7 I’ll Choose...

"Ise-kun, you're finally awake!"

"Huh…? Irina...what are you doing…?"

"I'm taking care of you until everyone is prepared to move out. You passed out after receiving the news about-" Irina purposely bit her tongue on the last part. She wasn't supposed to remind him about the situation about his parents.

Issei looked around and saw that he was in the [Ero Room]. He got up from the bed and walked towards the door.

"I-I….need to rescue them."

Irina came running towards him, hugging his back and tightening her grip.

"Ise-kun...don't go." she pled.

"..." he didn't want to make Irina unhappy, but at the same time his parents are in immediate danger. He had to go after Qlippoth no matter what.

"The meeting to discuss our battle strategy for the operation has already begun. Just rest for now Ise-kun, you'll need it."

"...Okay." remarkably, Irina was able to convince him. She let out a sigh of relief as she sat back down.

"Where's Ravel?" he asked.

"She's...at the meeting. You want me to bring her here?"

"Yeah, I wanna to talk to her. In private."

"..." she nodded and did what Issei told her.

-Line Break-

"My anger towards those bastards is endless, I won't forgive them. I will definitely bring those two back. And I'll make sure Qlippoth will never terrorize the world again. Permanently." As Issei makes such resolves, someone was knocking on the door. The person who walked in was Ravel.

"Ise-sama…" Having walked into the room, Ravel looked at him with a worried expression.

"Come here Ravel, sit by me. Let's talk for a bit." Issei's voice was soft and gentle, which made the little phoenix a bit better. Ravel quickly sat by him; he smiled as he looked at her, but her face still clouded with unhappiness.

After a moments of silence, Ravel spoke:

"I really made you worry."

"Yeah, you did. Scare the living shit out of me, to be honest." he confessed.

"I wasn't by your side when you had your career consultation…I was useless in all the crucial moments, as your manager I'm too ashamed…"

"W-What are you saying? It doesn't matter, it is enough for me that Ravel is safe."

"B-But…I couldn't do anything at all during all the critical moments…! During the Devil Uprising, the unrest in Romania, that time with Auros, and even this time…! I'm supposed to be your manager, yet I can't stay by Ise-sama's side…. If that hadn't happened to me, Ise-sama's parents wouldn't have…"

Ravel poignantly cried. Although she covered her face with her hands, streams of tears still flowed down her face through her hands.

Issei gently watched as she cried. The eyes that were filled with bitterness and coldness about a few minutes ago, turned warm and cozy as he close the gap between him and Ravel.

"You're wrong about that, Ravel. Precisely because I had Ravel waiting for me, I was able to face the enemy and fight with confidence, you know? So, don't cry." he said as he hugged her tightly.

She hugged back and stuffed her face on his chest.

"...I will always, always accompany Ise-sama by his side. Regardless of whether it's a hundred years, a thousand years, or even the more distant future." she said.

"...." Her blue eyes sparkled as she looked up towards his face.

"She's so adorable….it feels nice to have her as my Manager…."

"-!" unconsciously, Issei kissed her forehead.

"S-Sorry. I was just...caught in the moment."

"I-It's okay...I-I don't mind…"

"Looks like it's time for us to go. You'll be staying here I presume?"

"Y-Yes…"

-Line Break-

"You have avoided me for long enough Hyoudou Issei."

"You're that same dragon from before...what do you want?"

"It's not like I have any ill intentions. But listen, and I recommend Ddraig to listen as well. For I, will grant you the key to save your parents, defeat Qlippoth, and destroy the beast."

[No one, not even I have the power to do all those three objectives at once. What are you suggesting, to offer such a task?]

"Remember what I gave Issei?"

[You mean...]

"Heh, it seems that you are close friends with my imouto, Ophis. I suspect she's already clinging on to you.

"However, that is not important right now, is it? Anyways, I already have given you the power required to do the task that I wanted you to do. Although, I suggest you withdraw from [DxD], and go on your own."

"T-That's impossible!"

"Is it really? All you need to do to unlock the power I've given you...and to do that, you need to absorb a dragon's soul. And there plenty of mass produce Evil Dragons guarding that Lucifer freak."

"You mean Rizevim?"

"Yes."

"And what if I refused your gift entirely?"

"That is perfectly fine. I'll just find another successor, and I will immediately take my power back, and give you Ophis's power that I took out from you. But if you choose that, then the faction leaders will disappear due to the power of Trihexa. They will end up sealing themselves in order to fight the beast, and you won't see them for thousands of years."

"You gotta be kidding me!"

[What proof you have!?]

"I am the Dragon God of Time. It wouldn't make sense if I can't see the possible future. Now Issei, do you accept my offer? Choose now, for the fate of the world rest on your hands."

"...I'll choose-"

End of chapter 7