VIP Meeting

Maou Ajuka Beelzebub showed what was happening at the moment in his private research institution to the former Governor of Grigori Azazel, who was currently in the Isolation Barrier and reported.

What appeared before Azazel’s eyes was a phenomenon that had occurred to Hyoudou Issei’s body.

『Hey, Ise! Push Master Rias’ nipples!』

『No! T-this is something you can’t do until you get married! I-it’s extremely lewd! Listen, Xenovia! It’s not something high-school boys should do!』

『What are you talking about this late! What is a boy who was always enjoying everyone’s breasts that much saying! How many times do you think you rubbed my breasts!』

『That’s right, darling! Push them! Push!』

『Ise-san! Please, push Rias onee-sama’s breasts!』

『Uwaa! Irina and Asia are too leeeeeeewd!』

『…I forcibly made Ise-senpai put out his fingers. Come on, Rias nee-sama, turn your breasts over here.』

『I-I understand, Koneko.』

『Stop this, Riaaaaaaas! I don’t want to push! I don’t want tooooo!』

『Aaaan!』

『He pushed them! How is this, Ravel!』

『……No good, Xenovia-sama. Ise-sama———lost his consciousness!』

『Ara-ara. Rias, this...looks bad.』

『You are right, Akeno. ...To think he would lose consciousness after pushing my breasts... As I thought, it looks like the only choice is to directly interrogate the Longinus possessor who has rewritten Ise’s concepts.』

───The recording was going on until the moment Hyoudou Issei pushed Rias Gremory’s nipples.

The girls’ hard struggle ended in vain and in an unbelievable way with Hyoudou Issei whose nature itself was rewritten, fainting after pushing Rias Gremory’s breasts that he loved so much.

A change to the current Sekiryuutei who many times achieved miraculous power-ups through pushing Rias Gremory’s nipples. Azazel, who was acquainted with Hyoudou Issei’s ability more than anyone else and was an authority in Sacred Gear research, had a sorrowful expression after seeing this result.

『…That Rias, she really became a good girl. Even when Ise used her breasts as a switch or a battery, or when he became unable to recognise oppai, or came to dislike oppai like now and has to be nursed, she accompanies him with devotion…』

"......"

───I don’t even know how to comment on this.

That’s what Ajuka thought in his mind. Putting a hand on his forehead, Azazel said across the projection.

『…That being said, to reproduce this Ise from my UFO. How dare you… Geez, he picked up information even about such a play, that damn Hades……!』

Ajuka said.

"In the [DxD]’s fights against the Leaders of Hell, they were presented clearly before them. Miraculous deeds of Hyoudou Issei-kun. In the fight against Thanatos, Gautama Buddha and Kannon came running. In the fight against Vidar, he manifested Ddraig, the original Sekiryuutei. While fighting Nyx, he delivered Ingvild Leviathan’s song to the battlefield and defeated the Goddess of the Night. In Kyoto, after bringing down Erebus, he settled a decisive battle with Tartaros with overwhelming power due to Skithblathnir’s unexpected transformation… The numerous military gains and miracles he raised during fights with the Leaders of Hell made them feel a sense of impending crisis…so they thought what if on the contrary they could beat that".

『Individual strength of [DxD]’s members is also reliable, but they recruited many miraculous-like existences. And they targeted the one who lacks common sense and whom you can’t predict or expect the most amongst them, Ise. Because he’s certainly the one who overturns predicaments the most.』

Azazel said so.

That went to the means he used to achieve all sorts of power-ups too: like his revival during the Demonic Beast Riot, Dragon Deification during the Evil Dragon War, for achievements during the Rating Games tournament and also during the fights with the Leaders of Hell. Hyoudou Issei escaped predicaments with miracles that no one had seen before. And if it’s Hades who came to see those, he probably thought.

───If only we could deal with just him. While searching for a way to seal Hyoudou Issei, he probably found it while investigating Kuoh Town. Azazel’s prank in the past───

A strength enough to allow for powerfully recreating a simple mischief is also troublesome and dangerous. However, Hades and his allies found even that.

───[Alphecca Tyrant].

Azazel asked.

『The ability of the new [Alphecca Tyrant], as I thought, is the current possessor’s subspecies, huh?』

Ajuka answered him with a nod.

"Yes. Grigori and my research institution investigated it, and it’s different from the ability manifested by a previous possessor. There are two aspects to the ability which the previous possessor used. Being able to attack with a nail-like object made of holy aura, and also being able to brainwash opponents by making a group of people listen to a conversation for several minutes with a certain fixed keyword inserted in it. Furthermore, there’s no limit on the numbers. A previous owner stood before a large crowd of people as a lecturer, satisfied the requirements, and dominated a single town".

『…If this Sacred Gear were to appear much earlier, it would’ve been quite terrible.』

"Yes. I’m frightened by the thought of what could’ve happened if someone eloquent manifested it during the times of humanity’s great wars. However, it is said that the previous possessor couldn’t control supernatural beings".

『So what about the current possessor’s ability?』

"Rewriting concepts of those who were struck by the nail made of holy aura. And it’s not meant for ordinary humans───"

『…An ability limited to Sacred Gear possessors, huh. That’s why it had an effect even on a Longinus possessor.』

That’s how Azazel continued after Ajuka. At any rate, it seems like Azazel also could have imagined it to some extent. The abilities of the previous [Alphecca Tyrant] and of the current [Alphecca Tyrant] are different───

Meredith Ordinton, the current possessor, is an ex-magician of Golden Dawn and, although not direct, she has blood ties to authorized people of England’s Royal family.

She was a child conceived between an authorized person from the royal family and a lover, and wasn’t acknowledged by the Royal family.

It looks like Meredith awakened to her Longinus’ powers in recent years and by using it she controlled other Sacred Gear possessors. Azazel said.

『According to information provided with a request from the Pendragon House, there are several Sacred Gear possessors confirmed in [Alphecca Tyrant]’s surroundings that are controlled by the Longinus’ ability.』

"It looks like she’s gathering Sacred Gear possessors with abilities allowing for manipulation of other people like illusions or control over the mind and body. Using those powers, she likely tricked the inner circle of England into disorder".

Azazel squinted.

『So the previous possessor had an ability to control ordinary people using words and the current one targets Sacred Gear possessors by stabbing them with a nail, huh. So the thing they have in common is overwriting concepts of the target group.』

"…Perhaps, control and holy nails, these are the fundamental characteristics of this Longinus and the rest depends on the user".

Ajuka began to think that this time the ability might not be a subspecies.

『Because it’s a new Longinus there’s not enough information, huh. Ah, geez. If I was there, it would be the best research subject. Shit! What’s with this very interesting new species!』

Azazel got excited, but immediately calmed down and cleaned his throat.

『…So, what’s going on in England at this moment?』

"On the outside the government seems to be functioning, but on the inside about half of the influential people are controlled by [Alphecca Tyrant]───in other words, by Meredith Ordinton".

『It means that girl Meredith is brainwashing and controlling all of the influential people using illusion and manipulation-type Sacred Gears possessors.』

The ability Meredith employs is, in a sense, much more villainous than the "Getting control by making them listen to a keyword" which the previous possessor of [Alphecca Tyrant] used.

Being able to manipulate Sacred Gear possessors is enough of a threat in itself, but the fact it proved effective against Hyoudou Issei meant that the possibility of it working on other Longinus possessors too was extremely high. This was exceedingly dangerous.

Majority of Longinus possessors of this era reached Balance Breaker. And amongst them there were those who surpassed even that.

If it can rewrite concepts of those people───it was the worst possible situation. If it’s possible to implant within Longinus possessors concepts like “Destroy the world” or “Kill various gods”… it might be possible to overturn in one go the status quo between each mythology depending on the way it was used. As far as anti-Sacred Gear or anti-Longinus went, there’s nothing more terrifying than this. In other words, in case of confronting Meredith Ordinton, exposing Sacred Gear possessors was dangerous. The more powerful they were, the more───

Ajuka said.

"The Leaders of Hell made contact with Meredith Ordinton. Rather, they found someone able to break down Hyoudou Issei-kun’s power".

『So it doesn’t seem unrelated to the incident with Nyx finding [Nereid Kyrie].』

"Probably because they’d been extensively searching for new Longinus and Longinus-class Sacred Gears".

『What about Hades’ faction? Their stronghold was found?』

Ajuka nodded at Azazel’s question. A stereoscopic image was projected to Azazel through a magic circle. It showed a world of ice.

"Yes, at the lowest strata of the Realm of the Dead───Cocytus’ inner part, there was a large scale research institution… but it’s already empty".

The projection showed an ice valley and a research facility located in its interior. Even more, it showed what was inside the facility, a huge floor fraught with cultivation tanks.

"We also discovered a giant cultivation tank in which the Mother of Devils: Lilith-sama was supposedly placed. Moreover, this research facility was somehow connected with Rizevim Livan Lucifer, it seems".

Azazel made a sour face.

『Rizevim…in Cocytus! That bastard, doing such a thing in Cocytus… And that Hades being himself finding and using it. I wonder if the bunch of those who hate us has something that resonates and calls them together.』

After pulling himself together Azazel asked Ajuka.

『So, what are Hades and the others’ current whereabouts?』

Ajuka created the Earth’s model from a magic circle and, after spinning it, made a single point flicker with light. It was the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland───Great Britain. Ajuka said.

"At present they are inside a personal space created deep under London. Hades as well as the army of Grim Reapers following him, Zoroaster Evil God Angra Mainyu, the Mother of Devils Lilith-sama and artificial transcendentals born from her───Balberith and Verrine".

『As well as unidentified devils born from Lilith, I guess. In other words, the remaining forces of the Leaders of Hell gathered in England. The impostors of Ddraig and Albion are related to Angra Mainyu, right?』

Ajuka nodded.

"Yes. Most likely, the technology that created Azi Dahaka was used. Because the aura of Evil Dragons was perceived from those impostors".

『Evil Dragon-type Two Heavenly Dragons, huh. Likely to match war potential, but… the fact that they are escorting that Meredith girl means they are bodyguards?』

"Perhaps they also have the goal of instigating the Two Heavenly Dragons and their possessors; however, although Ddraig himself showed interest, he didn’t appear that angry".

『…In all probability, they’ll say “Let me handle it”, both Ddraig and Vali. Maybe this is Hades and the others’ countermeasure for the Two Heavenly Dragons while anticipating that. And, how are countermeasures for the Leaders of Hell on our end?』

"We’ve already conveyed information to every mythology as well as to influential people in the Human world, and completed preparations for monitoring and enclosing the territory so that Hades and the rest won’t be able to escape England".

『So unless something really big happens, Hades and his allies are not getting away from there. Do-or-die, huh. It should be a decisive battle against them.』

"Yes, I have the same intentions".

『What about the situation in England’s inner circles? Those around the Prime Minister and the royal family are safe?』

"Their secret intelligence bureaus───people from MI6 and America’s CIA are cooperating and strengthening the guard. Every mythology also sent their capable agents, so there should be no immediate influence".

『There are supernatural power users───Sacred Gear possessors in MI6 and CIA too, but this time the compatibility is the worst.』

"We also can’t make an appearance that easily. And we are talking about DxD’s dispatch under such conditions, so we should be extremely meticulous".

『DxD is full of Sacred Gear possessors with crazy abilities. If anyone besides Ise gets influenced by [Alphecca Tyrant], there’s a possibility of a crushing defeat.』

"I intend to support them as much as possible, but at the actual place there’s no other way but to believe in their action".

『Well, I wait for good news inside this isolation barrier.』

『Yeah, me too.』

Suddenly, a crimson haired devil entered the conversation with these words---It was Sirzechs Lucifer. It was probably his time to rest during the fight against Trihexa. Naturally, he also already knew about the circumstances. While gulping down water from a container, Sirzechs said.

『If it’s Ise-kun, he’ll become the Oppai Dragon once again. That’s what I believe.』
At these words both Azazel and Ajuka smiled.

『That’s for sure.』

"Yes, I know, Sirzechs. I believe in that too".