Holy Sword Project

The day of Athletic Competition arrived, but much of its excitement died down due to the Student Council not participating in any events. Much to the new students' surprise, the Occult Research Club dominated the Interclub Tournament instead of a sports club. Due to that, many tried to apply to join such club but they were immediately rejected much to their despair and disappointment to get close to hot girls.

Although the Occult Research Club dominated the games, Issei didn't come out of it unscathed, in particular, the game of Dodge Ball where the enemies only aimed at him for reasons being they can't touch the girls and Yuuto Kiba due to his fangirls. To these people, the only person they can let out their resentment is Issei and did it quite happily. Due to Yuuto not paying attention, Issei had to take a hit for him and the ball ended up striking his crotch which caused some concerns from both Asia and Rias.

That day, it rained, Yuuto left the school after the events ended and Rias scolded him, "Sorry about my performance today. I wasn't feeling well. Can I go now? The tournament is over at this point..." Yuuto turned around not waiting for Rias' reply, "I'm pretty tired, so I think I'll be skipping club today too."

Yuuto already gained some distance when Issei and Asia caught up to him despite the weather, "Kiba! You've seriously been acting weird lately." Issei has to grab his shoulder to make him stop walking.

Yuuto shook off his hand, "It has nothing to do with you."

"...That doesn't mean we're not worried..."

"Worried? Why would you be worried? Devils lead inherently selfish lives." Yuuto resumed on walking through the rain, "But it's fine if you think poorly of me for disobeying our master..."

Issei gritted his teeth at his words, "Hold on now..." He then grabbed his collars, "Why pull this bad attitude just when we were starting to come together as a team!? Did you forget all the shit we faced when we fought Riser's group!? If we don't stick together and back each other up from now on, things aren't going to end well!... We're friends after all..."

Yuuto shook off his hands again, "Friends... Hmm...? Stop getting so worked up. Issei-kun, I recently remembered something essential."

"Something essential...?"

"Yes... I recalled what I'm fighting for."

"You mean you're not fighting for Buchou?"

"No... I'm not." Yuuto's pretty face suddenly contorted to hate, "I'm only living for revenge... The only reason I continue to fight is to destroy the Holy Sword, Excalibur." He then walked away with Issei and Asia not being able to do anything else.

Yuuto kept walking in the rain as he reminisces his childhood, 'I never really forgot my revenge against the Holy Sword, Excalibur. I just let myself get wrapped up in school life... My friends, my lifestyle, even my name... It's all been granted to me by Rias Gremory. I have no right to strive for any more happiness than this. I can't be at peace living on for my comrades until I carry their will...'

As he kept thinking to himself what should he be doing now, Yuuto suddenly felt a threat against him, a strong Holy Power coming from behind him, "!?" In instant, he activated his Sacred Gear, Sword Birth and took out a sword from his palm. He blocked the incoming sword from behind him.

As the clash of metals occurred, Yuuto hurriedly retreated to see who attacked him. To his surprise, he knew the attacker, it was Freed who Koneko has beaten to half-death state in the Fallen Angels incident.

"Yahoo~! Long-time no see!"

"Freed Sellzen! So you're still alive..."

"Huh!? Why would you think that I died!? Is it because of that shrimp!!! Damn it! Just remembering her face makes me want to cut her up!!! For my future generation, I shall take my revenge!!!" Freed's mouth took off.

Instead of reacting to his words, Yuuto's attention was caught by the sword he's holding, "...That sword is -- !!!"

"Hehehe... It seems that you're familiar with my toy." Freed laughed creepily, "How about you and me see which is better -- your devil swords or my Excalibur? The loser gets to die of course!"

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"The Holy Sword Project?" Issei asked Rias who is currently staying in his room along with Asia.

"It existed until just a few years ago. The goal was to cultivate individuals who were capable of wielding the Holy Sword Excalibur." Rias took a sip of her tea before continuing, "Yuuto was the only survivor of the project."

"And the Church was running it? ... This is the first time I've heard of it..." Asia muttered.

"Holy Swords are terrifying weapons for us Devils... But they say that every few decades will only yield a single potential wielder. The same is true of the Holy Weapon 'Longinus'. The Sacred Gear that resides in you, Issei. I suspect that your Longinus, as a potential God-killer got its name from the infamous Holy Spear 'True Longinus' that was used to kill Christ."

"...Longinus." Issei stared at his left hand thinking of the dragon that claimed that resides in it.

"Yuuto was one of those raised and trained to be a user of Holy Swords. Excalibur in particular. The organization in charge of training designated Yuuto and his companions, who could not adapt to the swords, 'defective goods' and disposed of them."

" 'Disposed'...? You don't mean...?" Asia innocently asked, "...It couldn't be... No one working in the name of the Lord could do something so awful."

"Those with the Church label the very existence of us Devils evil, but... I think humans possess quite enough malice themselves." Rias sighed, "When I turned Yuuto into a Devil, he was swearing an oath of vengeance, despite being on the brink of death. Due to the very fact that his talent had been warped by the Holy Swords wince birth... I believed I could put him to use once he became a Devil. It's just a shame that his specialized talents for swordplay are particular to Holy Swords."

Issei remembered how Yuuto acted earlier and muttered, "But he hasn't forgotten the revenge he swore against all those involved with Holy Swords... Those members of the Church... So that's why he hates priests and Holy Swords so much. No wonder..."

"In any case, I think we just have to observe him for now. His obsession with the Holy Swords seems to have returned to him of late... I hope he manages to get back to normal, but..." Rias' head started to ache thinking of Yuuto's problem.

Issei recalled the moment this all started and took out the photo album that Yuuto was looking at when they had a meeting in their house, "Ah, now that you mentioned it. I think it started with this picture." Issei then showed a photo of him along with two boys.

Rias took a peek at the photo and the sword in the background also caught her attention, "You have relatives affiliated with the Church?"

"No, not relatives." Issei pointed at the boy with hazel colored hair, "But this kid was a neighbor of mine when we're little. I think the family was Christian."

"I see... To think that there was a Holy Sword in this city just a little over ten years ago. How terrifying."

"So you're saying the sword in the photo is really a Holy Sword?"

"Yes. One of them anyway. It doesn't look like Excaliburm but it's still a true Holy Sword. I've heard that the previous Devil inhabitants of this city were annihilated... Makes me wonder..." Rias put down the album and stood up, "In any case..." She then started undressing, "What do you say we call it a night?"

"Why are you taking your clothes off!?" Issei also stood up. Although he didn't try to stop her.

"What do you mean 'why'? You of all people know that I can't sleep unless I'm naked." Rias didn't care about his protest and undid her underwear.

"No, no, I mean...! Why in my room!?" Issei kept looking at her, 'Asia is here! I can't do anything!'

"Because I'm sleeping with you, of course." Rias laid down on the bed and invited Issei to join her.

Asia couldn't stay quiet anymore and also started undressing, "Then I am too! I'm also sleeping with Issei-san!"

"Asia-san!?" 'See!? I can't do anything!!! Though I don't have any protection with me right now... So I can't do it either way... And after that heavy topic... It's impossible...'

"Asia, please let me have him tonight."

"No can do! I think I too have the right to fawn over Issei-san a bit. So I want to sleep with him!"

"Well, let's have Issei decide then." They both turned to Issei who is having eye candy.

"Issei-san, won't you please sleep with me?" Asia pleaded.

"You're obviously picking me, right?" Rias glared at him.

'How am I suppose to chose!?'

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"Phew." Issei left them after they got tired and slept peacefully, 'In the end, I picked both of them, but as I lay sandwiched between the two, I was going nuts not being able to touch either one, so I got out of bed.' After washing his hand he cried to himself, "I'm so pathetic. It makes me wanna cry..."

On his left arm where he's wiping his snot, a regal voice resounded, "Hey, partner. Apologies for catching you at a bad time."

"!?"