Chương 117: Chapter 113- Big Sister

"Like wife like husband."

"Same sentiments to you, Gorou." Touji spoke numbingly.

"You and your wife are perverts."

"Hahahaha! You're right about that, old friend."... … |DxD|- Chapter 113- Big Sister …...

"Come on, big bro! Come on—ow!"

"What's the rush, Issei?" Issei was filled with grievance. He looked up with a frown as he rubbed his forehead. A dry leaf slowly fell past his nose and caught on his scarf.

"Why did you hit me, big bro…?" Igor stopped beside Issei and gently ruffled his hair. They were before the gates of Kuoh Academy, and there were no lack of people scuttling about in the morning cold.

"Can the Red Dragon Emperor not endure a little flick?"

"Hmph! Of course I can! I was just asking. That's all." Issei folded his arms and marched ahead to lead the pack. Akeno giggled from behind and tugged at Igor's coat.

"Don't mind him, big brother. Issei's still a child~. Hihi~." She spoke teasingly and Issei whipped around with a flushed expression.

"I'm not a child. And you're only a year older than me!"

"And?" Akeno sauntered forth with her school bag on her shoulder.

"I'm in grade three. And YOU'RE in grade one~." Irina stood quietly next to Igor. Purple eyes stared at her shoes, just barely hidden by the fringes of her hair. She was also in the first grade just like Issei, and Akeno had rubbed that in many times.

"Backdoor…" She muttered quietly, and she felt a shift to her side.

"Where did you learn that?"

"..." She looked up to see Igor's amused grin. Her face flushed and she looked down again. Getting caught was embarrassing.

"My…my mother…" Igor chuckled at her response and looked ahead. Issei had gotten into a losing argument with Akeno. He was lively and spoke animatedly, but for every ten words he threw, Akeno defended with one. It was an entertaining match-up, but he couldn't let the children continue before the school entrance.

"Alright, you two. You can bicker all you want at the library. But at school, you must stick together. Okay?"

"Yes, big brother." Akeno skipped over and hugged his leg. She looked up with a very bright smile.

"I will always get along with them." She glanced to the side and giggled.

"Even stinky Issei~." Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.

"Hmph." Issei looked away with folded arms. He was an emperor now. Squabbling and being petty was not something emperors did. He remained taciturn: eyes closed with his back to the group, until a familiar hand fell on his head.

"Come, you three. Head on along and don't be late for class."

"Okay, Apu~! Bye!" He ushered them forth until they went past the gate. He watched them head forward within the swarm of other children until they disappeared beyond the corner of the building. He stayed there for a bit longer and his smile never left his face. He had seen them off many times, yet still could not tire of it. Akeno, Issei, Irina—they were the new generation. Nurturing them and seeing them grow was something he took great pride in.

If they could stay close together even after they grew up, it would make him even happier. [Stop being so sentimental, Igor. You aren't even that old.] He smiled to himself and walked away on the paving. Just as they would grow, he also had to strive forward.... … |DxD| …... The Silver State, to this day, was something Igor believed he'd obtained by chance. There were no records of it in the chamber, leaving him with no training method or reference point to push it forward.

During his last years in the chamber and the past few months, there was barely any progress made. It still took him time to enter, and still took just as much energy. He hadn't held much plans for the state until he reached the upper ends of High-Class, but that moment in the Boosted Gear had changed many things. [Transcended Instincts.] Igor pondered the words as he walked. In that state, his perception and speed were far, far beyond measure.

Ddraig moved beyond what he could perceive, yet his body moved him automatically. It had been four days since then and he'd found nothing on the topic in the time chamber or the library. He could still justify his secrecy as wishful pride, but any longer and it would turn to foolishness. [Maybe the old man will know.] Igor slowly came to a stop and opened his eyes. A beautiful contemporary villa with a flat roof lay behind a fence of tall iron bars.

A cobblestone path and a mesmerising fountain sat between neat lawns and manicured shrubbery. He admired the renovations Cleria had done. Admittedly, this home was very beautiful.

"Sooo, Igor. You finally remembered to visit." A presence lingered behind him and the scent of perfume entered his nose. He smiled and murmured.

"Aunt Cleria."

"Hmph." Cleria stepped around him with a pout. The little boy from back then was taller than her, and even had the nerve to tease her.

"Who's your aunt?"

"You."

"HMMM???" Cleria pressed closer with widened eyes, daring him to repeat his statement.

"Hehehehe…" Igor couldn't restrain a snicker. He opened up his arms for a hug and looked at Cleria kindly.

"Sister."

"..." Cleria averted her eyes and pinched her chin in thought. She let Igor steam there with his arms open. The seconds passed like this in the slow morning breeze and brightening sun. Finally, Cleria huffed and wrapped her arms around his torso. Her cheek pressed against his shoulder and his chin brushed her hair.

"At least you have some sense, Igor. And I'd be happier if you called me 'big sis'."

"I'm too old for that now, Cleria.

'Sister' is fine."

"Tch." Cleria clicked her tongue and pulled away. She placed her hands on her hips and spoke with a frown.

"Don't joke with me, Igor. You're only thirty—practically a kid."

"Then that means I have a long way ahead, sister. Because I already feel tired." Igor's smile made Cleria's eyes flicker, but she blinked and playfully punched him in the shoulder.

"That's not promising for a man, Igor. I still expect a sister-in-law from you."

"Sister…" Igor looked at her kindly with meaningful eyes. His intent was clear without meaning for words. Cleria flushed red and spoke sternly.

"First of all, don't enquire about your big sister's relationship matters. Secondly, who says I haven't been trying?"

"But, sister, you're holed up the whole day. You haven't left once in nine weeks."

"Aha!" Cleria furiously pointed at him.

"So you knew I was here the whole time, yet you never visited me?" Igor responded helplessly.

"I did come a few times, sister."

"For your house! So that doesn't count. You've seen Lina more than you've seen me and that's unfair, Igor."

"To be fair…" Igor slowly shrugged.

"... I've hired her. So if we're working by your logic, it doesn't count as her visiting me and vice versa."

"..." Cleria's cheeks inflated, and she quickly pinched him in the stomach.

"You're stupid, Igor. Don't you know the principle of letting a woman win? You'll never get married if you're like this." She huffed and walked away. The iron gates spread open and her heels clattered on brick tiles. Her long dress sashayed with each step and she soon rounded the fountain. Igor shook his head with a wry grin. Cleria was over seventy years his senior, yet she was just as animated as a teenager. His form flickered and he appeared by her side.

A large ornamented door was before them with potted plants to the side.

"Don't kill me, sister."

"Oh?" She left that one word and walked ahead without a glance. In this moment, Igor missed Diehauser. Cleria was supposed to take him to the Underworld, but he no longer felt safe.

"Sigh…" He stopped in his tracks and slowly floated up.

"I'll wait for another day, big sister." He made to fly away, but Cleria instantly appeared and grabbed his ankle.

"Okay fine! I won't harm you mid-teleport, Igor. So get back here and come inside." Her eyes were full of venom and unwillingness, but who told her to threaten him? Igor smiled kindly and landed on the ground.

"Then I'll rely on you, sister."

"Tch. I miss you when you were cuter." Igor did not respond. As she led the way, his mind hovered on expectations of his pending senjutsu training. He would be training alongside Sairaorg beneath a powerful nekomata. It was…tantalising to think about, and he would make the best of this opportunity. He had to.

END