High School DxD DX - Volume 5 - Chapter 2.1

Collbrand 

This happened immediately after the end of the preliminary of the International tournament rating game [Azazel Cup]???. 

A certain place in the UK???. 

Arthur Pendragon returned to the mansion of the Pendragon household after a long time. 

Arthur who stole the Holy King Sword and escaped from his house, even being a terrorist for some time, was welcomed silently by his father; the family head. 

Father and son sat around a table on the terrace and drank black tea. After a short silence. 

The first to talk was the father, the current family head of Pendragon household. 

"It looks like you lost". 

"...... Yes". 

It was a few words about the Rating Game match. The only fight that Arthur was completely defeated was in the match against the [Rias Gremory] team. 

The family head continued. 

"The opponent was that Vasco Strada...... can it be judged that there was nothing you could do because the opponent was that superman? Or should I praise my foolish son for having reached that territory? What a complicated state of mind". 

After drinking the black tea, the family head said this. 

"To question your sword technique who has surpassed me from the past, what I'm saying. There's a part of me who thinks like this, but..... these are my honest words, so for the time being, listen to them. Collbrand is praised as the strongest holy sword, but even so, it's just a tool made to be used by a person. It's the same with the other holy swords and demonic swords. depending on the user, it can become the supreme sword or just a piece of metal". 

"...... My ability, …...talent is not enough? Is what you want to say?" 

Arthur asked like this. 

The family head smiled just a little. 

"You aren't flexible enough. Since when you were a child, you were strangely serious about your talent. For that reason, you escaped from home and did something like travelling around to gain combat skills. However, from the part that you did those bad things, you learned how to enjoy yourself differently from when you were here. It's probably because of your undesirable friends". 

"Being flexible about your talent means?" 

"It's about your life. You, there are times that you think that you are Collbrand. That your talent and reason for existence is equal to that of Collbrand". 

"???!" 

To his father’s words, Arthur thought that he was ruthlessly cut down. 

The family head said. 

"The current Sekiryuutei didn’t only become strong with the dragon abilities residing in his body. I heard that he has his current reputation because of his interest in the opposite sex too. In your case, even your rare talent with the sword has a limit. ???if it becomes like this, you can only become stronger by experiencing everything from life. Isn’t your friend, the Hakuryuukou, obsessed with certain types of pasta too?" 

"That could be called gluttony???". 

As if interrupting his son's words, the family head thrust his finger. 

"It's alright to go through the side road. By the way, don't count black tea as your hobby. It's an obvious etiquette to a gentleman from Great Britain. Search from something other than this. Firstly, it's alright to just take Le Fay to shop. Well, what I mean is, expand the time that you forget about the sword. If you do it, leeway will be born and flexibility will reside in your sword. If you think I'm deceiving you, you just need to test it. This is an advice from the previous Collbrand user". 

Since a long time ago, Arthur was bad at compromising with his father...... Or rather, he has a different sense of value from him. 

However, this time he was greatly impressed by him. 

To swing the Holy King Sword from a different aspect than just talent..... No, not the Holy King Sword, but to find the diversity of oneself???. 

Suddenly, the family head rang the bell and called a maid...... called Elaine. Arthur's eyes meet with Elaine's. Elaine bowed while smiling. 

The family head said to Elaine. 

"Elaine, bring those documents". 

"Understood". 

After a short while, Elaine brought a bunch of paper documents. 

The family head said while handing it to Arthur. 

"I have a request for you. ......No, to be correct, a request to the Hakuryuukou and the ?D×D? team". 

In the documents were??? information concealed by the Royal family. 

To Arthur looking at the documents, the family head said. 

"Finally, the Royal family decided to reveal their internal problems. A new Longinus. Do you know that 5 new Longinues were registered, right?" 

"Yes. They even participated in this rating game tournament. ...... I see It's one of them". 

"??? the Longinus [Unparalleled Crown of the Abyss], seems to be an extremely troublesome Sacred Gear. Looks like before, Grigori and Heaven indirectly understood it, but the Royal family and the government of the UK are stubbornly sealing information about it". 

"......... From all people, it did have to come out of someone related to the house of the Royal family". 

"That it didn't come out of someone from Her majesty’s family is a consolation in this sadness". 

"......You want us to take care of this person?" 

"The majority of the members of  ?D×D? team are participating in the tournament; therefore, their time is probably limited, but I would be grateful if they could do it as fast as possible". 

"I can only provide them with information but..... well, we'll do it somehow. After all, they are a group of people who generally overcome everything". 

After drinking his tea, the family head said calmly. 

"If you finish this incident without a problem, I will approve of your relationship with Elaine". 

With these words, Arthur and Elaine widened their eyes at the same time??? and after understanding what he said, blushed. 

With her heart beating fast, Elaine said. 

"M-master, w-w-w-w-w-w-what are you saying suddenly......!" 

Arthur too fixed his glasses with trembling hands. His ears were bright red. 

The family head said. 

"Although you are a son who fell so low as to be something like a terrorist for some time, nowadays you're in a position where you can get hold of all kinds of connections. You should be grateful to Vali Lucifer, Hyoudou Issei and Le Fay. I mean, only because my son and daughter are in the ?D×D? team, I'm called upon to explain to the influential persons of the political and business circles who know of the circumstances of the supernatural world, after all". 

For those of the human world who know about the supernatural, the anti-terrorist team, ?D×D?has a great influential power. From only holding those connections one has great authority. 

After sighing, the family head changed the subject of the talk. 

"By the way, is Le Fay in good health?" 

Even with his mood in ruins, Arthur behaved calmly. 

"Y-yes. She's used to the school on that side now". 

"Hmm. Do you think she'll do well with the Sekiryuutei?" 

"...... Wa-, father, since some time ago, you are a little too direct". 

"It's my nature. then? How is it? Did Le Fay really fall for him? What is her rank?" 

"No, as I've been saying....." 

"The daughter of my Pendragon household and the Dragon of Wales??? the 

Red Dragon?. I'm really interested in holding a connection with Wales, which is part of this country, but firstly, I have to see If he's someone with nothing to criticize about; and can take someone from Pendragon household as his wife. The other part is already a High-class Devil, right? His parents are plebeians? Well, it is too late for this. The problem is the future prospects of the current Sekiryuutei. In the end, Will he become a Maou? What do you think?" 

Arthur facepalmed while troubled about what to say. 

...... As expected, my senses of value are different from father's, these thoughts of Arthur became stronger???. 

However, Arthur had a premotion that it wouldn't take long before that Sekiryuutei stepped in these lands.