Chương 57: Gil DxD: Chapter 57

The second Sacred Gear I gave him was Night Reflection................................. A shadow-based Sacred Gear with terrifying versatility. It allowed the user to absorb attacks through shadows and redirect them anywhere within the range of those shadows. If mastered properly, it could become extremely dangerous. Shadows could become weapons. They could take the form of monsters that attacked enemies relentlessly. They could morph into blades and spears emerging from the ground itself.

They could form barriers capable of devouring magical attacks. The user could dive into one shadow and emerge from another. Even enemies could be entangled and restrained through the manipulation of darkness. A battlefield filled with shadows would essentially become the user's domain. If used correctly, it was a Sacred Gear capable of overwhelming opponents far stronger than its wielder................................. The third Sacred Gear I gave him was Flame Shake. A pyrokinetic ability.

It allowed the user to conjure white flames from their hands and fire them at their enemies. These flames burned hotter than ordinary fire. But like all abilities, they had weaknesses. Creatures with natural resistance to fire—such as dragons or members of the Phoenix Clan —would not be affected as easily. Still… Against most opponents? It was lethal................................. Individually, the three Sacred Gears were strong. But together? They could become far more dangerous. Boosted Gear. Night Reflection.

Flame Shake. A perfect combination of power amplification, defense, and offense. If Issei managed to master all three… I had no doubt he could reach the level of a High-Class Devil. Perhaps even Ultimate-Class. But that would require years of training. And discipline. Two things Issei currently lacked.................................

"You don't like it." Sona's calm voice pulled me from my thoughts. The author's content has been appropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon. I looked up. She was watching me over the rim of her teacup.

"I don't like the way Rias tried to get close to him." I shrugged slightly.

"And me." Sona sighed softly.

"Suit yourself." She leaned back in her chair.

"I personally thought the whole plan was foolish."

"You did?" She nodded.

"It was far too risky." She folded her hands neatly on the desk.

"Even ignoring the ethical issues…"

"The plan itself was flawed." Her violet eyes sharpened.

"There were far too many variables."

"Too many external forces beyond Rias' control." Her tone remained calm.

"But the most concerning factor…" She paused.

"What would happen if both of you discovered the truth?" My eyebrow lifted slightly.

"If Issei learned that Rias deliberately allowed him to die in order to reincarnate him…"

"And if you learned the same." She shook her head.

"That situation could easily spiral out of control." She looked directly at me.

"If I were in her position, I would have handled things very differently." I leaned forward slightly.

"Oh?"

"How would you have done it?" Sona answered immediately.

"Simple."

"I would recruit him into the Student Council."................................ I blinked.

"That's it?"

"Yes." Her voice remained perfectly serious.

"It would be easy to convince him." She adjusted her glasses slightly.

"The Council already consists mostly of girls."

"That alone would capture his interest."

"And if he misbehaved…" Her eyes narrowed slightly.

"I would threaten him."

"Threaten him?"

"Yes." Her expression turned cold.

"I possess more than enough authority to expel him from this school."

"Not just this school."

"Every school in the country." That statement hung in the air.

"And considering the number of times he's been caught spying on girls…" Her lip twitched in irritation.

"I already have sufficient justification."................................

"I would observe him for at least six months." She continued calmly.

"During that time, our identity as devils would remain secret."

"I would evaluate his personality."

"His compatibility with the council."

"And the bonds he forms with the other members." Her fingers tapped lightly against the desk.

"If he failed?" She shrugged.

"I would expel him."

"Even if he possessed a powerful Sacred Gear." Her voice became firm.

"No prize is worth recklessly risking my Peerage."

"Especially not a Dragon Sacred Gear capable of spiraling out of control." Then she smirked faintly.

"But if he succeeded?" I raised an eyebrow. She adjusted her glasses again.

"I would inform him that devils are legally allowed to possess harems."................................ I nearly choked on my tea.

"And then?"

"Then I would spend the rest of the year training his body."

"While promising him a reward." She paused.

"One of the many brothels in the Underworld."................................ I stared at her.

"You're serious?"

"Completely." She nodded.

"It would be a long-term investment."

"Low risk."

"High return."

"In other words…" She took another sip of tea.

"My preferred method of trading."................................ I leaned back slowly.

"If it was that easy…"

"Why didn't Rias do the same?" Sona grimaced.

"You have to understand something."

"Rias has always been…" She hesitated.

"Absurdly lucky." She raised one finger.

"Kiba."

"He possesses the Sacred Gear Sword Birth." Another finger.

"Koneko."

"A Nekoshou hybrid." Another.

"Akeno."

"Daughter of a powerful Fallen Angel and a member of the Himejima Clan." Another.

"Gasper."

"A Dhampir."

"With the Sacred Gear Forbidden Balor View."

"One step away from becoming a Longinus." Sona lowered her hand.

"Rias never had to work to recruit them." Her voice turned slightly bitter.

"Half of them were dying when she found them."

"The others had nowhere left to go."

"Homeless."

"Abandoned."

"Orphans." She sighed.

"They all joined her almost immediately." I couldn't help thinking. She wasn't wrong. The situation was strange. How did Rias find Akeno? In the entire Underworld? How did she locate Kiba in a hidden Church facility? And Gasper? Why was Rias even present in vampire territory when he escaped the Tepes faction? Koneko was even more suspicious. Sirzechs himself handed her to Rias. Practically gift-wrapped................................. Honestly…

I wouldn't be surprised if Sirzechs Lucifer had something to do with it................................. Sona continued.

"Rias has never needed to learn how to recruit people."

"She simply waits."

"For fate to hand them to her." She shrugged.

"So when she saw you and Issei…"

"She didn't know what to do." I frowned slightly.

"So she waited."

"Yes." Sona nodded.

"She probably spent the entire year waiting for an opportunity."

"Something dramatic."

"Something heroic."

"Something that would allow her to rescue both of you." She leaned back.

"And then…"

"A Fallen Angel appears."

"Threatening both of you." Her lips curved slightly.

"A perfect opportunity." She shook her head slowly.

"Incredible luck."................................ I finished my tea.

"She could have handled it differently."

"How?" I stood up slowly.

"I doubt even devils would enjoy angering a Longinus user."