At the poolside, tears well up in one person and one dragon.

I didn't want to relive that memory… Le Fay, who brought it up, looks apologetic.

Kuroka casually takes my teacup, sips, and asks—while sitting on my lap.

Kuroka: "So, what happened with the grudges, nyaa?"

Issei: "You really wanna know?"

Kuroka: "It's the important part, isn't it?"

Issei: "Like I said, we cleared them."

The grudges are gone. They won't drag me down again. That's good.

"Master, train us more~"

"I can't hold back~"

"Make us feel good~"

Voices of the female past Red Dragon Emperors echo in my head. Under Ignis's guidance, I… did things to them. Touched, groped, sucked… and more.

It honed my bedroom skills, which helped with Miu and Alice. But the cost was steep! The female Emperors now call me "Master" and wiggle their butts whenever I dive into the Sacred Gear! They're relatively quiet, so I'll let it slide.

"Commander, whip me!"

"Insult me!"

"Call me a filthy dog!"

The male Emperors, whipped by Ignis, awakened in the worst way! They crave SM sessions with her and won't shut up! Can't they just sleep!?

Belzard (laughing): "It's lively now, huh?"

Elsha: "No more boredom for us."

Issei: You two are the sane ones! Shut them up! I'll pay 300 yen!

Belzard: "That's tough."

Elsha: "They don't listen."

Issei: Useless!

Ddraig (sobbing): "Why did this happen…?"

Issei: Why didn't you warn me they were such perverts!?

Ddraig: "How could I!? I only knew my partner was a pervert! I'm shocked too!"

Issei: You called me a pervert!? I'm not into SM! I just love boobs!

Ddraig: "Liar! You looked happy tying up the women!"

Issei: You were watching while hiding!? My brain was numb from that insane situation! Half-broken!

Ddraig: "I don't wanna understand!"

Issei: "Some partner you are!"

Our bickering continues.

Ten minutes later—

Ddraig: "Hmph, boob-obsessed jerk!"

Issei: "Hmph, red lizard!"

As we argue, Tiamat and Ignis approach, both in swimsuits—blue bikini and pareo for Tiamat, red for Ignis.

Ignis (giggling): "Fighting? Be nice."

Issei & Ddraig: "It's your fault!"

She caused this mess with her crazy methods!

Ddraig: "This useless goddess is the root of it!"

Issei: Glad you get it, Ddraig!

Issei & Ddraig: "We'll sue this goddess!"

Our shouts echo. Ignis smirks.

Ignis: "Fine, I'll take you on! Step up if you want to be tied!"

Ddraig: "Sorry, got carried away, really sorry!"

He caved fast! What did she do to him!? Why's he talking weird!?

Ignis: "Ddraig gets it. What about you, Issei? Ready for bed? You can't beat me there."

She winks. I'm not falling for it—

Issei: "Sorry, got carried away, really sorry."

I caved too! I can't win against her—she's dead serious! Damn, she's the ultimate big sister!

Tiamat (sighing): "Issei…"

This exhaustion is pointless.

Kuroka (muttering): "…Munya, swim, nyaa."

She's asleep. Our fight was that boring, huh?

I sigh and tell Le Fay, "So, the grudges are handled."

Le Fay: "That's… creative."

Issei: "Don't tell Vali or Albion. They'll cry."

Ddraig: "Please…"

Le Fay: "Y-Yes."

Problem solved! Let's call it that.

Kuroka (half-asleep): "…Swim, nyaa."

She stumbles to the diving board, strips her kimono—fully naked—and dives into the pool. Her bouncing chest is mesmerizing! Nothing under that kimono!?

Xenovia (panting): "Koneko's sister is gone. Perfect."

Xenovia, in a swimsuit, soaked from her race with Irina, sits on my lap. Her soft thighs and butt—amazing!

Xenovia: "I bet Irina. Winner gets your lap."

Issei: Seriously!?

Irina (removing swim cap): "No fair! I want Issei-kun's lap too!"

Her long hair flows out—cute. She's tearing up over my lap!?

She darts behind me and hugs me. "Got your back, Xenovia!"

Her angel-soft chest presses against me.

Xenovia: "Nice move, Irina!"

Issei: You two and your silly bets are adorable.

Asia (teary): "Issei-san's full! I'll join!"

The church trio strikes! Asia grabs my arm. I'm pinned—front, back, and side. Can't move, but this soft girl contact? Perfection!

Ignis: "Look at the harem king."

Issei: Damn right! Beauties rule! Boobs forever!

Tiamat: "Where're your familiars? Rare to see them apart."

Issei: "Shopping for household stuff."

Tiamat: "Household stuff?"

Issei: "Oh, you don't know. Yesterday—"

Miu (returning): "I'm back!"

She's in a swimsuit, waving.

Issei: "Welcome back. Shopping done?"

Miu: "Mostly. Just basics. Alice is changing. Oh, there she is."

Alice appears in a white bikini, followed by a slim woman with long, pale purple hair tied back, in a purple bikini.

Mystery Woman: "Master, sorry to keep you waiting."

Le Fay (wide-eyed): Stares.

Miu (wry smile): "Stop with the 'Master' stuff, Dil. It's too formal."

It's Dilmunid, the hero-faction spearwoman from Kyoto, inheriting a hero's soul. Why's she like this with Miu? It started yesterday…

After homeroom, classes end. No Occult Research Club today—Akeno and Reyna are at Grigori, Kiba's busy, no club meeting, and devil work's too early. I head home.

Issei: "Asia, Xenovia, you're going to the church?"

Asia: "Yes, together."

Xenovia: "Yup."

The church trio's been visiting the local church, a Heaven branch. Initially Irina's workplace tour, but Asia and Xenovia, devout as ever, now join masses thanks to Michael's special permission. Peace between the Three Factions feels real.

Miu: "Just us two, then?"

Issei: "Yeah."

Miu: "Oh, we need to shop. Wanna make it a date?"

Issei: "Been a while. Let's go."

Miu links arms with me, her mood soaring. Classmates' stares hit us.

Boys: "Let's punch Issei!" "It's justice!" "Why don't I have a cute sister!?"

I'm in for a beating soon. Bring it—I'm not running anymore! I'll show my brotherly power!

Girls: "So passionate!" "Sibling love… I ship it!" "Issei x Kiba's tempting, but Issei x Miu could inspire a story."

Our girls are weird. The Issei-Kiba ship still exists!? No guys for me! And what're you writing!?

Matsuda & Motohama: "Damn you, sis-con!" "Trade places!"

Blood in their eyes—predictable.

Issei: Sis-con? Whatever. "No one's taking Miu!"

She's mine!

Post-shopping, we're at a park, eating hot croquettes on a bench—beef for me, cream for Miu. Crispy, slightly sweet, delicious.

Issei: "Croquettes for a snack? Classic."

Miu: "Totally. Cold weather makes them tastier."

Issei: "Agreed. Cream on your cheek."

I wipe it with a tissue.

Miu: "Hehe."

Her happy smile heals me every time.

She snuggles closer, head on my shoulder.

Issei: "Miu?"

Miu: "We haven't had much alone time lately. Gotta make the most of it."

She's maturing, but still a clingy kid. True, it's been mostly me, Miu, and Alice lately. Alice might pout if she saw this.

Miu: "No one's here, right?"

Issei: "Yeah, evening's quiet. Kids are gone."

It's dark and chilly—park's empty.

Miu: "If no one's watching… it's okay?"

She leans in. Bold move, Miu! No one's around… I lean in too.

Our lips meet—

Grrrrr…

Issei & Miu: "Huh?"

A stomach growl.

Miu: "Onii-chan?"

Issei: "Not me!"

I wave my hands—she thinks I'd ruin the mood!? Not her either… then who?

Rustle!

Bushes shake. Someone's there!? We nod and check.

Woman (stretching): "Slept well, but now I'm hungry."

Long, pale purple hair tied back—a stunning woman, model-like… Dilmunid!

Issei: "Dilmunid!?"

Why's a hero-faction member here!? How'd she breach the strengthened Three Factions' barrier post-stray mage attack!?

Issei: "Why're you sleeping in cardboard!?"

She's in a cardboard house! I rub my eyes—yup, cardboard.

Dilmunid (noticing us): "Red Dragon Emperor? So this is Kuoh Town, the Three Factions' base?"

Issei: "You didn't know!?"

She wandered in blindly!?

Dilmunid: "Got any food?"

Issei: "No tension!? We're enemies!"

Dilmunid: "Can't fight on an empty stomach. Something tasty."

Issei: "Picky, huh!?"

Dilmunid: "Fried chicken's my favorite."

Issei: "Listen!"

She's begging for food—and specifying fried chicken!? Unexpected!

Issei (wary): "How'd you get past the barrier? And why're you here?"

Dilmunid (sighing): Summons a red spear. "Gáe Dearg. It nullifies magic and spells, slipping past barriers unnoticed."

Bad match for Miu or Rossweisse.

Issei: "Your purpose? You didn't know this was my town, so not here to fight me."

In Kyoto, she and Cao Cao fought over me, but she didn't know this was Kuoh.

Dilmunid: "Hero Faction's gone, so no more free meals. I wandered here. That's it."

Le Fay mentioned Dilmunid joined for the food. Makes sense… kinda.

Miu: "Why sleep in cardboard?"

Dilmunid: "No money for lodging. Cardboard's warm and comfy if built right."

Issei: She's like Gasper! Cardboard Vampire, now Cardboard Girl!? We've got enough cardboard characters!

Grrrr…

Dilmunid: "Cardboard doesn't fill the stomach."

Issei: "No kidding! You ate it!?"

Dilmunid: "Don't be stupid. I've been eating at family restaurants."

Issei: "Family restaurants!?"

Dilmunid: "Japanese food's great."

She's like Xenovia! That killer aura's gone—she's a disappointing beauty!

Miu: "Wanna come to our place? We're having fried chicken tonight."

Issei: "Miu!?"

Dilmunid: "I'll take you up on that."

Issei: "Instant decision!? You know this is enemy territory!?"

Dilmunid: "Empty stomach, you know."

Issei: "Heard that already!"

What is with her!?

Miu: "A girl sleeping in cardboard's not right. She's hungry, and… not a bad person, right?"

Issei: "Her head's bad, though."

Miu's got a point. Dilmunid barely did terrorist stuff, known in the Hero Faction as "Freeloader." She's harmless… but a girl in a cardboard house? Can't ignore that.

Issei (sighing): "Thank Miu."

I invite Dilmunid home.

At home, chaos ensues.

Xenovia: "Issei, what're you thinking!?"

She fought Dilmunid—she's pissed.

Issei: "Calm down."

Rossweisse: "This is reckless, Issei-kun. Why bring a Hero Faction member here?"

I knew they'd react like this. Even if she's not a terrorist, she was with a terrorist group. This could cause trouble.

But a woman living in cardboard…

Miu: "It's my fault, not Onii-chan's. Don't blame him."

Issei: "No, I decided. It's on me. She's not that bad, guys. Please overlook this."

I bow. Then—

Dilmunid: "This pickled radish is great! More rice, please!"

Asia: "Y-Yes."

She's eating our pickled radish and demanding refills!

Issei: "I'm apologizing, and you're eating!?"

Dilmunid: "Getting more rice."

Issei: "That's not what I mean!"

She's chowing down like it's her house! Stop, Asia, don't serve her!

Irina: "It's fine, I think."

Issei: You're okay with this!?

Rossweisse & Xenovia: "Yeah, whatever."

Issei: You were just against it! Why the sudden chill!?

Dilmunid: "Where's the fried chicken?"

At dinner, with an unusual crew around the table—

Dilmunid (eyes wide, dropping chopsticks): "This…!"

She takes a bite of fried chicken. Everyone stares.

Issei: What's wrong?

Dilmunid (standing): "Who made this fried chicken?"

Miu (nervous): "M-Me… not good?"

Her fried chicken's amazing—my favorite. Everyone loves it.

Dilmunid's gaze locks on Miu, eyes burning. She walks to Miu's side and kneels.

Dilmunid: "Call me Dil, Master. I'll serve you."

Time stops at the table.

Issei: …Master? Miu's her Master!?

Miu (shocked): "EHHHH!?"

Her scream echoes through the house.

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The battle isn't over... and the truth has yet to be revealed. Read the next chapter now on Patreon! [patreon.com/Greyhounds]