There is no one in the Belial territory who would blame you.”
The current head of the House of Belial moved onto the main topic. “I think you should get out of here.”
“—!”
Diehauser was speechless. His father continued
“Thanks to your fame and established relationships, through various channels, I want you to return to the Rating Games anew. I have also pleaded to the Maou Ajuka Beelzebub. This is something that I can do.”
As the current head spoke with an overbearing tone, he suddenly seemed to have remembered something as he said
“Ah, I can’t use the connection to the Great King side anymore.”
A puzzled expression emerged on Diehauser’s face. His father had joined the Great King faction in the past, and his own status in the Underworld had continued to climb, and that gave his father a similarly high position. Father said it can’t be used anymore…? The current head answered his doubts. “No, it’s nothing. I just went to went to the First Generation Bael-sama to ask a few things about you and Cleria. Hahaha, well, what should I say. In the end, I couldn’t hold back and I ended up hitting that First Generation old man. So that’s why I can’t use my connection to the Great King faction. I’m sorry, your father is still immature.”
His father laughed boldly. …In a sense, the First Generation Bael could be considered to be an authoritative figure even higher the Maous in the entire Underworld and for all Devils, a secret dictator. His father actually hit him…. Diehauser understood. His father truly cherished his family, and after learning the truth behind his and Cleria’s circumstances, he must have attacked the First Generation Bael. His father’s actions evoked a certain emotion in Diehauser’s heart. “That’s what happened, so I’m now in the care of Beelzebub-sama’s faction.”
“H-How could I possibly allow father to deal with this alone…!”
He could no longer allow his father and his people to be troubled by his own problems. However, his father looked up at the ceiling and said
“Calfa…as of late, your mother has constantly been watching video recordings of your matches. It’s a bit ironic. You’ve already been locked up here, and she’s been watching as if she’s looking back on the path that her son has walked.”
—What. …His mother was watching…his matches. His mother had always avoided it, but she was now watching his games. The current head continued
“Seeing your mother like that, I also made up my mind. No matter what happens, and regardless of what I need to do, I want to send you onto the Tournament’s stage. Don’t worry, as long as you and the family are fine, I’ll even start over back at that house deep in the mountains. Hahaha, after all, I’ve long been accustomed to the lifestyle of being a poor noble. Ah, if I say that, I’ll be scolded by my ancestors.”
In that instant, Diehauser’s heartfelt feelings poured out as he could no longer restrain them. His tears flowed down without stopping. His father showed a gentle smile. “I want to see you fighting in the World Tournament. …Your fans are also looking forward to it. Their voices have been reaching me every day. If Diehauser was there, it definitely wouldn’t be the same. As long as the Champion is there, the Devils will fight better. As long as it’s the Emperor Belial, he’ll be able to defeat them no matter which team it is. Everyone has been shouting out loudly or begging for this. In any case, they all wish for you to get out of here. There are so many people looking forward to you.”
His father thumped his own chest as he faced Diehauser, and said to his son
“I have neither talent nor merit, but I am your father. —So, I want to protect my son’s honour.”
With his face covered in tears, the Champion could only cry. He expressed his gratefulness to his mother and father, to his citizens and his fans. “……Father, I…I…!”
The Champion loved the Rating Games. “The Sekiryuutei’s mother who once slapped you…must be a far better parent than I am. I…couldn’t get angry at you.”
—The Champion loved the Rating Games more than anyone else as it had acknowledged his existence. “Diehauser, let’s repay your crime together. The House of Belial will not abandon you. So, I also hope that you won’t cast aside your own possibilities, as well as the hopes of the fans that are waiting for you—”
Diehauser suddenly recalled that at some point, his cousin Cleria had said to him
[Diehauser-niisama, I really admire the way you look when you’re competing, it’s really cool. You’re the pride of me and the Belial family.] …Cleria, will you also watch over my battles from afar? Can I fight as the Champion that you, father, mother and my fans admire? —The Champion will return. “—The Champion of the Rating Games, Emperor Belial, will you allow us, your admirers to see your heroic figure once again?”
—The Champion will return! “……Yes, father…!”
In Diehauser’s eyes, in the eyes of Emperor Belial, a fire was ignited again. —The strongest Champion will return! This news immediately spread like a wildfire in the Underworld. —Emperor Belial’s shocking participation in the Rating Game World Tournament! Diehauser had been released on a temporary basis under the conditions of strict limitations on movement and surveillance. Rias Gremory and Vali Lucifer would clash in the preliminaries, while Hyoudou Issei would also encounter a god-class opponent for the first time in the Rating Game World Tournament. The difference in combat strength — was far too obvious. Even if it was the Sekiryuutei, if faced with the team of the legendary monster Typhon, and the second generation chief gods of Olympus and Asgard, it was probably impossible for him to win. But through this game, the entire world would attain a new understanding of the [Welsh Dragon]—. And with this, the preliminaries finally came to an end, while a fierce battle in the final tournament began. “Vidar, have you seen the new tournament combinations?”
“Oh, Apollon? Of course I’ve seen them.”
“After all, all of the gods who control fate among the mythologies have been secretly manipulating the tournament.”
“Well, it’s understandable that you have such ideas…but I don’t think the God of Destruction is the type to do such inconsiderate things. However, it isn’t harmful. As gods, it isn’t a bad thing for us to occasionally dance with fate.”
“Well, from your perspective as the [Fenrir Eater], what are your thoughts on this combintation?”
“Don’t call me by that name. I’ve never had any interest in eating wolves. …But, I did believe that I would one day encounter him because of politics or other matters. So it’s not a bad thing to have an early battle against him. I feel a bit bad forstepbrother, but this is fate.”
“Well, we should get in touch with Typhon then. It would be best to hold a strategy meeting earlier.”
“It’s truly something to look forward to. As comrades who have been forced to take up the next generation, this should let us make a bit of a rumble, right? —Hey,[High School DxD].