Chapter 39 - Ddraig

Although in the original anime the possibility of freeing Ddraig was never mentioned, and it wasn't even considered because of the magnitude of an action like this, I knew that there had to be a way of doing it. It couldn't be impossible.

If even Trihexa could be freed from her seal, Ddraig could be freed from Boosted Gear too.

Besides, despite my proposal to Ddraig, it wasn't my priority at the moment or in the foreseeable future.

It was just a way of manipulating him into taking my side willingly when Issei finally ceased being his carrier.

If I didn't, Ddraig might try to follow his own plans and not listen to me, since I had no intention of becoming his carrier.

However, Ddraig was an ancient being who, unlike Sona or Rias, could not be easily manipulated with an empty promise.

"Haha! Boy, I have to admit you've got a lot of guts!" Ddraig exclaimed.

"Release from Boosted Gear? What does that mean?" asked Issei, clearly confused by the subject.

"Kid, that gauntlet on your left arm is my cocoon," Ddraig began to explain to Issei. "Without it, I could spread my wings and fly wherever I want, destroy whatever I want, and challenge anyone. But ever since that day, I've been trapped in this thing. Many have tried to seal me in before I ended up inside this small, dark thing, but they all failed. My power was so great that no seal, ordinary or otherwise, could hold me. And now, a minor god comes to me and says he can undo the most powerful seal? Fallacy!"

[Ding! The system proposes the mission "The Proud Wisdom of a Celestial Dragon!"]

1 - Give up the idea of using Ddraig for the time being. (Reward: 1 Fusion Point)

2 - Convince Ddraig with words to take your side. (Reward: 5 Fusion Points)

3 - Blackmail Ddraig. (Reward: 10 Fusion Points)

I looked at the options for the new mission and realized that, for the first time, following any of these paths felt plausible.

In the entire High School DxD anime, I can't remember a single time when Ddraig expressed a desire to free himself from Boosted Gear.

This led me to believe that he thought it was impossible. However, I always felt that he would like to be freed, and that's what I offered him.

After all, no bird likes to be locked up in a cage, and Ddraig, a proud, ancient, and wise dragon, was probably not comfortable with this situation, even if he had come to terms with it.

As far as I could remember, Ddraig's only mission in each reincarnation was to defeat Albion, his greatest adversary. He also collaborated with the bearer himself and shared as much power as possible, but I bet being freed would be a great relief because I could use his power to its full potential.

That needed to be the basis of my argument, but not just yet…

Apart from the fact that it wasn't necessary to have this kind of conversation now because Ddraig was still with his carrier, the amount of fusion points on offer was ridiculously small for things like 'Blackmail Ddraig'.

So, I took a deep breath, shrugged my shoulders, and said:

"Think what you like... I know a few ways to free you from your seal, but I'll give you a few days to think about it."

"Humph!" Ddraig snorted.

"Hey, Issei-kun, please give me your contact details," I said, holding out my cell phone to Issei.

Issei pointed to himself. "Mine? Why?"

"You have magnificent powers now, but you'll still need training and instruction. Making it in this world on your own is not a good idea. So, in a few days' time, I'll call you to help you with the basics at the very least. Besides, I'll also need to talk to your new friend about my proposal."

Issei nodded and used my cell phone to dial his contact number.

When he handed it back, I looked at him and smiled before turning to leave.

"Ah, Issei-kun, I almost forgot something. Please don't tell anyone about what happened today, about me, or about your left hand. It'll be safer that way until you receive my training and can take care of yourself."

I saw him swallow and look at his left hand. "All right, Nishihara-senpai! I'm counting on you!" he said and bowed to me.

For the first time since I had mentally drawn up this plan, I felt a little sorry for the fate that awaited him. However, I had already learned from my past life that I needed to be selfish.

In my past life, I was the middle brother in a family of three children. I was always the one who did everything to make things work.

My parents were simple but loving people, and they always taught us that kindness was the greatest virtue. I had fervently believed that.

When we were children, I used to give away my toys and sweets to my two brothers — not because they needed it more than I did, but because I believed it was the right thing to do.

This attitude continued into adolescence. My older brother, Ren, had a talent for convincing people — including me — to do what he wanted. My younger brother, Yuto, was always fragile and emotionally unstable, so I felt it was my duty to protect him.

While Ren went out partying and spent his pocket money on useless things, I worked part-time in a café to help with the household expenses. When Yuto needed something, I was the first to sacrifice myself to make sure he got what he needed.

I thought my efforts were building family bonds, like in the anime I liked to watch. But when I graduated from college and my parents died in a car accident, I realized how wrong this belief was.

Our parents, in an attempt to protect their children from future fights, had left all the financial decisions in the hands of a close friend of my father's, who was persuaded by Ren to split the inheritance between just him and Yuto, saying that I "already had everything I needed" because I had a steady job and didn't "depend" on their money.

At first, I didn't want to believe it. I waited for days, weeks, and months, thinking that Ren would realize his mistake and do the right thing, because that's what our parents had taught us. But that never happened.

Worse, when I tried to talk to him about the situation, I was treated with disdain.

"You've always been the selfless brother, haven't you? You've already been to university and have enough money to get by. That's why I invested our inheritance money in good bank funds." He laughed, without a trace of regret.

Even so, I continued to be kind, because that's who I was. I believed that kindness would eventually pay off.

At work, I was the model employee. I always helped my colleagues when they needed it, even staying late to correct their mistakes. When a colleague, Satomi, needed money to pay off an urgent debt, I lent her the little I had saved. She never paid it back. When my boss demanded that someone take on more responsibilities without a raise, I volunteered. And when gossip or intrigue arose, I was the first to try to smooth things over.

But this kindness didn't bring friends or recognition. Instead, it brought exploitation.

I was promoted several times, yes, but each promotion came with twice the responsibilities and a salary that barely changed.

The colleagues I helped quickly forgot I existed as soon as they got what they wanted. When I tried to talk to my boss about it, he smirked cynically.

"You're the most trusted person here. You can't expect less responsibility when you're so good at what you do."

Eventually, exhaustion began to take its toll. I was working so hard that I barely had time to look after myself. I started to feel pains in my back and abdomen, but I ignored the symptoms. After all, who would have time for a doctor with so many people depending on me?

Until, on a day that seemed like any other, I collapsed in the middle of the office.

At the hospital, I was diagnosed with Severe Acute Kidney Injury. The doctor was clear: I would need regular dialysis and possibly a transplant if my condition worsened. The irony was cruel. All my life, I had been generous to the extreme, but now that I needed help, I was completely alone.

My family? Ren ignored me when I called him, and Yuto said he couldn't help because "his life was a mess." My work colleagues? None of them came to visit. Even Satomi, to whom I had lent money, blocked my number when I asked for help covering medical expenses.

I spent two months in the hospital, watching my health deteriorate as my will to live disappeared. The only thing that filled the void was regret. I died alone, surrounded only by machines.

Those memories still hurt like an open wound. But it was also in the hospital that I promised myself that, if I had a second chance, I would never again be the kind-hearted idiot that everyone stepped on.

Now, in Kuoh, with the knowledge and powers I had, I would do things differently. I would still help people - that was ingrained in me - but my priority was to help those I knew I could count on - the family of Zagreus. That family, with Nix, Hades, Persephone, and the others, would never do what my brothers did to me.

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