Issei: "…And that's what happened."

Tiamat: Silent, unreadable expression.

Yeah, makes sense. Dilmunid went from dangerous to tamed by Miu's fried chicken. Hero's descendant, your ancestors are crying blood!

Dilmunid: "Master's fried chicken was perfection—crisp coating, juicy meat, flawless seasoning. It's fate."

Sounds profound, but it's just a food review!

Miu (troubled): "I'm glad you like it, but… 'Master' is a bit much."

Miu's not the type to have followers. Fried chicken turning someone into a servant? It's that good, but still!

Dilmunid: "What should I call you?"

Miu: "Just Miu. Everyone does."

Dilmunid: "But that's disrespectful to my master…"

Miu: "I'm not your master!"

Exactly! She just shared food! Being called "Master" would freak anyone out. Dilmunid's really hung up on this!

Alice (sighing): "What do we do about this?"

Issei: "Up to Miu."

Miu: "What!? Help me out!"

I give a thumbs-up. "You got this?"

Miu: "Nooo, you're passing the buck!"

Dilmunid: "Master, more fried chicken, please."

Miu: "I'll make it, but stop with 'Master'!"

The Hyoudou house is lively again. Fried chicken's on the menu for a while.

Koneko: "Nee-sama!"

Koneko and Gasper (in a girl's swimsuit) grab Kuroka at the poolside.

Kuroka (in a kimono, post-swim): "Shirone, Gya-kun! Swim with me?"

Koneko: "Training, please! Your stay here depends on it!"

Gasper: "I'm fine anytime, Koneko-chan."

Koneko: "Gya-kun's as soft on Nee-sama as Issei-senpai."

Ouch, harsh. Am I that soft on Kuroka? Well, her chest is tempting. But Koneko seems happy training with her sister, even if she won't admit it.

As Kuroka's dragged off, she says, "Hey, Red Dragon Emperor-chin."

Issei: "What's up?"

She points at Le Fay. "Can't Le Fay be your contracted magician?"

Shock ripples through the group. Only Tiamat and Ignis stay calm. Le Fay as my magician? Unexpected!

Le Fay (stunned): "Kuroka-san!?"

Kuroka (tossing wet hair): "She's a skilled magician from a noble family, and your fan. Perfect, nyaa."

Miu (nodding): "Her magic's taught me a lot."

If Miu says that, Le Fay's skills are top-notch.

Kuroka (shrugging): "Sure, Arthur took the holy king sword—a family and national treasure—and ran off to fight strong foes. Problem child. But Le Fay followed, worried for her brother, abandoning her Pendragon magician duties."

Le Fay (fidgeting): "Father and Mother were worried too…"

What a caring sister! If I were Arthur, I'd grovel and go home. Can't let a cute sister worry!

Makes sense—she never fit with Vali's team. Too pure for terrorism.

Ravel (objecting): "With all due respect, you were terrorists. Even if you left and are hunted, your Khaos Brigade ties remain. You're wanted by all factions. As Issei-sama's manager, I prioritize his position, so forgive my bluntness."

Ravel's thinking of me—I'm touched! But… I did bring a terrorist home.

Dilmunid: "Master, more delicious food, please."

Miu: "Stop with 'Master'!"

She's just a disappointing beauty now, speaking politely to Miu. Fried chicken's power is unreal!

Kuroka (wry smile): "Yeah, that's a problem. Plus, her old magician group likely expelled her."

She clasps her hands cutely. "But c'mon, give her a quick interview, little birdie♪"

Ravel: "It's Ravel! A terrorist as Issei-sama's contractor? Unthinkable!"

Issei: "Hold up, I'm curious. Le Fay's helped me out. Just a talk, okay?"

Le Fay's not bad, and Kuroka's pushing for a reason. Maybe, as a fellow sibling, she gets Arthur's wish for Le Fay to live peacefully in the normal world. My circle's safer than Vali's team.

Ravel (pouting, reluctantly nodding): "Fine, if Issei-sama insists. Le Fay-san!"

Le Fay: "Y-Yes!"

Ravel: "Answer my questions!"

Le Fay: "Understood!"

Minutes into Le Fay's interview—

Ravel: "Black, white, Norse, spirit magic—all mastered. Contracted beings… Fenrir!? Gogmagog!? Impossible!"

No surprise there. Contracting Fenrir, a top-tier beast, and Gogmagog? Insane.

Asia's on par, but…

"I wanna eat Asia-tan's swimsuit!"

Pervert alert! Ignore that voice!

Ravel, setting down her pen, looks stunned. "Le Fay surpasses my standards. Her stats outshine any magician I've seen."

Issei: "Miu said the other candidates were lackluster."

Miu: "I didn't! I said they seemed similar!"

Alice: "That's basically the same."

Dilmunid: "Master's a natural."

Alice gets my vote. Dilmunid finally said something normal!

Ravel: "Noble lineage, exceptional skill. Minus the terrorism, she's ideal."

Sona: "But her Khaos Brigade ties are a heavy mark."

One issue, but it's massive. Le Fay looks conflicted.

Kuroka (laughing): "That's fine for now, nyaa. Contracts can wait—things might clear up. By the way, Shirone, your territory's taken. Okay with that?"

Kuroka nods at Xenovia on my lap. My lap's Koneko's territory?

Koneko: "I'll reclaim it later. It's an autonomous zone."

Autonomous zone!? My lap!?

Bennia (noting): "Oppai Dragon's lap is an autonomous zone. Today's full of revelations. His sadistic awakening is intriguing."

Issei: "Don't write that! I'll cry!"

Akeno: "I'd love to try Issei-kun's sadistic play. Tied up, doing this and that…"

Tying up Akeno, doing that…

"Oh, no, not there!"

"Already like this? You're naughty, Akeno."

"Issei-kun, not there… ahh!"

Crap, I imagined it. Am I turning sadistic?

Ignis (smirking): "Fufu."

She's got me in her palm! Damn, ultimate big sister!

Griselda (arriving): "An underground pool sounds fun."

Griselda, in a nun outfit, with two men. My mom let them in.

Griselda (bowing): "Apologies. Gremory and Sitri wanted to talk, so we came."

She sits. Xenovia tenses; Irina straightens, losing her angel-boob contact.

Griselda (pinching Xenovia's cheek): "Sitting on a man's lap in broad daylight? Quite shameless, Xenovia."

Xenovia (teary): "S-Sorry…"

Xenovia's adorable, unable to defy Griselda.

Griselda (coughing, bowing): "Sorry for intruding. We're here to discuss…"

My focus shifts to the men. One's a young priest, blond, green eyes, my age. The other's a handsome Japanese man with a black dog—jet-black fur, golden eyes, otherworldly aura.

Priest: "Yo, Dulio Gesualdo. Nice to meet ya."

Issei: "Dulio? Heaven's trump card, the Joker?"

Dulio (grinning): "That's me. Honored the Red Dragon Emperor knows my name."

Laid-back guy. He scans our girls, nodding. "Heard you've got lots of beautiful wives. Jealous, man."

Griselda: "Dulio, you're Heaven's Joker. Mind your manners."

She pulls his ear.

Dulio: "Ow! Can't win against Sister Griselda."

She manages both Xenovia and Dulio.

Kuroka (amused): "Rare sight, nyaa. Vali would've loved this."

Issei: "You know him?"

Kuroka (grinning): "Slash Dog, bearer of 'Canis Lycaon.' Only human besides Cao Cao to force Vali's Juggernaut Drive."

Issei: "For real!?"

This guy's a beast! Making Vali go that far?

Man: "Tobio Ikuse. Here as Azazel's proxy. This is Jin, my Sacred Gear, an independent avatar type with its own will. I'll support you as backup."

Like Sairaorg's Regulus, but innate?

Reyna: "You're here too, Ikuse-san?"

Tobio: "Azazel didn't tell you? Thought he would."

Reyna: "That guy's reports are sloppy! He's getting a lecture!"

Azazel's in for a long scolding. Deserved.

They know each other—probably met through Grigori.

Sona (adjusting glasses): "Three Factions' Longinus wielders in one place."

Me (devils), Dulio (Heaven), Tobio (Fallen Angels). Add Sairaorg, and it's a full set.

These two as allies? Huge help against tough evil dragons.

Tobio: "Azazel asked me to train with you. Up for it?"

Dulio: "Michael said the same. Red Dragon Emperor, Gremory folks, mind if I join? Might not match your strength, though."

Longinus wielders as sparring partners? Their power and abilities are insane—True Longinus, Annihilation Maker. Enemies before, now allies. Rare chance.

Issei (shaking hands): "Slash Dog and Joker? Count me in."

Tobio: "Call me Tobio. I'll call you Issei-don."

Issei: Issei-don? First time for that. Fine.

Alice & Miu (shaking hands): "We're in too."

Ravel: "Me too!"

Ravel's training hard since joining my peerage, though she's behind Miu and Alice. She's pushing to close the gap—hope she doesn't overdo it.

Xenovia: "Multiple Longinus wielders to train with? Perfect!"

Irina: "I'll boost my angel power!"

Xenovia: "Self-proclaimed angel, learn from the Joker."

Irina: "You should learn technique from Slash Dog!"

Asia: "I'll train with Fafnir too!"

The church trio's fired up. Level-ups incoming!

Sona: "Can our Vritra user join? I want her to reach Balance Breaker."

Dulio: "Why not? Add a Dragon King."

Tiamat: "Me too? Let the Joker train me."

Issei: "You're the trainer, not the trainee!"

Tiamat's experience outclasses us. I still learn from her.

Ignis: "Time to get serious!"

Issei: "Your serious mode burns everything! Stop!"

Her full power's terrifying.

This crew might push Saji to Balance Breaker. It takes a dramatic shift, not just power-ups. For me, it was Alice's chest.

Alice: "Why're you staring at my chest?"

Issei: "Thanks for getting me to Balance Breaker."

Alice: "Fist okay?"

Issei: "Sorry, sorry! No sparks!"

Our "Queen" is scary!

Griselda: "With terrorists acting unpredictably, we need stronger forces. Most top fighters are tied to politics and can't move freely. Losing a god would shake the world. We need young, mobile talent like you. It's a heavy burden, but please lend your strength for the Three Factions, mythologies, and humanity. We'll support you fully."

She bows deeply.

Issei: "Raise your head. We'd act without being asked—to protect what matters."

Everyone nods. We all have things to protect, and we'll fight for them, now and always.

Alice: "Just don't be reckless."

Issei: "You're one to talk."

Chop! My forehead stings.

Issei: Okay, I've been the most reckless…

Rubbing my head, I say, "How about a welcome party for Dulio and Tobio?"

Dulio: "Nice! Issei-don, got tasty food? I'm pumped."

Issei: "Our food's top-notch."

Tobio: "Looking forward to it."

Sona: "First, we discuss the future."

We talk, then throw a welcome party. Peace is the best.

Midnight, post-devil work, I'm in the small bath. Four contracts tonight—split among me, Miu, and Alice. Mine was with Morisawa-san, just chatting anime for four hours. Late bath, but it's a holiday.

Miu and Alice handle contracts well now, thanks to their first one easing their nerves.

Alice: "Nothing tops that, right?"

Taking down a stray mage base isn't an everyday job. But with Mil-tan, anything's possible.

Wait… I'm forgetting something about Mil-tan. Matsuda and Motohama said—

Issei: "Nope, nothing." Shakes head.

Don't want to imagine it. Terrifying.

As I leave the bath—

Reyna (entering, towel-clad): "S-Sorry to intrude…"

Same as last time.

Issei: "You're up?"

Reyna: "Waiting for you."

Issei: "This late? Past 1 a.m."

Something big?

Her cheeks are flushed, eyes glistening.

Issei: "Reyna?"

Reyna (dropping towel, hugging me): "Issei-kun…"

Her bare chest presses against me, nipples touching. What's going on!?

Reyna: "…te."

Issei: "Te?"

Too quiet to hear.

Reyna (teary-eyed): "…Hold me."

Did she just…!? Too sudden!

Issei: "What happened?"

Reyna: "I… can't anymore."

Issei: "Can't what?"

Reyna: "Hold back."

Hold back? I'm lost.

Reyna: "I told you… I saw you with Miu and Alice…"

Yeah, that nearly stopped my heart. Didn't know she was watching.

Reyna: "Every time I think of it… I… comfort myself. Even today, in the bathroom…"

She did that!? After leaving my lap!?

What a bombshell!

Reyna: "I can't hold back anymore. I want you."

Issei: "Seriously?"

Reyna: "Seriously. Our date made me so happy when you accepted my feelings. But now I can't hold back."

She guides my hand to her chest. Her heartbeat races, her body warm.

Issei: "You're not unattractive. You're so captivating I don't want to share you. Naughty girls are welcome."

I'm losing control too—my body's ready.

But no protection. Miu, who has it, is asleep.

Issei: "No condom. Can't risk a baby as students."

Reyna: "Oh, then…"

She steps out, rummages in the bathroom cabinet, and returns with… a condom!?

Issei: "Why's that there!?"

Reyna: "And lotion."

Issei: "Why!?"

Reyna: "Miu said it's here."

Miu!? Why'd you prepare this!? Kiryu's influence again!?

Reyna: "And a mat."

She pulls out a pink vinyl mat.

Issei: Where was that!?

Issei: "Miu knows about this?"

Reyna: "She said, 'Fight!'"

Miu, cheering her on!?

My sister's pushing me toward harem king.

I kiss Reyna's forehead and take her hand.

Issei: "I won't let go, no matter what."

Reyna: "Me neither. I love you, Issei-kun."

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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]