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The Unexpected Summoning Ch.12 (Harry Potter/High School DxD)
🕑 Added 2023-01-19 12:16:03 +0000 UTCHarry thought the teleportation malfunctioned for a moment.
The room they arrived in was an exact replica of the ORC in Khou Academy. However, a look outside the window quickly proved to Harry that he wasn't on Earth anymore.
The sky was white.
That was simple to describe, but to experience it in person was incomprehensible. After a lifetime of seeing a blue sky, having an endless sea of white above your head was panic-inducing.
Nauseating, even.
<Welcome. I, Grayfia Lucifuge, have been charged with refereeing this match between Rias-sama and Riser-sama>
Harry flinched, still traumatized by the hell Grayfia had put him through. His eyes darted around the room, and he only relaxed when he found out she wasn't there in person.
<Beelzebub-sama and Lucifer-sama will be present, so please give them a warm welcome.>
Harry looked back out the window, peering at the horizon to see if there was some sort of audience watching the game.
"Harry, it's a broadcast," Rias said with a giggle, "You won't see anyone else here."
"I knew that," Harry looked away, fighting back his embarrassment.
"It's alright, Harry-sensei. I feel like a country bumpkin most of the time, too," Issei said solemnly while patting his shoulder.
Harry fought off the urge to tell the boy off, not exactly happy that the perverted forever virgin was commiserating with him.
<Both teams are now at their base. Rias-sama has occupied the Occult Research Club, and Riser-sama has claimed the Student Council. The game will begin after a fifteen-minute preparation phase.>
"That's odd," Rias commented as she casually took a seat on the couch, "I've never seen a rating game with a preparation phase."
Akeno glanced at Harry but didn't speak her thoughts. She didn't want to make it seem like they had just gained an unfair advantage since people watched their every move. Even if Akeno strongly guessed they did.
"Hey! We can't leave the clubhouse!"
Issei's yell made Koneko walk to the door curiously before throwing a seemingly lazy punch at it.
BOOM!
"GAH!" Issei was blown back from the air pressure caused by Koneko's punch, "Watch it!"
"Closed," Koneko nodded slightly before walking back to the group. Harry subconsciously stepped away from the freakishly strong girl.
"Alright!" Rias clapped her hands, "Stop playing around. Let's plan what our best strategy would be to win this. Akeno, pass out the communicators."
After Harry put the earpiece on, Rias spoke to him, interrupting his amazement that the communicator didn't stop working the second he touched it. He supposed that devils found a way to make it work since they also had magic.
"Harry, do you mind starting your part right now? We don't need your help right now."
Harry was a little confused. He wasn't sure what he was supposed to start, and it almost sounded like Rias thought he was a burden. It would have gone from confused to hurt if Akeno hadn't clarified.
She suddenly hugged his arm close and nuzzled into his neck.
"Rias doesn't want you to beat Riser immediately," Akeno whispered into his ear, "And she's being vague so her brother won't be blamed for favoritism by the people watching."
[... They really trust your strength, don't they?]
Harry ignored Tom and nodded at Akeno's words. If they thought he was all-powerful, Harry wouldn't be the one to change their minds. However, he wouldn't be foolish enough to convince himself of that. That would be the height of narcissism.
After Akeno let go of his arm to join in on the planning, Harry moved to the window and took another look outside. It was just an excuse to talk to Tom without staring blankly at some random part of the room.
'So...'
[What?]
'I just realized that using you isn't a smart idea here. The devils we're fighting aren't criminals like the ones I fought before.'
[Just use your magic, then. The only one that can give you a challenge in this group is the man you cucked.]
'... Seriously, where are you getting your personality?'
[Stop changing the subject. I don't see the issue here. Stop being a wimp. Be the alpha you strive to be.]
Harry quickly decided that talking further would be damaging to his mental state. It seemed like Tom got worse with every passing day. He wondered if this was what it was like for Ginny in her second year.
Then again, Tom Riddle was probably a smooth talker instead of being a little shit like his Tom.
[You are the little shit.]
'Nice.'
Harry rolled his eyes and looked back at Rias and her group. Kiba had somehow found a map of the school and was pointing out the positions they had to defend. Harry got curious when he saw that most were around the room they were in.
"Rias, does the other team win if they take over our base?"
"No," Rias looked away from the map, "But Riser's pawns can upgrade to a Queen if they enter. It's almost as bad."
"Ah, right," Harry tilted his head, "I remember you telling me that."
It was more than a little amazing that the Evil Piece had the ability to do something like that. It almost made Harry jealous that he didn't have a fully-fledged one for himself.
[Really? Do you want to be turned into a devil? Even when you know God exists?]
Harry couldn't deny that there was an attraction to that idea, but it was still far from actually following through with it. Still, he was curious.
'What if I did? Would you try to stop me?'
[I would not if I found your humanness boring. I do not see that happening for some time. Ask me again in one month.]
Harry's eye twitched, wondering why he expected a serious answer.
[I was being serious.]
"Does everyone know where to go?" Rias asked after all the plans were drawn out.
"YES!"
Harry had to hold back his amusement when the devils saluted like soldiers but ended awkwardly staying in place since they were stuck until Grayfia ended the preparation phase.
Seeing that they were done with their planning, Harry took a seat next to Rias and wrapped an arm around her waist.
"Leave the protection of the base to me. I can make it almost impossible for anyone to break in."
Harry would have never dared to say this before he came to this world. He simply didn't have the required knowledge in warding to brag like that. However, his magic's nature had significantly changed since he arrived in this world.
Harry wouldn't say he was necessarily stronger. Still, with his magic becoming more reactive to his wishes and desires, it had become much easier to accomplish what would have needed masteries in his old world.
With Grayfia disregarding his ability with magic during her hellish training, Harry hadn't been able to explore the change as much as he wished. So this would be a benefit to him as well as Rias.
"Thank you, Harry," Rias gave him a regal nod, confusing Harry with her formality until he remembered that this was broadcasted.
"No problem," Harry chuckled awkwardly as he slowly withdrew his arm, "Glad to be of help."
Rias visibly struggled before determination flashed in her eyes. She pulled Harry close and gave him the most innocent kiss they had ever shared. The briefest of pecks to the lips. Harry still had a silly grin as he stared at his girlfriend's red face.
"I mean it. Thanks for everything," Rias repeated before looking away in embarrassment.
Harry's affection for the redhead flared, making him wish he could show her how much he appreciated her.
"Yes, Harry," Akeno hugged him from behind, leaning over the back of the couch to surround his head in the abundant softness of his large breasts, "Thank you so much, for everything."
The tender moment between Harry and Rias was lost, leaving the two girls to shoot each other challenging glares.
"Harry-sensei…" Issei said dispiritedly, "Could you please stop showing off? We get it. You're cool."
For some reason, Harry felt that Issei and the rest of the peerage thought the exact opposite with the dry looks they were giving him. Well, Asia was an exception. The shy blonde girl was blushing furiously while trying to hide behind Issei.
<One minute left.>
Grayfia's announcement snapped everyone back into a serious mood. Rias barked out the final orders before Akeno, Issei, Koneko, and Kiba stood near the door, ready to run out the second they weren't restricted.
Asia stood next to where Rias and Harry were sitting and fidgeted in her spot nervously. "I-I can't help Issei-san and the others in a fight, but I'll do my best to help everyone."
"I know you will, Asia," Rias smiled gently, "I never had any doubt."
Harry was once again wondering why Rias was called a devil if she was so caring to her supposed servants. It was unlikely to be an act. After all his time with her, she would have to be a fantastic actress to keep up this image for so long. Not impossible, of course, but highly improbable.
Plus, the soft smile Rias had on her face made Harry want to fume in jealousy that someone else received it, even if it was shy little Asia.
<This game has officially begun. Good luck.>
Harry watched Akeno and the others rush out the door, leaving him, Rias, and a nervous Asia alone in the room.
{Break}
"Grayfia," Sirzechs voice was dangerously calm, "Didn't you tell me that the boy had some intelligence?"
"I did, Lucifer-sama," Grayfia didn't miss a beat in her reply.
"Then why has he done nothing but stare out the window and flirt with my little sister?"
Grayfia wasn't sure about the answer to that either. She knew that Harry had the skills to put up protective magic that bordered on unfairness with the current level of Riser's peerage. It was a mystery why he didn't take advantage of the extra time allotted specifically for him.
"Maybe Rias-sama told him to wait?" Even to Grayfia, the words coming out of her mouth were unconvincing.
"We could hear what little Rias was saying the whole time."
Grayfia didn't meet her husband's eyes as she stared at what Harry was doing. It looked like he was starting to do what they expected him to do fifteen minutes ago.
The only problem was how humans cast their magic. Even though they suspected that Harry had the support of a divine being, the change in magic only applied to the deity's realm of influence. Since Harry's patron was suspected to be related to death or destruction, Grayfia assumed that the defensive protections she sensed around his residence were cast with typical methods.
"Now, that is interesting."
Grayfia and Sirzechs shivered as if their spines were dipped in ice-cold water. It was never a good idea to be around Ajuka when he sounded like this. Their momentary distraction made them miss what Harry had done.
"How does he possess magic like ours?" Ajuka muttered with a look that did nothing to hide his desire to gain possession of Harry.
"What?" Sirzechs snapped his head back to the broadcast to see Harry effortlessly casting magic with an ease that was impossible for a human magician. There were no formulas or magic circles involved. Just pointing and occasional waves of his hand.
Sirzechs had to fight his desire to let Ajuka have Harry as a lab rat. Even if he was an extraordinarily strange human, it wasn't worth potentially offending an Elder God to satisfy some of his curiosity. Plus, causing Harry unnecessary harm would make his adorable little sister angry with him.
"Beelzebub-sama, please remember that Harry-sama is not destined to be your experimental subject."
"As if that's something bad," Ajuka scoffed before proudly adding, "None of them have died in my hands and they all advanced in power greatly."
"Yes," Grayfia nodded, "However, almost all died due to mental collapse after they were released. Please keep your distance from Harry-sama. He is not for Beelzebub-sama to use."
Ajuka cleared his throat and pretended that Grayfia said nothing. It wasn't his fault that his previous test subjects' willpower was absolute trash. He idly wondered if Harry would accept being his lab assistant. Ajuka planned to make him unwittingly participate in some experiments once a month. So what if Grayfia warned him off from taking him as a new lab experiment. She didn't say anything about a lab assistant.
"Is there anything else about Harry-sama's magic you need to tell us?" Grayfia asked as she stared at Harry standing in place with his eyes closed.
"Oh?" Ajuka's eyes brightened as the Evil Piece inside Harry caught a whisper of a conversation involving an unfamiliar voice, "It looks like he might have awaked a sentient gear, like we suspected."
Grayfia's eyes gleamed with satisfaction after getting her hunch confirmed.
"Grayfia, have you seen him lose control over his body?"
"No, Beelzebub-sama," Grayfia denied immediately, but reluctantly added, "However, Harry-sama often falls into a daze. I always assumed he talks with the soul in his sacred gear."
Ajuka hummed in thought as he crossed his arms over his chest. "That's good to hear. I'll need to talk with Harry after the game ends."
"Whatever," Sirzechs waved his hand carelessly as he flopped on the seat, "I'm just glad the boy is more useful than he looks. Still, I can't believe the fifteen minutes I added were wasted. Even Riser spent all of the time playing with his Queen!"
When Grayfia and Ajuka ignored his complaints, Sirzechs pouted and put his attention back on the game. He didn't want to say it, but the more relaxed Harry looked, the better he personally felt about the chances of Rias winning.
At least it would save Sirzechs from getting involved personally and tearing the marriage contract apart. He would happily do it if needed, but those old farts on the council always looked for a reason to give him a throbbing headache.
