with the look on his face, stopped him by manifesting a small slab of marble.

"Hey." The Campione spoke, softly, one hand on Kiba's shoulder. "I won't pretend to tell you, you shouldn't feel whatever you're feeling, but you're my friend, alright? And whatever is going on ain't gonna change that.."

Shoulders slumping a little, the swordsman simply gave a nod, no one speaking as he left.

"Koneko."

"Yes, Senpai?"

"When would be a good time to check on him?"

Biting her lip, the Rook seemed a smidge worried, but simply spoke plainly.

"When he's ready."

Issei's shoulders sagged.

"I gotcha." Firming his spine back up, he turned around. "Still, Church Lady-"

"Xenovia."

"Gotcha! Still, did you damage anything?"

"I don't believe I did so. However I still bear equal responsibility for participating in such a reckless fight, it tarnishes my honor as your guest."

"Hmm. That's a good point." Tapping his chin, the young man came to a perfect conclusion. "Then you can help with cleanup!"

It felt weird having to call shots like this. Sure, they were just planning to fix a building but Issei would have been much more comfortable if someone like the President, or Mrs. Smith came by and let him know what should be done. At least then he would be sure that it was the right direction to go.

Even now, Issei kinda felt out of place, holding a meeting inside the old school building. It felt like he'd suddenly been promoted to the president of a club he didn't even know he was a part of, but Kiba and Koneko said they didn't see a problem in letting him use their room.

He did feel bad for just using it like that though.

"Ena has a question."

Raising her hand, the lackadaisical girl looked like a perfectly focused student, earnestly talking to a teacher. Having been given a wide berth by everyone else in the room, she didn't seem particularly bothered as that had given her the freedom to sit closer to him, though Aika had seen fit to plop herself beside the girl with a look of annoyance.

"Uhh… sure?"

"Your Majesty isn't gonna punish us, then?"

That… sounded terrible in the context that came to Issei's mind. So he chose to believe she was talking seriously and not trying to fluster him.

"I, what, why?"

Tilting her head in confusion, the girl cupped her chin. Laying her back against the couch as if actually giving thought to the question.

"It's the obvious thing to do, no? Your Majesty seeks reparations because we, his retainers, destroyed his property, right? That's all well and good, but aren't you gonna do anything else? You risk losing face that way."

That got a sound of genuine confusion from him.

"Huh? Why do you think I should do that?"

"Because you are a Campione."

The blunt answer threw him for a loop. As if it was the most natural assumption to make.

"As one of the demon kings who presides over the world of humans, shouldn't you be punishing us for making a mess of the place? Not that Ena doesn't mind it, she likes being spoiled, but if you treat everyone who comes to town as if all they need to do to get out of trouble is to pay you back or fix the place, then they will stop fearing Your Majesty."

Issei, didn't know what to say to that.

In a way, deep inside, he knew that he wasn't being treated like a normal person. Neither by Smith and her bosses, or the other magic related people in town. They all seemed to walk on eggshells around him, constantly probing him about what he wanted.

Like they were afraid of doing anything he didn't want them to.

And that annoyed him.

"No, I don't think that'll make a difference."

"Huh?" Even Aika was confused. "If someone trashes your living room, don't you pay Yakuza to break their legs? That's how things work, right?"

Blinking, he stared at his friend for a moment.

"Um, no. You call the police."

"Ah, Ena gets it. Your Majesty uses the police as leg breakers. Good, makes it official."

"You know what, I'm not going to argue with that. Why don't you go call your mom, ok? I need to speak with Irina and Xenovia. Um, Yinghua, can you escort Koneko back home?"

"Yes, Elder Brother. I will make sure she arrives safely."

"Not a python, dog boy?"

"Not right now, no." The cultivator turned to look at Ena, though, and simply frowned. "Do not stir the peaceful up to anger."

"Even a fool may speak wisdom."

"And a pearl is only pretty unless it is before swine. Elder Brother, if you had not guessed, is the pearl. Do not mistake his gentleness for weakness."

This time it was Ena's turn to glare, but she said nothing, not being foolish enough to draw her blade. But equally so, it was clear she did not appreciate being chastised by the younger teen. Enough that Issei had to sigh and bring his hand down on Yinghua's head.

"Oi, oi. Don't go picking fights with people just because they're strange and cut up buildings." Issei's knuckled gently dug into Yinghua's head. "Well, I suppose that's a pretty good reason to pick a fight. But you get the idea."

However, wriggling free, the boy simply glared and huffed and Koneko, rolling her eyes, grabbed his arm and walked towards the door.

"Goodnight, Senpai. Take care."

He waved at both.

"Tell you what, lover boy, I'm gonna head on home and I'll take the catholic school girls for protection. They need a place to stay as is. Plus, their fashion sense kinda rocks and I wanna wear it for our date. Sound good?" Aika leaned in close and whispered in his ear. "You've gotta learn to handle girls with strong personalities. I'm not saying you should bend her over and-"

What she said next caused his cheeks to turn pink and both Irina and Xenovia to give him strange looks when he stood ramrod straight and wished them goodnight.

Both of them simply acquiesced to the brown haired girl's increasingly probing questions as they walked away.

"I'll be back to help with the cleanup in the morning! I promise!"

Xenovia at least offered her promise as she was carried away into darkness.

Issei was just glad his pants were baggy, and that Aika had the sense of not saying those things outloud in the presence of church ladies with massive swords. That left him with the new girl and waiting for Sona's arrival.

Frankly, he wasn't sure where to start.

Smith had warned him that her daughter might be sent, but Issei had almost forgotten it after the whole thing with Luo Hao and having to fight the Monkey King. Though now that he could take a look at the swordswoman, he understood why Smith's boss decided to send her.

She felt strong.

"Have you been told you are quite passive?"

Thankfully, she didn't seem to be nearly as hesitant.

"Well… I guess because I don't feel like I need to change stuff? Life is good and things around here just calmed down, so I wanted to avoid trouble."

"But don't you have things you wish for?"

"Well, yeah. I want to do what I want to do. But that doesn't mean I want to, I dunno, take over as Shogun like the last guy did. I'll just keep taking one step at a time on the road to become the Harem King."

"But is that not your right? One might even say that you already are this land's ruler, at least amongst humans, and that it is a question of simply asking in exchange for performing your duties, no? That seems like the most efficient way of achieving your goal."

"Would it bother you if I said I didn't wanna do it that way?"

The dark haired girl shrugged with a wan smile.

"Ena wouldn't care. The King should be free to choose and live as he wants, because he is the strongest. It doesn't matter what it is, so long as you want it and aim for it, then Ena doesn't see why she should disapprove."

It was his turn to feel a bit displeased with those words.

"So you'd be ok with me, I dunno, keeping you from training? Or telling you to stay at home?"

"Are you going to stop Ena from practicing?"

"No." He admitted. "But you can't just… give yourself to someone!"

"You said it yourself that you wanna do as you want to. Is it not unfair to prevent Ena from doing the same?"

"But that's different. You just want to, what, join my faction? Be my retainer?"

"That would be fine. Such a place would be of high honor. And you are not the sort of person to abuse such a relationship. From the moment I arrived, it was Ena's goal to schedule a meeting with Your Majesty and iron out the details."

Wait a second…

"So that mess at the gym?"

"It wasn't planned, no, but Ena was looking for the perfect opportunity to introduce herself. When my fellow retainers decided to misbehave, Ena decided to show off a little."

Issei rubbed the side of his head.

This was one musclehead of a girl for sure. She put the entire tomboy sub-genre to shame!

"You don't know me, though, how can you have faith that I'd like it? I could have gotten angry at you, or lied to you about being a good person." The horror stories Yinghua shared made him wonder just what kind of person would risk working for him if that was the kinda example they had.

What she said next, however, floored him.

"Because mom trusts you, so Ena does too."

Issei couldn't help it.

He blushed.