Reincarnated in the World of High School DxD

"Honestly… you really are something else!!"

Rias pressed a finger to her forehead and let out an exasperated sigh at the unexpected situation.

Kazuki had finally returned after three days away, having been sent on a mission by Sirzechs. But he hadn't come back alone—he brought along Koneko and her sister, the infamous SS-Class Stray Devil, Kuroka.

Rias had heard about Kuroka before and had been ready to annihilate her on sight. But Kazuki—along with none other than Koneko herself—had stopped her. And then, Kazuki explained the details of the mission Sirzechs had entrusted to him.

Hearing the story, Rias was stunned. It was connected to the recent exposure of the Naberius family's crimes—a noble house violating sacred contracts, an unforgivable act.

She couldn't help but sympathize with Kuroka and Koneko for the suffering they'd endured.

But still—

"I see. I understand the situation now. But… why are both of you clinging to Kazuki like this!?"

Indeed, while Kazuki was explaining, Koneko had settled onto his lap, and Kuroka had wrapped herself around him from behind, nuzzling her cheek against his like a cat in heat.

Rias knew exactly why this had happened. 'Kazuki did it again, didn't he?' She thought.

When someone is kind to you in your darkest and worst moments, when they save you and those you hold dear… falling for them is only natural. After all, Rias had been the same.

Sure, she supported the idea of a harem, and yes, she had even considered Koneko joining eventually. But to disappear for three days and then come back with another woman in tow—!?

"Tonight, you're going to spoil me until I'm satisfied… got it!?"

Rias didn't know whether she was more furious or just plain exhausted. With a deep sigh, she let her complicated emotions swirl inside her…

Time passed, and since then, Kazuki had been busy helping his group with their training, studying with Millicas, and receiving noble etiquette lessons from Venelana and Grayfia.

Meanwhile, Koneko had begun learning Senjutsu from Kuroka. Unlike Kuroka, who was a Wizard-type, Koneko excelled as a Power-type, specializing in Touki (demon energy) manipulation. Kazuki occasionally sparred with her, helping her refine her skills.

Now that she had overcome her fear of Kuroka, Koneko's talent blossomed rapidly.

She absorbed Senjutsu techniques at an astonishing pace. Seeing her growth, Kazuki taught her a secret technique—one that might become their trump card in the upcoming Rating Game against the Sitri peerage.

—————

Summer break was nearly over…

The deadline for their training had arrived.

Tomorrow, the Demon King would host a grand party in the Gremory territory, meaning all those who had been away for training would return.

The Gremory peerage would finally reunite.

While Kazuki was training in the courtyard as usual, a massive shadow loomed over him. Looking up, he saw the silhouette of a gigantic dragon.

"Kazuki-senpai!"

Issei leapt down from the dragon's back, his voice brimming with excitement.

"Welcome back, Issei. …Huh."

Though it had been a while since they last met, Issei's current state was… something else. Shirtless, with only the tattered remains of his pants barely covering his precious parts, he looked like a Wildman.

Yet, the excess fat had melted away, replaced by toned muscle, giving him a far more rugged and powerful physique. His magical energy had also grown denser, the aura around him noticeably thicker.

"Hmm… You've really pushed yourself to get this strong in such a short time. Good work, Issei."

Kazuki gave him a firm pat on the shoulder, genuine praise in his voice—

And then Issei burst into tears.

"Uuuuuuuuuuuuhhhh—!! I-It was so h-h-horrible, Kazuki-senpaaaaaaiii!!"

Between sobs, Issei recounted his brutal training regimen—a survival hell in the mountains, forced to fight Tannin, the former Dragon King and now one of the most powerful High-Class Devils.

Even with Tannin holding back, Issei stood no chance. Instead, he spent his days being chased around from dawn till dusk. And if that wasn't bad enough, he had to forage for his own food—fishing in rivers, gathering nuts and wild plants, even hunting demonic rabbits and boars native to the Underworld.

The only people he ever saw were Tannin and Azazel, who occasionally checked in.

Ironically, Issei's natural survival skills worked against him—Azazel never stepped in, leaving him to endure the nightmare until the very end.

"I see… That sounds rough. But you pulled through. Damn, Issei—you're something else."

"Uuuuhhh—! Y-You get it, Senpai?!"

"Yeah, I get it. I get it, Issei. You're a goddamn champion!"

Hearing Issei's story brought back memories of Kazuki's own brutal training under his grandfather. His eyes grew suspiciously moist.

"Ahem—Well then, I'll take my leave now. See you at the party, Hyoudou Issei, Ddraig."

Perhaps slightly unnerved by their emotional exchange, Tannin spoke up cautiously before spreading his wings.

"Sniff… Yeah, thanks, old man. See you at the party!"

"Sorry for the trouble, Tannin. Let's meet again."

"Tannin-sama, thank you for taking care of Issei!"

Kazuki added his own gratitude as Issei and Ddraig bid their farewells.

"No need for thanks. I had fun too. Until next time!"

With that, Tannin took off, his massive form soon vanishing into the sky. Issei kept waving until he was completely out of sight.

"Alright, Issei. Go take a bath. You can't meet everyone looking like that."

"Y-Yeah, good point. I'll go scrub up!"

"Yeah, see you later."

As Issei hurried inside, Kazuki heard another voice call out from behind him.

"Kazuki-senpai! I'm back!!"

Turning around, he saw Yumi, her face lit up in a bright smile.

"Welcome home, Yumi. How was your training?"

"Ahaha… My master thoroughly whipped me into shape."

Though her smile held a hint of exhaustion, just like Issei, the aura around her had intensified. It seemed her training had been a success.

"I see. Good work—you really pushed yourself."

Kazuki gently ran his fingers through her flaxen hair, and Yumi immediately clung to him, pressing herself against his chest.

"The training was hard… but not being able to see you was even harder~!!"

"Yumi…"

She looked up at him with half-lidded eyes before softly closing them. Kazuki leaned in, his lips just about to meet hers—

"Aaaah! That's not fair, Yumi!!"

A sharp, feminine voice shattered the moment.

"That voice… Xenovia?"

"What kind of question is that?! Did you forget me after just one measly month?!"

Xenovia's indignation would have been understandable—if the person standing there even remotely resembled her. Instead, what greeted them was what could only be described as a fully bandaged mummy woman.

"…Xenovia, what the hell happened to you?"

"Hah! I trained, got injured, got bandaged—repeat. Next thing I knew, I ended up like this."

Kazuki and Yumi could only stare in disbelief at her proud declaration.

From her toes to her neck, and even her head and left eye, Xenovia was completely wrapped in bandages. The only things recognizable were her signature blue hair and voice. And judging by her silhouette… she wasn't wearing a single stitch of clothing.

Just bandages over bare skin, leaving every alluring curve of her toned body painfully visible.

"Xenovia… aren't you… embarrassed?"

Yumi couldn't help but ask.

But Xenovia merely smirked.

"Fufufu… Indeed. Right now, I wear no clothes—no, not even underwear. Only these bandages barely conceal me. Countless eyes have devoured me on my way here. And yet—that's what makes it even better and hotter!"

Her voice grew heated, her breathing uneven as she continued.

"The lustful gazes of men… the scornful glares of women… the curious stares of children… Each and every one of them set my body ablaze, made my blood boil, made me—ahh~!!"

She shuddered violently, clutching herself as a lewd moan escaped her lips.

Kazuki could only recoil in shock. 'What the hell happened to the cool, rival-type swordswoman I first met?!'

But he already knew the answer.

He was the one who'd unlocked Xenovia's inner exhibitionist.

"Senpai…" Yumi's voice was colder than absolute zero.

"You'd better take responsibility for this."

"…Yeah. I know."

Kazuki could only nod in defeat.

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