A short while ago

Issei and Alice were lost in the underground passages.

Honestly, I screwed up.

Handing Alice the map was a mistake.

“…How do you get lost like this?”

“Hahaha… uh, well…”

“Alice-kun, look at me. Talk eye-to-eye.”

“Issei-sensei, you’re scary!”

It’s fine, it’s fine.

Issei-sensei isn’t scary.

Look, I’m smiling, right?

Maybe a vein’s popping, but it’s a smile.

…All I did was let her take the map, and she charged ahead, getting us lost.

That’s all, so Issei-sensei’s not scary.

“…Got any excuses?”

“I don’t wanna admit it, but… youthful mistakes, y’know?”

“Time for a lecture.”

“Why’re you grinning!? Sorry! Really sorry! Forgive me… I just got a bit lost…?”

“Where are we?”

“Uh, um…”

I asked, and Alice studied the map, tracing it with her finger.

Probably trying to figure out our location from the paths we took.

After a bit, she looked up.

And, sticking out her tongue, said:

“No clue!”

“Time for punishment.”

Wasting time like this!?

You directionless disaster!

Why’d you snatch the map!?

Rushing ahead, now I don’t know where we are either!

Damn it!

“Ugh… I just wanted to help you, Issei…”

Curling up, teary-eyed…!

So cute, damn it!

I’m melting!

Wait?

Did she just stick out her tongue again…?

“You know I’m weak to that, don’t you?”

“Oh, caught me…?”

She dropped the act!

What a girl!

“Toying with my pure heart!?”

“Pure!? You perverted hero!”

“Shut it! Give me back that flutter!”

“No way!”

Alice stretched, saying, “Sure, I messed up getting lost, but arguing here’s a waste of time, right?”

“You’re brushing it off!?”

“Yup.”

“And admitting it!?”

This girl… she’s got some nerve.

Is this what a ‘Queen’ is like?

Is this how vassals act?

Shino, Grayfia, even Raiser’s Yubelluna seemed more… regal.

Not that I expect master-servant vibes from Alice, but… this is too much.

Have you become a tragic beauty too…? Sniff.

As I slumped, Alice asked, “You can find everyone, right? By sensing their aura. Hurry up.”

“Yes, yes…”

I’m totally whipped…

I sharpened my senses, expanding my detection range.

Underground, you’ve gotta check up and down, not just flat.

It’s tricky work.

Soon, I found everyone’s aura.

And a familiar one among them.

“Grendel’s there too…”

“That evil dragon?” Alice asked.

“Yeah. Let’s hurry.”

“Okay. Which way?”

I pointed to the direction I sensed.

A thin wall could be smashed through, but… it feels thicker.

Probably the castle’s foundation…?

Wrecking it could cause trouble.

I said hurry, but we should find a safer path—

“Issei, move.”

“Huh?”

I turned, and Alice was cloaked in white lightning, spear ready.

Wait.

What are you—

“White Spear Cannon: Aspros Vrimma!!!”

“Hold onnnn!!!”

My shout was futile as Alice’s spear fired.

And now, here we are.

Covered in dust, pure white.

Before us: Miu, Vali in his armor, and Crow Cruach.

We crashed into a super serious moment.

Everyone yelled, “Give us back the serious mood!”

Sorry, really.

I didn’t expect this either.

The teacher spoke.

“Issei… you’re late. And what an entrance. What were you doing?”

“Uh, well, I ran into Rizevim’s ally… then noticed something off, called Tia over, and—”

“And enjoyed Elmenhilde’s bear panties, right?” Ignis chimed in.

“””What…?”””

The girls reacted to Ignis’s words.

This damn goddess!!!

What are you saying!?

Rias shouted, “Issei!? You were ogling Elmenhilde’s… underwear at a time like this!?”

“No, no, I didn’t!”

Xenovia followed, “Baby-making!? You did it with that vampire!?”

“I didn’t! Why does it jump to that!? Is that all you think about!?”

Miu muttered, “Elmenhilde’s got bear panties… kinda unexpected…”

I agree!

Definitely unexpected!

The teacher frowned. “Rizevim’s ally?”

“Yeah. Bad news. I’ll explain later. For now—”

I turned to the man in black—Crow Cruach.

No Grendel, so they must’ve driven it off.

Then Crow and Vali showed up.

Crow spoke.

“You’re here, Red Dragon Emperor.”

“You’re stalling them?”

“Yes.”

What a guy to play gatekeeper.

I glanced at the others.

The teacher’s fine, but the rest are worn out.

Fighting Crow after Grendel is reckless.

Even at full strength, landing hits on the strongest evil dragon is tough.

I asked Vali, “Can you take him?”

“No Juggernaut Drive left. I’m drained.”

“Seriously?”

“Eugrid Lucifuge slowed me down.”

Vali shrugged.

So he fought Eugrid.

From his tone and state, he didn’t win.

But it wasn’t all-out either.

If Vali went full power, I’d have sensed it.

“I also want to avoid burning out here. I’ve got business with someone ahead.”

“Rizevim?”

“Yes.”

Vali’s reply was curt.

I don’t know what’s between him and Rizevim, but he’s set on fighting him.

Not just as a battle maniac craving a strong foe.

Let’s shelve that for now.

Miu’s team needs rest, and Vali’s conserving energy.

The teacher can’t be risked with the Holy Grail in play.

So…

“I’ll handle him.”

Crow reacted first.

“The Red Dragon Emperor challenges me?”

“They’ve fought hard. I gotta step up.”

While they battled, I was… caught up with Elmenhilde’s bear panties and Tia’s no-panties rumor…

Yeah, I need to join in, or I’ll feel like a jerk.

The teacher asked, “Issei, you good?”

“I’ll manage. Can’t let them wear out more.”

“Then I’m in too. We’re the only ones who haven’t shone,” Alice said, twirling her spear, smirking at me.

I grinned back.

“Let’s do this, Red Dragon Emperor’s ‘King’ and ‘Queen,’ and make it cool.”

“Yeah. Otherwise, I’d feel bad for Miu and Ravel… we’ve practically been slacking.”

Not slacking, but…

Looks like we’re on the same page.

Good enough.

I signaled Alice, donned my armor, and charged.

I rushed Crow, feinting a punch, leaving an afterimage, and circling behind!

Aiming for his head!

Crow tilted, dodging, grabbed my arm, and threw me down!

“Not so fast!”

I braced my feet, stopping the slam!

Then drove a knee into his chest!

Crow released my arm, retreating—but Alice was waiting.

Golden hair turned white, cloaked in lightning—the White Thunder Princess.

Her spear concentrated terrifying white lightning, thrusting at Crow!

“Don’t touch me unless you want to burn!”

Her spear carved white arcs, thrusting, slashing, striking with the butt—wielding it freely, overwhelming Crow!

Crow dodged her lightning with wide movements, his face calm.

Evading a flash-like strike, he circled behind Alice, throwing a punch.

“Not on my watch!”

I slid in, blocking it.

I yanked his arm, throwing him off balance, and launched an uppercut at his face!

Crow caught it with his free hand, locking us in a stalemate.

Then came a flurry of kicks.

Knees clashed, targeting torsos, legs—blow after blow!

A close-range kicking duel!

Ugh… this weight through my armor!

Each hit’s heavy!

He blocks my punches with ease, unfazed by kicks, while my armor’s cracking.

He’s stronger than me now.

This basic armor won’t cut it.

So I switch!

“Forbidden Move, Second Tier—Tenbu! Time for a flashy brawl!”

I kicked Crow back, leaping away.

Landing, I unleashed aura from my boosters, closing the gap again!

“BBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBoost!!!!”

“Ignition Booster!!!!”

Sonic booms trailed as I dove into Crow’s guard!

He threw a punch, its aura like a giant fist—

Not smart to counter that.

I used Renkan Keikikou, entering the Zone.

His fist slowed like a replay.

I ducked, landing a dragon-slaying Ascalon-charged blow to his jaw!

“Ugh…!”

Crow floated upward!

I circled behind, kicking his back!

He flew toward the ceiling but flipped, kicking off it, charging me!

So fast.

And no visible damage…

Grendel took that much and didn’t fall.

This guy won’t go down easily either.

I need a hit stronger than what we used on Grendel.

“Ha!”

Alice struck from the side, shattering stone with her step, aiming for Crow.

He kicked me away, responding instantly.

Swaying back to dodge her spear, he kicked it upward, disarming her.

Crow said calmly, “No weapon.”

“Yep. Been a while since I lost my spear. Issei!”

“Got it!”

Catching her spinning silver spear, I slashed at Crow!

The blade grazed him!

His black clothes tore, blood seeping from his arm!

“Alice, catch! And—”

“BBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBoost!!!!”

I threw her spear back, starting amplification.

Gathering aura in my hands.

“Take this!”

I fired it at Alice!

And—

“Transfer!!”

The amplified power surged into her!

Her aura swelled, red mixing with white lightning!

“Got it! Let’s go!”

“Time to show our tag-team!”

Red and white flashes streaked through the space.

My fists, Alice’s spear—our combo assaulted Crow!

Two years of frontline synergy still sharp!

I read Alice’s rhythm, she reads mine—no words needed to know our next moves!

Our fierce clash with Crow continued.

“Here!”

I threw a red-aura punch at his face… but he deflected it.

As it missed, his fist slammed my ribs!

“Gah…! Tch!”

I twisted, throwing a roundhouse kick, but he dodged effortlessly.

His fighting style’s refined.

Grendel was brute force—high attack, defense, speed.

But he was full of openings.

We read his patterns, landing heavy blows.

This dragon, though—

“Did you train in martial arts? No wasted moves.”

“I’ve trained long. You pick up things.”

Training, huh…

So he worked hard before being ‘destroyed’?

The Holy Grail can enhance, but skills—movement, breathing, experience—come from repetition.

His moves scream years of honed practice.

“Even with the Holy Grail’s boost, you’re strong.”

I muttered, dodging his attacks.

Crow denied it.

“Holy Grail boost? I don’t use it.”

“What? You weren’t revived and enhanced by it?”

Grendel was juiced up—why not him?

If he’s a pawn, they’d enhance him.

But Crow said—

“You’re mistaken. I’ve never been destroyed.”

“What?”

I frowned, repeating it.

Azazel-sensei said he was destroyed…

Crow sighed.

“Christian interference annoyed me, so I left that land.”

“So where were you all this time?”

If Azazel-sensei misunderstood, others likely think ‘the strongest evil dragon was destroyed.’

What was he doing?

Crow answered.

“Training, exploring—human world, underworld, everywhere.”

“…! No way…”

He was never destroyed, just training alone all this time…

And his power isn’t from the Holy Grail.

This dragon’s insane…!

Grendel’s nothing compared to him.

He honed himself through sheer will, over ages.

Guys like that are always strong…!

Vali, watching, laughed.

“Kukuku! Hahaha! A dragon ruling battle, huh? Seems there’s one chasing combat and discovery more than me. You’re with Rizevim for strong foes, right?”

Crow’s lips curled.

“I want to see where dragons end up.”

“Like me, huh? Now I’m curious, Crow Cruach. Should I have fought you?”

You said you didn’t want to burn out!

That’s why Alice and I took him!

Vali, Crow—are your heads just battle!?

Ugh, I hate battle-obsessed freaks!

I’d pick flirting with girls over fighting!

It’s the only choice!

“But, partner, taking a dragon-slaying punch unenhanced like that? He kept training in the human world and underworld after me and Albion were sealed. He might be Heavenly Dragon-class.”

Heavenly Dragon-class… like Ddraig or Albion in their prime?

Then fighting on isn’t smart.

“If possible, I’d suggest retreating… but that’s not an option.”

Yeah, no way.

This is a tough one.

If he’s Heavenly Dragon-class, even all of us together might not win.

No, dragging this out wastes time.

I want to get everyone through, but…

Miu said worriedly, “He’s handling Onii-chan and Alice at once…”

Exactly.

Our combo’s barely scratching him…

His skill and tough body are unreal.

What now…?

Then—Azazel put a hand on Asia’s shoulder.

“We can’t waste more time. Asia!”

“Y-Yes!”

“No choice. Call Fafnir!”

…

Seriously?

Panties Dragon King, Again!

——————————-

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