Seeing the interaction between me and Ddraig, Tiamat-san laughed after watching for a moment. “Just as I said to Ddraig…ah, my proud collection now lies scattered in the treasuries of various factions…”
Tiamat-san sighed. —However, she revealed a bewitching and mischievous smile the next instant. “So I came up with an idea. Since Ddraig is useless — then the host should take over the job. In other words, something like a loan guarantor.”
Tiamat-san directed her eyes towards me. Aside from Tiamat-san, everyone else also directed their gazes at me. ……. …………. …I pointed at myself. Tiamat-san nodded with certainty. “Eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeehhh!”
I cried out in surprise! This isn’t natural! W-W-Why is Ddraig’s mess passed onto me!? It’s clearly something that happened a long time before I was even born! [Partner, I’m sorry…]
W-W-W-W-W-What did you say, Ddraig-san!? What are you asking me to do!? Is it even fair that you’re free of your debt and you’re leaving it to your partner!? Nooooooo, what’s this about a loan guarantor, nooooooo! Tiamat-san smiled. “Don’t worry, even if host-kun is a high-class Devil and a big rich man, I won’t directly deduct it from you, because that would be just too pitiful. So, there’s one condition for me to forgive Ddraig.”
Tiamat-san pointed at me with her finger and then said
“In exchange for forgiving Ddraig, when you obtain victory in the tournament, you must make your wish so that the entirety of my treasure collection that has been scattered amongst the factions is returned. As I recall, according to the size of the prized wish, the number that can be granted will change, right?”
In response to Tiamat-san’s question, Ravel nodded. “Y-Yes. If it’s a small wish, then you can have a number equal to the number of your team’s members, but if it is a demanding or large-scale wish, then you only get one.”
Indeed, the prize for the tournament — would use the mystical power of all combined factions to fulfil as many wishes as possible. Just as Ravel said, the number of permitted wishes could change as well. Because we’ve always just aimed for victory in the tournament, we never really considered our wishes, and didn’t have a particularly large goal…. I see, Tiamat-san hopes that when we obtain victory that we’ll help her retrieve those lost treasures. As for the managers, I don’t know how much they’ll be able to fulfil…but it seems as though this wish is within the realm of possibility. Tiamat-san continued
“In the meantime, I’ll do my best to help you win. If it were possible, you could also invite me into your team, but I’m also part of the Rating Game’s management. It isn’t very good if you do so, don’t you think? —So, let this kid join your team.”
Tiamat-san pointed to Nakiri as she spoke. I see, so that’s why Nakiri was here. When Ravel said that ‘There is a candidate to increase our fighting strength’, it seems she had intended for it to be Nakiri. With a complicated expression, Nakiri said
“—Anyway, that’s the situation. …I’ve also been under Tia-san’s care…so it’s difficult for me to turn down her request.”
Ooh, regardless of whether it was related to Beelzebub-sama’s previous ‘Game’, or the investigation of the Longinus, it seems as though Nakiri was taken care of by Tiamat-san and owed a debt to her. Tiamat-san said
“If it’s Ryuuta, then he should be able to help you. And as the next head of the Nakiri clan, he’ll also be able to gain some valuable experience. This is a manager’s recommendation, okay?”
“Is Ryuuta a nickname of Nakiri’s?”
I was concerned by this unfamiliar name and decided to ask the person himself. “…No, [Ryuuta] was before I succeeded[Ouryuu]…it is my real name. Tia-san really likes that name, so that’s why she calls me by it.”
I see, so the name [Ouryuu] is the one given to the person who inherits the Sacred Beast of the clan. “…Whether it’s Ryuuta or Kouchin, you sure have a lot of names Nakiri.”
I said. Every time I see him, it feels as though he’s gained a new name or nickname so I’m not even sure what I should call him now. “…Well, this is the fate of a person born into an old and traditional family. You can call me whichever is easiest for you, Hyoudou-senpai.”
I’ll go with [Nakiri] then, since that’s the easiest one to remember. I asked Ravel
“Ravel, so Nakiri will be joining us?”
I confirmed with her whether or not we could have Nakiri join us as a new team member. Ravel took out a smartphone from her pocket and prepared to take a photo as she pointed the camera towards Nakiri. “Very well than Nakiri-san, please allow me to measure you just a bit.”
She then took a snap of Nakiri. This was one of the apps that the management provided to us for the tournament. By starting the app and then using it to take a photo, it was possible to clearly ascertain someone’s value as a piece (according to the tournament’s benchmark). Even for a Vampire that normally couldn’t be photographed, it was still able to function under certain circumstances. Following that, Nakiri’s most important result was revealed and Ravel appeared to be rather surprised upon seeing it. “—What!? …Ise-sama, if Nakiri-san is evaluated according to tournament’s benchmark as a [Pawn], then it’s ! That number is far more than I expected…!”
“A human can reach ! ?”
I was also greatly surprised and couldn’t help but shout! According to the World Tournament’s [Pawn] benchmark, he actually got a ! A value like this for a human was definitely surprising. I hadn’t heard of him possessing a Sacred Gear either…. Indeed, he was worthy of being able to stand at the centre of this country’s special ability user group — the heir of the Nakiri clan. There were also others who were surprised by this news — my team’s [Pawn], Bova. “…A human boy like this actually has an even higher value than me! ?”
Tannin-ossan’s son Bova had a value of  when judged as a [Pawn]. By the tournament’s standards,  was already an immense value. After all, the tournament’s benchmark had become rather strange after the inclusion of god-class beings. “Both Ise and I are seventeen or eighteen year old minors. You can’t judge people by their appearances you know, Bova?”
“Hmm, mmm, what you’re saying is…. My [King], Xenovia-dono, and everyone, that was uncourteous of me just then…”
Xenovia was able to say some pretty persuasive things sometimes. What she said was correct though. Ravel wrote a few things down in her notebook as she said
“However, just as Bova-san said, it’s truly remarkable for a human to obtain a piece value of  for the tournament’s [Pawn] benchmark. If this was calculated by the normal [Evil Pieces], then it would probably be even higher.”
What an incredible person…. And then, I once again realised just what an unimaginable monster the [Pawn] of Rias’ team, Crom Cruach was. If that guy was evaluated with the [Evil Pieces] system, let alone a [Mutation Piece], it might not even be possible for him to become a servant, I think?