DxD: DO System Chapter 31

Chapter 31: Into the Forest We Go

"You're not staying home even on a holiday, Issei?" his mother asked, her voice a mix of concern and frustration.

"I'm thinking about picking up swimming, Mom," Issei replied, lacing up his shoes. "I need a hobby besides studying, and swimming feels like the right choice."

"Does it have to be today?" she pressed. "Lately, you're only home at night. On weekends, you're at your grandmother's, and now on holidays too, you're out. I'm not saying you shouldn't follow your dreams, but the family needs you too."

Issei paused, her words hitting harder than he'd expected. In his previous life, he’d begged his parents for attention. Now, his parents here were asking for his time, and somehow, he couldn’t give it.  

"I promise, Mom," he said softly, tying the last knot on his shoes. "Next month, I'll make more time for family. We'll even plan some trips together." He smiled, trying to reassure her.

His mother sighed but gave him a small smile in return. "I know you're trying, Issei. And I'm proud of you, really. Just don't forget to live while chasing your dreams. Life is shorter than you think."

‘Maybe for her—’

‘Not today, Ddraig,’ he thought, cutting off the voice in his head.

With a determined smile, he gave her a nod. "I'll make it up to you, Mom. Next holiday, for sure."

For now, though, he had other plans.  

Swimming was only half the truth. He did plan to join a club eventually—not to compete, but to reconnect with something that had once given him peace. It had been his escape and his strength when he’d had nothing. But today wasn’t about swimming.

Today was a big day.

Dressed casually—though far better than his usual look from just a few weeks ago—he headed out, ID in hand. Holidays didn’t require a uniform, which suited him just fine.

On his way to school, he bumped into one of Sona’s peerage members. For the life of him, he couldn’t remember the guy’s name.

‘Just make a name up,’ Ddraig teased, his chuckle echoing in Issei’s mind.  

Grumbling internally, Issei hurried toward the Occult Research Club.  

"And right on time," Akeno said with a teasing smile as he entered the room.

Glancing around, Issei saw the usual crew. Akeno stood beside Rias, who sat with a few cans of bug spray in hand. Koneko was happily munching on some sweets, and Kiba leaned casually against the doorframe.

"Hope you're wearing bug repellent," Rias said with a smirk. "There will be more... creatures there than you’ve probably ever seen."

"I came prepared," Issei replied, adjusting his jacket. "But let’s hope none of them take a liking to me."

The group chuckled, Rias leading with a soft laugh.  

"This event was originally planned for a later date, during our visit to my home in the Underworld," Rias explained. "But since you’ve all been working hard with your contracts, I thought it’d be good to get you a familiar now."

Yes, the reason Issei had rushed over was because today was the day they were getting familiars. He remembered from the show that, originally, he hadn’t gotten one—not until Azazel gifted him one much later.

This was his chance to turn things around.

‘Just no bugs,’ he thought.

‘Scared?’

‘Not scared, just practical,’ he replied to Ddraig. ‘Unless I get something like a hive-mind swarm, a single bug familiar would be useless.’

“Where’s Asia?” he asked, scanning the room.

“We thought it was too early for her to get a familiar,” Akeno explained. “Even though you’re both new devils, you’ve been adapting much faster than she has. So, we asked Sona’s peerage to help her get used to the devil world first.”

Issei raised an eyebrow, prompting Rias to elaborate.

“Few of Sona’s peerage members used to be devoted followers too, and I think it’s better for Asia to stay with them for now. It’ll help her adjust more smoothly.”

Hearing that, Issei felt a pang of guilt. Asia had adapted so well in the show because he’d always been there to support her. Now, he’d been so focused on his own growth that he’d left her to figure things out on her own.

‘I need to step up for her again,’ he thought. ‘She doesn’t deserve to be left alone, especially not with those rotten people running around.’

He clenched his fist lightly. More than anything, he didn’t want Asia to go through any more pain—especially not the kind the church had caused her before.

And it was not affection, just hatred for the people around Asia.

“Are you ready?” Rias’s voice snapped him out of his thoughts. She was standing at the center, everyone gathered around her.

Issei nodded, his excitement bubbling up again. He didn’t care whether his familiar was a rat or a dragon—so long as it was useful, he’d be more than happy.

Without further delay, Rias activated the teleportation circle. The crimson glow of the Gremory crest filled the room, matching her fiery hair.

‘Do you have teleportation skills, Ddraig?’ Issei asked hopefully.

‘No,’ the dragon answered bluntly, deflating Issei’s excitement a bit.

‘Oh well, Rias’s teleportation would have to do for now.’

In seconds, the group vanished from the Occult Research Club, reappearing in a dark, eerie location. The place wasn’t pitch black, but it was dimly lit, giving off an otherworldly vibe. It felt like the entrance to a park or botanical garden, but the sky was unmistakable—a deep crimson with purple undertones.

<Current Location: Underworld>

<Host is advised to tread with care>

‘Stay close to the group,’ Ddraig advised. ‘You’re not strong enough to handle devil gangs or wild beasts yet. The Underworld is full of both.’

Thankfully, Rias eased some of his tension. “This area is part of the Gremory Estate,” she said. “It’s maintained by—”

“By me, dear guests.”

The voice caught everyone’s attention.

A short man with messy, spiky black hair and small eyes stepped forward. His smile was wide, though his appearance was anything but reassuring.

“Welcome,” he greeted warmly. “I am Zatouji, a humble servant of the Gremory Estate and the caretaker of the Familiar Forest.”

‘How is a middle-class devil running a forest full of dragons and beasts?’ Issei asked.

‘When you’ve grown up around creatures like these and spent half your life studying them, class doesn’t matter,’ Ddraig explained. ‘You learn how to coexist without provoking them.’

Zatouji’s sharp eyes landed on Issei. “Ah, a new face in the crowd,” he said, stepping closer. “A fresh peerage member, I take it? And…” He sniffed the air slightly. “I can sense quite the presence coming from you.”

‘Smell, huh?’ Ddraig mused with a curious tone. ‘I’ve barely let any of my presence show. This guy’s sharp.’

‘Probably why he’s survived so long in this place,’ Issei replied. ‘As you said, you don’t last in a spot like this without keen senses.’

Rias stepped in with a warm smile. “He’s part of my peerage, Zatouji. This is Issei Hyoudou, and the presence you’re sensing is—”

Ddraig didn’t let her finish, choosing to do the honors himself.

“Is me,” Ddraig said, releasing his presence.

The effect was immediate. The entire forest seemed to react—creatures stirred, wings flapped, and some familiars outright bolted away from the overwhelming aura.

Zatouji’s eyes widened, and his voice shook as he spoke. “Y Ddraig Goch… The Heavenly Dragon.”

But the awe didn’t last long. Zatouji quickly composed himself, bowing slightly. “Master Ddraig, please… I beg you to withdraw your presence. The familiars aren’t used to something so… overwhelming. They’re terrified.”

“Ease up, Ddraig,” Issei said, his voice calm but firm. “We don’t want the familiars fainting or running off before we even get started.”

Reluctantly, Ddraig toned it down, and the forest began to settle.

All eyes were now on Issei, and he couldn’t help but feel the heat of their stares. He was embarrassed, sure, but he wasn’t about to let it show.

“I’m sorry for the scare, Zatouji,” he said, scratching the back of his head. “I hope this won’t mess up my chances of bonding with a familiar.”

Zatouji still looked a little uneasy. “That… I hope not.”

‘Ddraig… you’ve seriously screwed me over here,’ Issei thought, already feeling the weight of the situation.

‘Not my fault,’ Ddraig replied, entirely unapologetic. ‘They should be honored to serve the host of the Red Dragon Emperor.’

Noticing the tension, Zatouji quickly stepped in to smooth things over.

“But nothing’s certain until we try,” he said with an encouraging smile. “Come along, and I’m sure we’ll find something for everyone.”

“Y-Yeah,” Rias said, clearing her throat as she regained her composure. “Let’s get going. Most of you still need to find a familiar.”

Issei followed the group, though he wasn’t exactly optimistic.

‘Ddraig, if I don’t get a familiar out of this, you owe me a skill.’

‘That’s not how this works, kid.’

‘Well, that’s your problem to figure out.’

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[[A/N: Guess the familiar he is going to get.]]