High School DxD light novel

Part 7

"Yes, turn there. That's no good. The sharpness isn't good. Come on, Issei-san, do it from the beginning without acting stupefied."

I was in the annex that was detached from the Gremory main residence. I was making an effort in dancing practice with Buchou's mother in a room there.

…Why was I doing this kind of thing?

As soon as I returned to the annex, I was led here by Buchou's mother. Then, we started dancing practice just like that. Because I had never done something like this before, I was completely no good at it.

Buchou's mother was wearing a dress as usual. I was having a dance lesson while being glued to Buchou's mother! I sometimes came into contact with her breasts. They were wonderfully soft! How to say it, it had a matured feeling in elasticity and texture! I don't understand it that well, but that's how it felt! And her appearance was the same as Buchou's! Was this the charm of a married woman?

However, this mother. she's seriously pretty. Because she looked about the same age as me, I was conscious of her! Moreover, she had the same face as Buchou who I yearned for, you know? She was a flaxen-haired version of Buchou! F-Furthermore, her style was also exceptional just like Buchou! Her breasts were big! Buchou's breasts were hereditary. Thank you very much, mother! Your breasts' genes were safely handed down to Buchou!

"Shall we take a short break?"

And so having been given permission, I sat down right where I was with long, drawn out breaths.

Ah, I had been chased around by a dragon since this morning. My stamina was…well, this is still far better than having fire shot at me by that monster Ossan.

…But still. I asked a question to Buchou's mother.

"U-Umm."

"What is it?"

"Why am I the only one doing this? And not Kiba or Gasper?"

Yes, why only me? Including the customary Gremory education as well, if it was to train me as a gentleman, even Kiba and Gasper should be…Though, I understood that I was the least like a gentleman.

Buchou's mother answered me.

"Kiba Yuuto-san has already mastered these sorts of techniques. As expected of a [Knight]. Gasper-san is a member of a distinguished vampire family. He may behave unreliably, but he at least knows etiquette. The problem is Issei-san. It can't be helped that you're a commoner from the human world, but even so it's troubling if you don't acquire etiquette beyond a certain level. Because you'll also have to make an appearance with Rias in high society eventually. You have to remember customary practices even a little during your stay in the Underworld."

I was dumbfounded by the words of Buchou's mother! Me in high society!? But didn't I hear that servants couldn't show their faces to such an extent?

"B-Buchou…Rias-sama and me will be in high society together!?"

As I was surprised, Buchou's mother shifted her gaze to the side and covered her mouth with her hand.

"…Oops, I carelessly let something slip out. That kind of thing is still talk of what may happen. Leaving that aside, calling her [Buchou] like that will not do. This isn't school, so you have to properly call your master by her name. Not to mention, Rias is…Oops, I nearly let something slip again."

Eh? Calling her Buchou is no good?

"Even if you suddenly say such a thing, since I've always kept calling her Buchou…Hmm, how about Rias-sama then?"

"Yes, like that. Or you can call her [master]. —Though, you have to call her differently in private as well."

"So [Buchou] is no good?"

"Think. If you had to give an answer on that within yourself, do you hate that girl?"

Buchou's mother said that while giving a wry smile.

No, no! There's no way I could hate Buchou!

"Well, it would be difficult for you to call her that all of a sudden, and Rias would also be bewildered if you did that suddenly. For this home visit only, you may call her [Buchou]. However, you have to be certain of what to call her eventually."

Now that she brings it up, what was the person in question, Buchou, doing right now?

She might be in dire distress with poor physical health like Koneko-chan. Hmm, I'm also a bit worried. I'd like to go see how she is at least once as her important Kouhai, but…If I go, that may seem like an overuse of my feelings with that…

"U-Umm, can I ask you one question?"

"What is it?"

"What about Koneko-chan…? Is Koneko-chan okay?"

"Yes. It was just ordinary overworking, so she should recover slowly if she rests her body for one or two days."

"…I'm very worried about Koneko-chan, since she's been acting strangely since before we came here."

"That girl is doing her best to face her own existence and power right now. It's a difficult problem. However, she won't be able to advance forward if she doesn't find the answer herself."

"…Her existence and power?"

I was full of questions. What was in Koneko-chan?

"…Now that I think of it, you haven't been part of Rias' group for long. Yes, it's natural that you don't know. I'll tell you a little."

Buchou's mother sat down while facing me, and began to tell a certain story.

It was a story of two cat sisters.

The cat sisters were always together, when they played, when they ate, when they slept. With their parents dead, they had no home to return to and no one to rely on. The two cats struggled to live day to day while depending on each other.

"One day, the two of them were picked up by a certain devil. The older sister became a part of his group, and so the younger sister was also able to live with them. Having finally obtained a decent life, the two of them believed that they could pass time very happily."

However, something unusual happened. It appeared that the elder cat sister achieved rapid growth after gaining power. Buchou's mother said that her hidden talent suddenly began to overflow by becoming a reincarnated devil.

"That cat was of a species that naturally excels in youjutsu. Furthermore, she bloomed in demonic power talent as well, and even invoked senjutsu that was said only the last of the sennin could use."

It seemed that the elder cat sister, having surpassed her master in a short time, was swallowed by power and was transformed into a wicked existence that only sought blood and battle.

"With her increase in power not stopping, the elder cat sister killed the devil that was her master in the end, and degenerated into an "exiled devil". Moreover, she changed into one of the most dangerous among the "exiled devils". One that completely annihilated all the pursuit squads…"

It was said that the devils temporarily canceled all pursuit of the elder cat sister.

"The younger cat sister remained behind. The devils questioned her as a liability there."

[This cat may also eventually run out of control. It's better to deal with her now.] —So they said.

"It was Sirzechs who saved that cat that was planned to be disposed of. Sirzechs persuaded the high-class devils that the younger cat sister was innocent. As a result, the situation was settled by having Sirzechs watch over her."

However, having been betrayed by her elder sister, that she believed in and tortured by the other devils, the little cat sister's spirit appeared to be on the brink of collapse…What a sad story…

"Sirzechs left the younger cat sister that had lost her smile and the will to live in the care of Rias. After the younger cat sister met Rias, she recovered her emotions little by little. And then, Rias gave that cat a name. —Koneko."

—.

I was at a loss for words after hearing this much. So, the story just now was Koneko-chan's…?

Wait, then, Koneko-chan's true form is—.

"She was originally a Youkai. You know of the Nekomata, right? Cat Youkai. She is a survivor of the strongest species among the cat Youkai, a Nekoshou. They are a high-level youkai species who can not only master youjutsu, but senjutsu as well."

Part 8

"Ah, Buchou."

"Ise!"

Having moved to the main residence after the completion of my dancing practice, I was welcomed by Buchou—Owaaah! I was hugged all of a sudden! Buchou was tightly hugging me. Ah, it's been a while since I've had this feeling…Though only a few days have passed, I missed Buchou's smell!

"…Ise's smell."

"Ah, umm, I've been sweating a lot…"

"It's fine. Your smell is still the same. —I was lonely, you know?"

When you say that with such moist eyes, my heart can't help but skip a beat!

"I haven't been able to sleep with you since arriving here, and I wasn't able to feel you like this every day either…Since, I can no longer imagine a life without you…What a pitiful master I am."

Aaaaah, Buchou! Has your level of dependence on me risen? I'm more blessed than I deserve as your servant! I also can't imagine a life without Buchou either! That's why the training on that mountain was so, so tough! I tried to say that, but—.

"However, a little endurance is needed. First, we have to both be strong. Ise, do your best in your mountain seclusion with Tannin! Blow away his breath of fire!"

"—! Uuu, y-yeeeeees! I'll do my best not to become cindeeeeers!"

As I thought, Buchou doesn't compromise when it comes to training! I replied with tears in my eyes! I understaaaaaaaaaaaaand! If Buchou says so, I'll do my best with the resolve to diiiiiiiiiiiie!

But, leaving that aside, I shook my head again and asked Buchou a question.

"U-Umm, Buchou. How's Koneko-chan?"

Buchou's face became complicated at that.

"Follow me."

The room that I entered according to Buchou was—Koneko-chan's room.

Buchou had finished talking with her already, and Akeno-san was already inside, so only I was told to enter.

So I went to meet Koneko-chan by myself. Her room was wide. It was a wide room, when I turned my feet towards the bedroom—.

Akeno-san was standing by the bed, and Koneko-chan was lying down on that bed.

—.

I was surprised to see what had sprung up on Koneko-chan's head.

Cat ears! So she really was a cat Youkai known as a Nekomata. But! What to do! A Koneko-chan who has cat ears! So lovely, so incredibly adorable!

Since she usually hides them, did she also lose the strength needed to hide them when she ran out of physical strength?

No, no, it isn't the time for that now. I've come to see Koneko-chan's condition.

"Ise-kun, this is—"

Because of my reaction to Koneko-chan's cat ears, Akeno-san tried to explain the reason.

"No, I've already heard the general story."

I responded with this to Akeno-san. Just like that, I move to the side of the bed and examined Koneko-chan's condition.

I didn't catch sight of any especially bad injuries. Well, if it was just injuries, it would be no problem with Asia here. So she really did come here because she exhausted all her physical strength.

"Hey, is your body okay?"

I asked that with a smile. Then, Koneko-chan muttered with half-opened eyes.

"…What did you come here for?"

A sullen tone of voice, far more than the extent up until now. She was angry that I came, huh?

"…Would it be no good if I said it was because I was worried?"

"..."

Still acting sullen, Koneko-chan didn't respond. I continued.

"Koneko-chan, I heard about it, about all the various things. In any case, overworking yourself is no good. If you don't take care of your body…though, I have no right to talk while I'm receiving hellish training."

"…I want to…"

Koneko-chan muttered something very quietly, and since I failed to hear it clearly, I asked again.

"Eh? What is it?"

Then, Koneko-chan looked straight at me and spoke in a clear tone. While holding tears in her eyes—.

"I want to become strong. Like Yuuto-senpai, Xenovia-senpai, Akeno-san…and also Ise-senpai, I want to make my spirit and body strong. Gya-kun is also becoming strong. I don't have a healing power like Asia-senpai either…At this rate, I'll become useless. Even though I'm a [Rook], I'm the…weakest…I hate being useless…"

"Koneko-chan…"

So you were worrying about that…Certainly, Kiba has also become stronger. Xenovia is strong too. Akeno-san is the strongest piece, [Queen], and Gasper can stop time. Asia may be no good at fighting, but her healing ability was great, and then there was me. Even though I myself was weak, I hold a legendary dragon in my body.

Koneko-chan continued to talk even as she shed large tears.

"…But, I don't want to use the power sleeping inside me…my Nekomata power…If I use it, I…just like my Nee-sama…I don't want that…I absolutely don't want such a thing…"

For the first time—. For the first time, I saw Koneko-chan's crying face like this. Since she was a kid that hadn't directly shown much of her feelings up until now, seeing that was a shock to me.

Koneko-chan's Onee-san had her power run out of control, and killed her devil master. And then she had just left like that. Buchou's mother had said that this girl had seen all of that.

Because she knew that a dangerous power that could just kill her master was sleeping inside her too, she was afraid…But even so, when thinking of the situations in the coming future, she wanted power. This girl had carried these conflicting feelings even when coming to the Underworld…

So she overworked herself because she tried to become stronger without using the power sleeping inside her.

Koneko-chan possessed a warm heart with strong feelings for her friends. So she was vexed that she herself was useless. I think it was hard for her, not being able to repay Buchou who saved her.

I was also mortified at my lack of ability and uselessness to Buchou, and wished for power as well…

Akeno-san shook her head and spoke to me.

"Ise-kun, please leave the rest to us."

"But…"

"You're a kind person. But, it's also important to sometimes keep your distance just a little. Besides, you yourself have to become stronger. And I also…since I'm the same as Koneko-chan, we have to overcome this together. If one can't accept all of oneself and can't understand it, one can't move forward. Koneko-chan and I understand this in our heads. But…our courage is just slightly not enough yet. Please wait just a little longer. Koneko-chan and I will definitely get through this. Definitely—"

Akeno-san also displayed hatred towards the Fallen Angel blood sleeping inside her. But, if she didn't accept that power of light, she may not be able to play an active role in the tough games from beyond this point.

I see, the two of them are similar in that regard. Denying the power that sleeps inside them, because those two have done that…

"Yes. Akeno-san, Koneko-chan, I'll…try to do the things only I can do."

I bowed my head to the two of them, and then went out of the room just like that.

…We each have our respective battles. We each have our respective forms of training. We each have our respective walls that we must surpass.

Alright! I'm fired up! Akeno-san! Koneko-chan! Everyone! And Buchou!

I'll also surpass the training that only I can do!

After I slept soundly that day, I returned to the mountain the following morning.