"Dragons are beings who obsess over their own treasures. I don't intend to rampage recklessly, but if a battle-treasure happens to roll in front of me, I'll at least stretch out a hand."
…So battle is a treasure to him. I see.
"Then how about this?"
I manipulated the air with senjutsu so that my voice reached only Crom Cruach. Then I spoke of the "reward."
"…I see. You're saying if I want to fight freely, I must win it first?"
"Yeah. If the time comes, I'll fight you head-on."
"I look forward to it."
When I declared I would take him on seriously, the Evil Dragon in front of me smiled like something straight out of a nightmare.
Good! He's acting all dignified, but in reality he's fine with my backup plan!
If I had to face this guy without any safety net, I would've had to reject the entire idea from the start.
For now, the "international Rating Game" that people only spoke of as a rumor was still just that—a rumor.
My promise was simple: if I ever had the chance to face him in that arena, I would fight him properly.
At this stage, even the highest-ranking beings hadn't finalized whether it would truly happen but I knew the odds were high.
The battlefield would be a fortified Rating Game stage designed for battles involving gods, complete with a "retirement transfer system" and other safety measures. In a place like that, even against Crom Cruach, I wouldn't die.
I don't know all the details of that tournament, but if even gods were participating, the anti-death measures would be far stricter than in Devil Rating Games.
After all… if a god dies, that's a world-level disaster.
So I'd secured my right to a mock battle with the strongest Evil Dragon… and ensured the actual "payment" would be governed by international rules.
What? Cowardly? Say whatever you want.
Heh. I've already won.(Won what, exactly?)
While I basked in my mysterious sense of accomplishment, Tannin approached.
"So it's settled. Crom Cruach will spend some time touring dragon territory in my lands. I'll hand you a magic circle for communication so you can coordinate the mock battle schedule."
"…And Crom Cruach. If Arima Ikki had tried to cancel the fight after hearing about the reward, what would you have done?"
"I would've said I don't need the reward—just fight me anyway."
"Eh?!"
What the hell kind of logic is that?! What was the point of bringing up the reward in the first place?!
[Kukukukukuku! Arima Ikki… I don't know what contract you made with Crom Cruach, but remember this. Dragons are creatures that walk their own path. Especially the strongest ones. Many are like that. People often suffer due to the gap between their expectations and a dragon's values.]
Ddraig's warning made me glance toward Asia.
Right… even Asia, who was supposed to be paid with Gremory's treasure, ended up getting her panties exposed in public and even "cooked" by Fafnir…
Yeah. There's always someone worse off.
Compared to that, I'm still within normal suffering range.
"Is, Ikki-san?! Why are you looking at me and nodding like that?!"
"…No, Asia-san. It's nothing."
"That's absolutely a lieeee!"
My pure-hearted lie was instantly detected?!
After that, Crom Cruach's "Spectre Dragon Egg" was placed inside an underground space in Kuoh Town.
The D×D members would take shifts guarding it.
If scheduling got difficult, the town's staff would strengthen security around the area.
"Ikki."
"Yes?"
When we returned to Issei's house after seeing Tannin and Crom Cruach off, Rias-senpai called me.
…Her smile looked unusually dangerous.
"Seiza."
"Yes ma'am."
I immediately sat in formal seiza.
That was not a smile you disobey.
"Ikki-senpai. I don't mind you making sudden proposals, but at least consult us beforehand when it involves a mock battle with an Evil Dragon."
"Ah… yes, ma'am."
And so I received Rias-senpai's very educational lecture for a while.
=========
The day before the duel with the Church warriors.
As usual, we gathered in the clubroom after school.
The mock battle with Crom Cruach hadn't actually taken place yet, since he was busy touring dragon territory, and, frankly, because the real conflict was already approaching.
Xenovia and the others, who were separately discussing student council election ideas, had taken a break and joined us for a short rest.
Kiryuu-san sat on the sofa as a guest, happily eating cookies.
"I think we need something flashy! Something that shows the next student council president is on a whole different level! Xenovia should stand on stage and slice a straw target clean in one strike with her sword! Instant attention grabber!"
Irina was proudly presenting her brilliant idea.
Our Occult Research Club is supporting Xenovia, so we do cooperate when asked… but still.
Sometimes I get dizzy just listening.
"First of all, Irina-san… Japan has something called the Firearms and Sword Possession Control Law…"
Even if it's just for show, minors can't brandish swords like that.
"And that has nothing to do with being student council president!"
Issei and I shut it down in stereo.
Kiryuu-san, enjoying Ravel's tea, nodded along.
"Ahh, having Arima-kun and Hyoudou around really reduces my workload. This is relaxing."
Sorry about our holy sword duo. They apparently never took "general common sense" as a subject in Church education.
Then Kiryuu-san suddenly leaned toward Issei.
"Oh right, Hyoudou. I saw 'that' thing."
"W-what thing?"
"The footage of your Rating Game, of course."
"Ah… that?"
Kiryuu-san had apparently watched it with Xenovia.
She described everything casually—floating swords, magic explosions, Issei in red armor punching people—
"Honestly, it looked like a battle over the fate of the world."
Then she added, almost dreamily:
"But the real highlight was Xenovia and Rossweisse's ecchi outfits… and the stripping scenes."
"…Yeah. Different priorities."
"And she has 'nice body mode' too. That huge chest pressing up against Arima-kun… that kind of thing, right?"
"…How did you know that?"
"It's obvious. You were literally sitting on his lap in the footage, right?"
She's right, but hearing it said out loud is different!
"And Ravel-chan is living with him too, right? Two harem boys in one class… that alone is fantasy-level in Japan."
I looked down.
As always, she was sitting on my lap like it was completely natural.
It had become part of our daily life in the clubroom—so much so that even when Kiryuu-san visited, no one thought to change it.