high school dxd: volume 1-25

It's almost sunrise.

Having finished the battle, we returned from that field after retrieving Ravel and the others.

We went back up, and are resting in the station.

I am dead tired after using Gift several times, promoting to True-Queen, and also from fighting Grendel. I went to sit on the chair alone at the resting area of the station after receiving treatment from Asia.

Kaichou and the others left the station to give a report about the matter, and are speaking to the staff. Gasper was taken away by the rescue team. Asia and the others went with him.

It seems like Gasper isn't in a life threatening situation...but the hidden power within him that I'd witnessed for the first time was creepy. Just what on earth is happening inside Gya-suke's body?

...But, the defence of that Grendel. The dragon-slayer was supposed to have worked.

Kaichou did say this.

"...I don't know the truth about their experiment, but that Grendel...withstood a dragon-slayer. There's no doubt that his defence is exceptional. –But it's certain that he has some kind of power added to him. Receiving so little damage from the crimson armour state Ise-kun with a dragon-slayer is impossible."

Did he attain a resistance to dragon-slayer? Is such thing even possible?

Ddraig has come-back, so there won't be any downsides to start developing a Dragon-Blaster and Crimson-Blaster with the dragon-slayer ability from Ascalon added, which was suggested by Rias and Kiba... I'll need a technique which can take down that brutal Dragon——.

But, their "experiments". The thing about the Phoenix was just the sub-experiment, and their true purpose was to have Grendel clash against us.

And the one who brought that Dragon was—Lucifugus. He introduced himself as Grayfia-san's younger brother. ...There certainly were some similarities. The aura he emitted after taking off his hood was the same as hers. With that aura, he can intrude here, and it may be possible for him to let the magicians do so as well.

In the end, we couldn't retrieve the interior of the thing which produced the "Fake Phoenix Tears". Looks like we have to get information from the magicians we caught.

...Unbelievable things certainly have occurred during Rias's absence. And the things about the Vampires and the pact with magicians are still waiting for us...

So the Khaos Brigade will be standing in our way once again huh——.

I look up at the ceiling.

Shalba, Cao Cao...and this time its Lucifugus and the Dragon that was supposed to have been exterminated.

"Ise-sama...I have brought your tea."

Ravel hands me a can of tea which seems to have been bought through a vending machine. Koneko-chan is also next to her.

I take it from her. Ravel and Koneko-chan sit next to me.

A moment of silence. A bit later, Ravel says.

"...I, won't forgive them."

She says it clearly. Ravel's eyes are glowing so strongly that I can't believe she was crying a moment ago when she saw the "factory" made by the magicians.

"I won't forgive an act like that."

Koneko-chan takes Ravel's hand.

"...Me too. That's why, be strong, Ravel."

Koneko-chan says that while putting on a smile, and then leaves.

Ravel suddenly blushes.

"...Ise-sama, can I talk a bit about something which happened a long time ago?"

She then says it as if she has made up her mind.

"I had my heart shaking with excitement when my butler told me a story about heroes. I had my young heart filled with the dream of wanting to become a woman who can support such a hero. But as I gradually got older, I forgot about it without realising it..."

Ravel then looks straight at me.

"But that dream came back naturally. His master,—seeing Ise-sama who fought Raiser-onii-sama for the sake of the woman he likes, the dream that I had when I was young came back to me gradually...and when I realised it, I was researching every single piece of information about Ise-sama. You are very straight forward, curious about girls, and are very honest about your own desires. But you are passionate, very thoughtful of your comrades, and keep on walking forward to pursue your dream. That shine is something which isn't present around me, in the upper echelons of society."

I...was shining? Ravel continues.

"—I want to stand beside and watch over Ise-sama's dream. That's the dream I started to have from a single thought. My selfish illusion... The reason why I came here is because of my own selfish thoughts... But, I was really happy when I was appointed Ise-sama's manager... And I also hope that I can remain working beside you from now on as well..."

But I wasn't able to protect this girl back at Kuou academy...

"...I wasn't able to protect you at Kuou academy."

I shake my fist with frustration. Ravel shakes her head.

"You did come to rescue me. Ise-sama, you came to rescue us, even going so far to fight that enormous Dragon. I am safe. I am alive. ––I believed in you."

Ravel takes my hand, and shows me her bright smile.

"––I believed that my hero would come to rescue me. I was very happy. I just wanted to tell you this..."

...Ravel. You believed in me that much...

It makes me happy. Seriously. I'm starting to think how wonderful it will be if she continues to come with me. If she remains my manager, I can't tell how helpful that will be.

I say this with a different attitude.

"––Ravel, I will get even stronger. ...Looks like my objective is getting bigger again. ––If it's okay with you, will you continue to be my manager from now on as well?"

"I also have the ambition of wanting to stir up the heat with you as well!"

She really knows how to say it. That's why she feels reliable, this small built Ojou-sama that is.

"Yeah, I got it. It will be helpful if you can support my brain, which is quite lacking. But first, we need to beat up those guys who made a fool out of the Phoenix! A "factory" like that isn't allowed to exist!"

"Yes! I won't stand down without doing anything!"

Ravel takes out a single sheet of paper from her pocket. There are several magic-circles and magical symbols written there.

"These are the symbols that were on the capsules and the devices in that field, and the shape and symbol of the magic-circle they activated to investigate about me. I also have confirmed this with Koneko-san, so there is no mistake."

...Every little detail such as the magical symbols for the spells are written on it. So Ravel memorised this much just by seeing it once.

Ravel says this while putting on a strong smile.

"I have already informed the staff of the Underworld and Heaven about these magical symbols and magic-circles. I'm also planning to send this back to the House of Phoenix. We can find out quite a lot from this information. We, the House of Phoenix, will be pursing what they are trying to do with these "fake" Phoenix tears! In addition, things like those capsules may be floating within the dimensional gap after the destruction of that field. Also Sona-sama and I put a marking on them with our demonic-powers at the very end, so if they are still safe, then I'm sure they can find it by relying on the demonic-powers of the Sitri and I. I have informed the research team of the Underworld about this. Even if it takes time, we will retrieve as much information about them as we can. ––I will make them realise that it's the end of their luck by capturing me!"

So those small magic-circles that Ravel and Sona-kaichou released at the end had the role of acting as a marking huh. This girl and Sona-kaichou sure are shrewd!

The Khaos Brigade and the "stray" magicians still don't know about this.

This girl is the immortal Phoenix––.

Even her mentality is getting stronger just like her immortality––.

Looks like having captured Ravel will return back to them big time.

After a while, Raiser shows up.

"Ravel! Are you okay!? It took me some time coming here, but I came to aid all of you while bringing my servants and...eh, what!? I-It already ended!?"

It seems like he was worried about Ravel after hearing the report.

Man, Ravel sure has a good brother!