Chapter 267 Shall We Fly… Into Space?

After that, even Vali and anyone else who still had the fighting spirit ended up being blown away by Crom Cruach’s training session (both Crom and Vali seemed thoroughly satisfied afterward), and the day’s practice ended.

Later that afternoon, the topic shifted to tomorrow’s three-way interviews.

This applied to first- and second-year students. Third-years were either preparing for university entrance exams or, in some recommendation cases, already in a relaxed phase of life.

Rias-senpai’s group definitely fell into the latter category.

Kuoh Academy spans from elementary through university in an integrated system. With their grades and reputation, there was no way the Gremory peerage would ever fail to secure recommendations, though honestly, using family influence would probably be impossible anyway.

The moment they tried, Venelana-sama and Grayfia-san would step in… and it would not end well.

“Ahh, I’ve always been bad with parent-teacher conferences. So Issei and Ikki will have their real parents coming… but what about the rest of you? Irina and Ravel’s parents aren’t even in Japan, right?”

As Issei said, most of the Occult Research Club had complicated family situations. Only Issei and I could really be considered “ordinary backgrounds.”

“I’ll have my mother coming,” Ravel said with a slight sigh. “Honestly, things are still hectic because of my brother Riser’s situation, so I told her a proxy would be fine… but she said, ‘That is a separate matter.'”

She shook her head as if exasperated, though her expression clearly softened.

She’s not so cold she can’t appreciate that her mother is making time for her…

Her slightly flushed cheeks and fingers brushing through her hair gave her away.

“For me, Sister Griselda might come,” Irina said. “My father just returned to the Vatican, and my mother runs a restaurant, so she can’t easily take time off.”

“Same here,” Xenovia added. “It’ll probably be Sister Griselda… though I suspect I’ll hear a lot of complaints.”

Both of them seemed unsure, as if even they hadn’t received a firm confirmation yet.

“In my case,” Yuuto said casually, “we usually send a Gremory servant who looks the part. Same as every year. Though normally that would’ve been Shirone-chan… I wonder what she’ll do this time? Though if it’s Kuroka-san, things might get interesting.”

“…As Yuuto-senpai said, Kuroka-nee will be coming as my guardian,” Shirone replied.

“I already feel anxious…”

“My guardian will be Lady Venelana attending with Issei-san,” Asia said.

She said it so naturally.

How are things not progressing when she casually calls her ‘mother-in-law’ already…?

Though, to be fair, the Church trio had their own issues like turning Issei’s bathroom visits into ambush events. Even I had heard him complain about it.

Yeah… that would kill the mood for anyone.

Apparently, only very specific “gentlemanly” individuals would enjoy that kind of thing.

“Now then… future paths, huh?” Issei muttered. “We’re all going to university anyway, but after graduation…”

“As devils serving the Gremory family, we’ll probably end up in one of their businesses,” he continued. “But there are too many options to narrow down. I want to help people, join Rating Games, and try different things… we’ve got long lives as devils, so I kind of want to try everything.”

The “Oppai Dragon” performances were mostly handled by professionals anyway, so it wasn’t like Issei had a fixed path yet.

“I’ve been honing my sword until now,” Xenovia said. “So I’d probably start by looking for something in that field. But like Issei said, our lives are long… maybe I’ll even become a farmer and switch to using a hoe instead of a sword. Heh, that might be interesting.”

Xenovia… please don’t try plowing fields with a Holy Sword.

If Durandal mimic ever turns into a farming tool, I guess that’s fine… but still.

I hope crops grown that way are edible for devils…

“As for me,” I said, “I’ll probably start with Kyoto-related matters. Since I’m technically an in-law there, I should return something in terms of influence or benefit, or I’ll just create unnecessary friction.”

“Beyond that, like Xenovia, I want to make use of my senjutsu properly. It’d be good to find work where it’s needed—healing, nature preservation, not just combat. I want to expand what I can do.”

If possible, I want to become someone who can say ‘leave it to me’ when it comes to senjutsu.

It doesn’t have to be my job. I can pursue hobbies alongside work—or even find hobbies within work.

“Ikki-kun really is ambitious,” Yuuto said with a smile. “As for me… I still want to become the strongest Knight. But I also want to try becoming a patissier. I’d like to open a shop someday. If I learn professionally, I can make even better sweets for everyone.”

A dream of serving professionally made cakes at future gatherings… not bad at all.

Shirone immediately grabbed Yuuto’s hands, eyes sparkling.

“I’ll be your taste tester! I’ll support your dream with everything I’ve got!”

“Ahaha… thanks, Shirone-chan…”

Yuuto could only smile awkwardly under her enthusiastic gaze.

“Hm. The strongest knight, huh?” Xenovia muttered. “Maybe I should aim for that as well.”

“If you do, I’ll consider you my rival,” Yuuto replied. “I won’t lose.”

Xenovia smirked.

“Of course. If I aim, I aim for the top.”

Two people aiming for the top—no, more than two.

That alone was enough reason to keep growing.

“I’ll aim to become the strongest rook!” Shirone declared.

That escalated quickly.

“For someone from D×D, that might actually be a reasonable goal…”

“I-I can’t lose either! I’ll become the strongest bishop someday!” Gasper shouted.

Honestly, Gasper is already almost there… he just needs physical stamina.

Maybe he just needs push-ups, sit-ups, and running. Protein wouldn’t hurt either.

“Then I’ll become the strongest ‘Ace’!” Rias said proudly. “I am the face of the Brave Saints after all!”

“So everyone’s aiming to be the strongest… huh,” Issei muttered.

“And yet you’re the one most likely to improve by accident through breasts,” I added immediately.

“Hey wait, I object to that!”

Rejected.

Then Yuuto suddenly spoke again.

“Speaking of which… strengthening swords…”

I smiled.

“Yuuto. Next step, try training to release and suppress the power of Gram and the other swords instantly.”

“Wait, Ikki, I object to how casually you’re assigning training!”