High School DxD - Volume 23 - Chapter 5.2

Chapter 5.2

Junior’s Preparation

After the game ended, the members of the [Sekiryuutei of Blazing Truth] all gathered in the waiting room as they reflected on the tournament and discussed issues for the future . After that, everyone went to take a break . After coming out from the waiting room and heading over to the vending machine in the corridor to buy a drink (it was in fact to be alone), Nakiri Ouryuu saw the silhouette of a certain person . On the other side of the corridor was — a girl in her teens with beautiful and sleek long silver hair . The girl’s face was like a work of art . It was neat and incredibly pretty . It was almost as if her two deep red pupils were able to illuminate an abyss as they reflected Nakiri Ouryuu within them . Her face was almost like an artwork, but it couldn’t hold her smile .

“Good work, Ouryuu . ”

“Millarca, aren’t you worried about coming out during the day? —Ah right, this is the Underworld . ”

The girl before his eyes was a pure-blooded Vampire — Millarca Vordenburg . She didn’t have to worry about sunlight because she was in the Underworld, and that was why she didn’t have to wear as many layers of clothing as before .

“Mmm, the Underworld sure is a nice place . I don’t have to wear a scarf or sunglasses . ”

Her art-like face spoke with an unimaginably cute voice . After Nakiri Ouryuu pressed a button on the vending machine to purchase his sports drink, he walked down the corridor together with Millarca .

“—Well, is there anything you want to say?”

Millarca wanted to ask Nakiri Ouryuu about his feelings after the match .

“Yeah, to reflect a bit—”

Just as he was about to speak, somewhere in the depths of the corridor up ahead, a voice was heard . It was the voice of a crying woman . The two of them hid around the corner, with Nakiri Ouryuu on top and Millarca below as they quietly poked their heads out to take a look . In front of them were — Hyoudou Issei and Ravel Phoenix . Ravel Phoenix…tears endlessly overflowed from her eyes, and it looked like she had already been crying for a long time .

(…*sob* *hick*, Ise-sama…I…even though I was there…)

Hyoudou Issei gently embraced her, and he pat her head as he said

(If I didn’t have Ravel, the match would’ve been much worse . We still have opportunities . I, we’ll become stronger together . )

Ravel Phoenix buried her head into Hyoudou Issei’s chest .

(…Yes . )

After answering with that, she continued to whimper against Hyoudou Issei’s chest . …After losing, the princess-sama who was the same age as him had appeared rather strong-hearted whilst in the waiting room . Regardless of whether it was in her ordinary school life, or as the Sekiryuutei’s manager, she never showed any weakness . She always guided the members of the team as well as the [King] that she adored .   Nakiri Ouryuu felt that it would be insensitive to continue spying on them, so he pulled on Millarca’s hand to leave .

“…”

Seeing the silent Nakiri Ouryuu, Millarca said

“…In front of her comrades, she won’t show any regret, Ravel-san that is . ”

“…Hyoudou-senpai, he also treasures Phoenix very much . ”

Precisely because of that, he took Ravel Phoenix to a place away from everyone else so that he could listen to her heartfelt emotions . He must have noticed that his own manager was forcing herself .

—He is a good person . He looks after his own peerage well .

Nakiri Ouryuu thought of the senior that he respected and revealed a smile .

“—He is truly worthy of respect, that senpai . He really inspires me as someone who similarly hosts a dragon . ”

“Ooh — I see! By the way, did you know?”

Millarca said

“—Most of the men who meet the Sekiryuutei become fascinated with him . ”

“That’s naturally because he’s such an amazing person . ”

“Ah, I see!”

Through this game, Nakiri Ouryuu recognised his own strengths, as well as his own weaknesses and deficiencies— .

—Through this tournament, I can become stronger . I can allow the ‘dragon’ within me to become stronger! More than anything, as a warrior who is the host of a ‘dragon’, I can become a part of Hyoudou Issei’s strength . This is a once in a lifetime opportunity . As a younger male, I want to catch up to him— .

Nakiri Ouryuu said to Millarca

“I have to start over again by running laps . If I don’t, then I won’t have the right to face Hyoudou-senpai, Xenovia-kaichou or Phoenix . ”

“You look happy . ”

Indeed, that’s because the experience of this tournament is far more precious than anything else— .  

(Part 1 of 1) (17/2)