At the end of that, you will have become a harem king! I believe in you! Do your best!] Alright! Sensei! I will carry my dreams and ambitions, and as I struggle through them, I will grope breasts! I will aim to become a harem king! That’s right, my youth is just getting started right now—. Part 2
The evening two days after that—. The new and old Occult Research Club members were gathered in the living room. Everyone was watching the television intently. The television was showing a special program from the Underworld on the international tournament. The cameras of the operations committee and the various factions were all gathered at the spacious venue. Today, the next part of the tournament schedule was to be announced. My team had already registered yesterday. It seems like the schedule for all of the teams that had registered by yesterday would be announced tonight, all at once. Because we held our strategy meeting during the previous announcement, we didn’t get to see the live broadcast, but we were going to pay attention to it this time. Various combinations appeared upon the screen. With ‘VS’ in the middle, the teams on the left and right side of it were decided by random, and the combinations would then be determined. Numerous team names were displayed quite quickly. There were more than I had expected. Each combination was announced one after the other. Because these were the combinations for the next battles, our next game and the one after that would be published…so far, there were no famous opponents. But, we couldn’t be careless! We can’t possibly predict what will unfold according to different sets of rules. There is also the issue of compatibility between teams. Every game was an experience that had something to be learned from. The game combinations continued to be displayed. All of a sudden, two combinations caught everyone’s attention. The cameras also homed in on these two. The host in the venue announced these two unexpected team combinations in a loud voice
[How unexpected! Such a combination has actually appeared at this stage! It looks like these games will be ones that every team in the competition will be paying attention to!] I could not help but hold my breath as I saw the two combinations, and I could not suppress the impulse welling up inside my body either. “—Kuh. …So it’s come…”
The television display was divided top and bottom, showing both combinations at the same time. [Imperial Purpure] Sairaorg Bael (Underworld Devil) team VS [Spear of the Heavenly Emperor] Cao Cao (Mount Meru) team
[Sekiryuutei of Blazing Truth] Hyoudou Issei (Underworld Devil) team VS [Trump Card of Heaven] Dulio Gesualdo (Heaven) team
As soon as these combinations were announced, thunderous cheers erupted from the audience at the venue. Given that they had seen something like this, it was only natural! —A battle between Sairaorg, the embodiment of power and Cao Cao, the genius of technique! —As for myself…I would be fighting against Dulio, the trump card of Heaven! This was the International Rating Game Tournament…! This was a festival of dreamlike battles that I was participating in…! Ravel also stood up out of surprise. “—It actually appeared so early; the teams of the most popular young Devils are competing with the representative teams of Heaven and Mount Meru…!”
Rias couldn’t restrain her own excitement either and said whilst trembling
“…It is quite irresistible. Even though I’m not there in person, I can’t help but tremble in excitement after seeing these combinations!”
…Yeah, what Rias said is true. Such a combination has already been made in the preliminary round! I desperately held back the excitement that was rising up within me. —However, tonight’s surprises were not over yet. Kaa-san walked over from the entrance and said
“Ise, there’s someone who wants to see you?”
The person led into the living room by kaa-san had a slim figure and their face was obscured by a hood. The guest took off their hood and exposed their face. The person who had appeared was a vampire that I had met before—. “—Elmenhilde!”
I exclaimed in surprise as I stood up. Elmenhilde bowed, and then greeted us. “Good evening, everyone. I saw the game. So there is one thing that I’d like to request.”
After saying that, she approached me whilst her red pupils remained locked onto me. Elmenhilde unwaveringly asked me
“—Hyoudou Issei-sama, could you please include me in your team?”
Her words were so astounding that I momentarily forgot about the tournament matchup. —Indeed, the greatest festival of my high school life has just begun.