Buchou and I took the elevator to the first floor and stepped outside.

“Issei, can you track Koneko’s presence?” Buchou asked.

“Yeah. She’s heading deep into the forest.”

“The forest around the hotel?”

“Seems like it. Let’s go.”

“Got it.”

We dashed through the woods, a short distance from the hotel. The forest was somewhat maintained, letting Buchou keep pace without trouble. After a few minutes, I grabbed her hand and pulled her behind a tree.

Peeking out, I spotted Koneko-chan. I sensed another presence—someone else was here. Koneko-chan noticed it too, her gaze shifting toward it.

“Been a while, Shirone. Doing okay?” a voice called.

It was unfamiliar. A woman in a black kimono appeared, sporting cat ears. Could she be…?

“Nee-sama…!” Koneko-chan gasped, eyes wide, her voice strained.

So, this is Koneko-chan’s older sister. They do look kinda similar. She called Koneko-chan “Shirone”—her real name, maybe?

Man, she’s gorgeous! Her chest rivals Buchou’s and Akeno-san’s! Will Koneko-chan grow up like that? Can’t wait to see!

A black cat rubbed against the sister’s feet. “Getting you here with just one little black cat? Your big sis is touched, nya~!”

So, Koneko-chan chased that cat here.

“What do you want, Nee-sama?” Koneko-chan asked.

“No need for that scary face, nya. Just some boring business. Guess you could say I came to check out the devil party, nya~!” She winked, mimicking a cat’s paw.

So cute! Cat-eared big sis is the best!

Ouch! Buchou pinched my cheek hard…

Another familiar presence appeared. “Hahaha, is this one of the Gremory familiars?” A man in ancient Chinese-style armor stepped out—Bikou, the descendant of Sun Wukong, who came for Vali at the summit.

If he’s here, Koneko-chan’s sister must be part of Vali’s crew.

Bikou’s gaze snapped to us. “Hiding your presence is pointless. For folks like me and Kuroka who know sage arts, we can sense the slightest shift in aura.”

Crap. I erased my aura completely, so it must be… Buchou.

Sighing, I stepped out, Buchou following. Koneko-chan looked shocked. “Issei-senpai, Rias-buchou…”

“Yo, been a minute, monkey boy. How’s Vali?” I said.

“Red Dragon Emperor too, huh? Didn’t sense you at all. Vali’s doing great, fired up for a rematch and training hard,” Bikou replied.

Ugh, didn’t need to hear that. Vali’s probably dead serious.

Bikou laughed at my grimace. “He might come for you, so be ready!”

“Don’t jinx it… Anyway, what’re you doing here? Terrorism?”

They chuckled lightly. “Nah, nothing like that,” Bikou said. “Kuroka and I are off-duty. She wanted to scope out the devil party, but she was taking too long, so I came to fetch her. Cool?”

Sounds like the truth, though he’s chatty.

“Is this kid the Red Dragon Emperor?” Kuroka asked Bikou, pointing at me.

“Yup,” Bikou confirmed.

Her eyes widened. “So, this is the pervy Red Dragon Emperor who beat Vali, huh?”

She stared at me intently. Pervy Red Dragon Emperor? Can’t deny it.

Deny it, partner, Ddraig urged.

No way, Ddraig. It’s true.

Bikou yawned. “Kuroka, let’s bounce. We can’t join that party anyway.”

“Sure, but I’m taking Shirone with me, nya. Couldn’t back then, so now’s the time~!” Kuroka said.

“That might piss off Vali,” Bikou warned.

“If they know she’s got the same power as me, Ophis and Vali will be fine with it, right?”

“Maybe, but…”

Kuroka’s eyes narrowed, and Koneko-chan flinched, trembling—not from anger, but fear.

Buchou stepped forward. “She’s my familiar. You won’t touch her.”

Bikou and Kuroka laughed. “Oh, my, what’s that, nya? She’s my sister. No way I’m handing her to some high-class devil,” Kuroka said.

“Besides, you can’t take us both, right? We’ll grab the girl and leave quick. Deal?” Bikou added.

“Hey, don’t mess around. I’m right here,” I said, stepping in front of Buchou and Koneko-chan. “Take Koneko-chan? No way in hell.”

The air crackled as I glared at Bikou and Kuroka. She stopped glaring, smiling instead. “Too much hassle, so I’ll just kill you, nya~!”

A weird sensation hit me—a barrier? “Kuroka, you’ve mastered not just sage arts, youjutsu, and magic, but spatial manipulation too?” Buchou said, grimacing.

“Can’t do time manipulation yet, but space? Got that down. Barriers are easy once you know the trick. I’ve sealed this forest, cutting it off from the outside. No one’ll hear a thing, and no devils are getting in. You’re gonna get crushed here, bye-bye, nya~!” Kuroka explained.

So, she trapped us in the forest. No reinforcements—fine. The real issue is fighting Koneko-chan’s sister in front of her. Escaping the barrier’s tough, and breaking it with my power might hurt Buchou or Koneko-chan. What to do…

A voice came from above. “I rushed here after hearing Rias-jou and Issei Hyoudou went to the forest, only to get caught in a barrier…”

“Tannin, old man!” I shouted.

Perfect timing! He must’ve slipped in just before the barrier went up.

“Old man, can you take Buchou and Koneko-chan? I’ll handle these two!”

Buchou and Koneko-chan looked shocked. Koneko-chan grabbed my sleeve. “No! I know Nee-sama’s power best. It rivals top-class devils. Even you can’t catch her with her illusions and sage arts. Facing her and that guy at the same time…”

Her face was near tears. She doesn’t want anyone hurt for her sake. I patted her head. “It’s okay, Koneko-chan. Trust me. I’ll protect you. Buchou, take her to Tannin.”

Buchou hesitated but nodded, leading Koneko-chan to Tannin’s back.

“You’re taking us both on? Some confidence, huh?” Kuroka said.

“Don’t underestimate him, Kuroka. He beat Vali,” Bikou warned, pulling out a staff from nowhere.

Where’d that come from? Whatever. I summoned my gauntlet and drew Ascalon.

“That’s a dragon-slaying holy sword, huh? A dragon wielding a dragon-slayer—ironic,” Bikou said.

“Thought it was cool, right?”

We traded quips, grinning. Then—

Clang!

Our sword and staff clashed, sparks flying.

“Here!”

“Whoa!”

My sword and Bikou’s staff collided repeatedly, sparks scattering. We’ve traded blows, but neither’s taken or dealt much damage yet.

“Not bad without a Sacred Gear. No wonder you beat Vali!” Bikou said, swinging his staff.

I blocked with Ascalon. “I’ve been training!”

A black mist formed around us—not too thick, I could still see, but it had an eerie vibe. It was coming from Kuroka.

What’s this?

“This poison mist works on devils and youkai, but not the Red Dragon Emperor? Must be the dragon thing, nya~,” Kuroka said.

Poison mist!? Good thing it doesn’t affect me. Getting Buchou and Koneko-chan out was the right call.

“If poison won’t work, I’ll blast you, nya~!” Kuroka fired magic bullets.

They looked dangerous, so I sliced them in half with Ascalon. Bikou seized the opening, attacking. “Extend, Ruyi Bang!”

His staff stretched!? “That’s handy!” I said.

“Right? Want it? Not giving it up, though,” Bikou replied.

“Didn’t say I wanted it.”

Azazel-sensei could probably make one anyway…

I dodged their attacks, countering with Ascalon’s slashes and aura blasts. One blast seemed to hit Kuroka, but her form dissipated. “Nice shot, but useless. I can make clones with illusions,” her voice echoed.

Figures appeared in the mist—all Kuroka! Illusions, huh? Still, a bunch of beauties is a nice sight, even if fake. If only this damn monkey was a beauty too!

“Hey, Bikou, why’s he looking so happy?” Kuroka asked.

“Don’t ask me! Why’s the Red Dragon Emperor giving me that disappointed look!?” Bikou snapped.

‘Cause I’d rather tussle with Koneko-chan’s sister, not you!

Clang!

I parried Bikou’s staff, stepping back and readying Ascalon. Bikou spoke up. “Yo, Red Dragon Emperor, no armor? You’re not even serious.”

“Yeah, this was a good chance to practice with Ascalon. I’m getting the hang of it.”

“Nice. So, how long we doing this?”

“I’d rather you just leave. Beating Koneko-chan’s sister in front of her feels wrong.”

“Hear that, Kuroka?” Bikou said.

She narrowed her eyes, radiating killing intent. “Tch, talking big. Want me gone? Hand over Shirone. She’s my sister.”

“No can do. Koneko-chan’s our precious friend. Plus, she’s trying to face her power. Can’t you leave her be for now?”

“Then I have to take her. I know her power best. I’m the one to guide it, don’t you think?”

“Even if she doesn’t want it?”

“It’s for her own good.”

No compromise, huh? She’s dead set on taking Koneko-chan. No choice—I’ll have to make her leave, without hurting her too bad.

I sheathed Ascalon into my gauntlet. “Balance Breaker!!”

Welsh Dragon Balance Breaker!!!!

My armored body radiated immense aura, shaking the ground and rustling the forest. The barrier cracked and shattered.

“The barrier…!?” Kuroka gasped.

“This generation’s Two Heavenly Dragons are monsters,” Bikou muttered.

As they reeled, a rift opened behind Bikou. A young man in a suit emerged, holding a sword radiating massive aura. A holy sword?

“That’s enough, Bikou, Kuroka. The devils noticed,” he said.

From his tone, he’s their ally. “Weren’t you with Vali?” Bikou asked.

“Kuroka was taking too long, so I checked. And you’re here too? What a mess,” the man sighed.

“Hyoudou Issei, stay back! That sword’s trouble!” Tannin shouted.

“The Holy King Sword Caliburn, also called Caliburn, the strongest holy sword. To think it’s with the White Dragon Emperor…” Tannin said.

Seriously? Stronger than Xenovia’s Durandal?

“And the one in your sheath’s a holy sword too, right?” I asked.

“This is the last Excalibur, the strongest of the seven—Excalibur Ruler, the Holy Sword of Domination,” he said.

The missing Excalibur!?

“You sure about spilling all that?” Kuroka asked.

He nodded. “I’m quite curious about your friends, Red Dragon Emperor. Pass a message to the holy-demonic sword user and the Durandal wielder: I’d love to cross blades as fellow swordsmen someday.”

Bold guy. Wonder what Kiba and Xenovia would think.

“Let’s retreat,” he said, slicing the air with Caliburn, widening the rift enough for several people. He and Bikou slipped through, Kuroka following.

“Hey, Koneko-chan’s sister,” I called.

“What?” Kuroka replied.

“Did you really get consumed by your power and kill your master?”

She smirked lightly. “Who knows, nya?”

With that, she vanished through the rift.

Five minutes later, devils responding to the commotion took us into custody. The Demon King’s party was abruptly canceled due to an attack by the Chaos Brigade.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep