Y Ddraig Goch

Disclaimer: Familiar of Zero is property of the late Noboru Yamaguchi. High School DxD is property of Ichiei Ishibumi.

Chapter 3: Promotion Time

A few days has passed since the Saito's duel against Guiche the Playboy, and I have to say, the guy is unexpectedly mischievous after he recovered from his injuries. Then again, the guy had to do something to cope with his unenviable day job of being glorified pet/slave. So far I've seen facial doodling, panty sabotage, and embarrassing sleep talk. It does my heart proud to see such well executed guerilla warfare against the regime. My one and only true regret was that I was too far away to catch a glimpse during the fanservice episode due to my not being able to use Balance Breaker without scaring everyone.

Saito could even fake being punished by sneaking into the kitchens and getting a proper meal whenever he was banned from eating. Those times with the Tristainian commoners and him were rather fun, though I usually have to sneak out whenever Marteau breaks out the wine. I'm still underage and being caught drunk on the job would be bad, especially since this place had tons of resources for me to exploit.

Anyways, I've gotten used to the routine by now. Wake up, go to work, eat and merry make with the servants, and then secretly research around in the library. I felt I had to learn at least something during my stay here, and basic geography and history sounded good so that I could deal with the place when I had to venture outside the walls. Also, I've been secretly training deep in the forests at night.

Turns out there were plenty of things called orcs laying about if one ventured deep enough and it was a good chance to train my base state against these baby eaters. Whenever I encounter these things, I usually practice either hand to hand combat or basic Dragon Shot manipulations. Since I couldn't practice my power skills, I might as well polish up techniques, which were sorely lacking. If there weren't any orcs about, I usually just carried boulders and trees or do five thousand push-ups or something along those lines, to keep my stamina threshold high.

Also away from all those beautiful oppais (there was Kirche's but I doubt I would see them bare under normal circumstances), I began delving deep into my fervent desire to begin the creation of a new technique. "Focus on what's underneath the underneath…" Currently, I was staring at one of the dozens of dirty magazines that I bought in Akihabara that was propped up against a tree while deep in the forest away from the rest of civilization, attempting to achieve true x-ray vision.

The book with big oppai beauties coyly waiting for me to stare at their bare flesh was still wrapped in plastic covering, thus the secrets that lay inside were a marvelous mystery to me. It was harder than it looked too, and I felt like I was missing something. Maybe I was going about this the wrong way? Applying magic power to my eyes just made it ache and Boosting it only gave me the power to magnify and zoom in without the need to use a telescope. If only I had this when Louise's wardrobe malfunctioned! Argh!

When I finally returned to the school with bleary eyes in the dead of night, I found that it was raining nobles for some reason. Looking up, I found that the cause seemed to be because of a fireball to their faces. Then, voices were raised. "STUPID DOG!" I heard Louise yelling at Kirche and Saito, saying all sorts of things. That lucky bastard, being seduced by a girl with such big oppai… Still, I wasn't going to see anything from this angle and I was tired so I just went inside for my bed. After all, I was off duty and I didn't want to be ordered to piggy back crispy rich kids.

The next day, I had a day off due to it being the Day of Void. Apparently it was like Sunday back on Earth. Commoners and Nobles alike were given a break from their duties. Me, I was now heading out with Ophis in tow towards the capitol. I had a bit of coin from the school and Ophis was craving some sweets so I thought I'd spoil my daughter. Not wanting to waste any currency on a horse, I simply took a discarded cloak with a few holes in it, sewed it back up and equipped it with a hood to hide my features. With my disguise, I then boosted myself and began to run along the path while carrying an invisible Ophis on my back. Anyone looking at me would just think I'm a mage using a speed spell.

I had an enjoyable time relaxing in the city, though I saw glimpses of Louise and Saito here and there. Also Kirche and that little loli like girl that reminds me of Koneko fused with Guinevere and blue hair. I think her name was Tabitha? Ophis too seemed to enjoy the small vacation, given at how intently she was consuming her bag of sweets. For an ancient dragon, she sure is cute. What I didn't realize was that a chain of improbable events were about to happen very soon.

Getting back to the academy took us a few hours past sunset, and the first sight that greeted my eyes was a giant golem that was striding off in the distance. "…Those kids and their crazy magics." I muttered, getting a migraine at all the work I'll have to put in tomorrow. Giant potholes and craters littered the ground liberally. Even for someone like me, this was going to be unpleasant.

I stomped into my room, my earlier good mood dissipating. It took Ophis snuggling into my side to calm me down. You simply do not stay angry with a pretty girl nestled in your side after all. Stroking my daughter's head, I found my dissatisfaction fleeing into a feeling of contentment.

The very next morning, the school was all abuzz like an agitated hornet's nest. It turns out the golem was not a student's fault but rather that of a thief named Fouquet the Crumbling Dirt, who apparently stole some pretty destructive artifact named the Staff of Destruction using the golem who punched a hole in the castle walls surrounding the treasury.

In a room full of nobles, Saito and I both stood out for different reasons. He was there because he was the Familiar of Louise. I stood out because I saw the guy in the cloak riding on the golem. After grilling me for any distinguishing figure, I shrugged and said the person was hiding his features with a concealing outfit in the middle of night. They gave me the evil eye for answering in a deadpan way.

Anyways, everything was going pretty stupid at the moment. Everyone was gesticulating and passing the buck on each other, making accusations and so on. It was honestly pretty embarrassing to watch how spineless these so magicians were. Everything calmed down when Old Osmond the principal used simple logic to soothe egos and shame the teachers.

"Well, that's the situation that we're in now. Talking about responsibility, I think all of us, including myself, have to be held accountable for this incident. Why did we think that a thief could never infiltrate the academy? Is it because of the number of mages we have in the academy here that gives us the assurance that we won't be attacked? This type of thinking is wrong from the beginning."Old Osman gazed at the hole in the wall and continued, "It's our complacency that has gave Fouquet the courage to trespass, and steal the Staff of Destruction. We're all at fault."

A plump teacher named Mrs. Chevreuse then thanked him, since she was supposed to be the one on guard duty. Then the old guy just went and began groping her bottom! This guy was good. I should probably take notes. He was skilled at handling people it seemed, in both ways.

"Well then, who were the ones who witnessed the theft?" Osman asked, stroking his beard and looking like the stereotypical wise old man... while still feeling up his staff member.

"It was these four." said Mr. Colbert while pointing to the three people behind him and me. The people who were pointed out were Louise, Kirche, and Tabitha. Apparently Saito didn't count as a person since he was a Familiar and thus some sort of glorified pet/slave/property. Then again, I have to do work and he just follows Louise around. Though Old Osmond was looking at Saito with interest in his eyes for some strange reason…

We were interrogated yet again and we gave our accounts, Louise succinctly stating what happened in a clear voice. Then Old Osmond's hot green haired secretary showed up looking like she had news to give. Apparently she had found out where Fouquet the Crumbling Dirt had hidden- in a cottage that was abandoned in the forest.

After this tidbit of information excited everyone, Old Osmond suggested that a search team be formed to apprehend this bold thief before he gets away. None of the teachers raised their wand and looked about pretty awkwardly. "I'll go." I raised my hand, causing everyone to gape at me.

"…But you're a commoner! You'll be killed!" Professor Colbert said, actually worried about me. The guy was visibly fretting. Everyone else just looked at me like I was crazy and suicidal.

"Hey, I've got a score to settle with that thief. He messed with the lawn. Guess who has to clean up his mess." I grumbled, my reasoning just getting me a bunch more looks. At the moment, I'm guessing they were thinking I needed to have my head re-examined.

"I'll go too! Friends don't let each other go alone!" Saito piped up, thumping his chest and giving me a thumbs up. This guy who reminded me of Saji gave his support to me, lifting me out of my funk. I grinned and gave him the same gesture.

"Don't you decide things on your own, stupid dog!" Louise shouted, ruining our righteous bro moment. "…But I volunteer too! None of the teachers are going to do anything!" The tiny girl raised her wand.

Kirche followed reluctantly, saying she couldn't lose to a Valliere. Tabitha raised her staff afterwards, saying she was worried. Seeing this, the redhead looked rather touched. I sense that these two were friends, and very good ones at that despite their distinctly different looks and personalities. It was actually pretty heartwarming, really. Objections were made to these statements and when they were called out on it, they subsided.

"Besides, Miss Tabitha has been conferred the rank of a Chevalier." Old Osmond said, looking pretty confident. I blinked at that. From my semi-random readings in the library, I had found out that Chevalier was a title that couldn't be bought like Baron or Marquis, it had to be earned through merit. It was like a Medal of Honor, conferred to those who provided valuable assistance to their country.

Then Kirche was given her merits by the same Headmaster. Louise hearing this stood to attention… only to slump when her non-existent talent was glossed over for her family's deeds and Saito's prowess. I inwardly chuckled at that. Then our merry band set off with Miss Longueville the hot secretary to lead us.

The ride in the carriage (slightly modified hay wagon) was loud and cramped since I ended up coming along. Bickering was constantly streaming back and forth between the heiresses of Valliere and Zerbst, something to do with a sword and a contest. I was pretty glad when we reached our destination and stretched my legs before hiding behind the bushes with everyone else, observing a cottage next to a dilapidated warehouse, Miss Longueville confirming it was indeed the place.

Everyone then began to make plans by drawing diagrams in the dirt with sticks. We confirmed that ambushes would make the best choice, especially if the thief was sleeping. Saito was confirmed to be the bait to lure out the thief to a place where everyone could blast him with their magic because he had the best reflexes. I volunteered myself too so that I could help him out in case things went sour. The two of us then cautiously crept into the house after peering in through the windows, seeing just dusty furniture.

The rest were called and Tabitha and Kirche came in while Louise stood outside. Miss Longueville said she'd investigate the surrounding forest area and left. Soon enough we found a box with the Staff of Destruction inside. "…This is a…" I stared at this supposed Staff, confusion besetting me. Next to me, Saito was looking at it with a look of surprise too. Then, we heard a high pitches scream that belonged to Louise!

We soon found the reason for the scream was because of the huge golem who had decided to rip the roof off the house. A whirlwind from Tabitha and a giant fireball from Kirche did nothing to the solidly build thing.

"It's too tough for just us!" Kirche shouted. Tabitha whispered out a retreat command and the two split up, running out of the house in separate directions. Saito went towards Louise, having to protect her as a Familiar. Something exploded on the golem, which turned out to be the little girl's magic. It seemed to have more of an effect on the thing seeing as there was a crater mark on its left shoulder. Still, it wasn't enough. It was like trying to breach a fortress with a rifle. There was too much of the thing to take down.

I held my breath when the thing chased Saito who was running away with Louise, and then let it out when Tabitha's dragon swooped down near them. Then he charged the thing with a sword. A sword that broke upon impact after he blocked a swipe from the giant thing. Damn, it looks like I'll have to reveal myself after all… I flexed my hand, prepared to summon Boosted Gear.

Then I stopped when Louise floated on down like a fairy and handed Saito the RPG. The guy then swiftly loaded the mechanism and fired off a shot. With a resounding boom, the missile exploded. We all had to brace ourselves and close our eyes. When I opened them again, I found only the bottom half of the golem remained and even that soon turned to a mound of dirt.

We won! Was my thought until Miss Longueville showed up and asked to hold the RPG/Staff of Destruction. "Drop your wands and broken swords!" She barked, aiming the thing at the group near me, who complied. She disregarded me, who was weaponless and did nothing in the battle. Even now I made no threatening movements. What she didn't realize was that at the moment, I was using Bilingual to read her breasts' intention.

What I found out was actually quite sad and surprising, for Miss Longueville turned out to be a person who was stealing for the sake of a certain someone close to her. She was also hiding two other secrets that I gleaned. Right now though, she was ready to commit murder due to her hatred of the nobility like the ones in her history. This would have been quite dangerous had I not known that RPG's were one shot weapons until you reloaded them again. So, I decided to act decisively while she was giving her villain's monologue.

Leaning over, I tapped her shoulder due to me being only a few feet away from her. "What?" She barked, looking at me irately at interrupting her gloating moment. What I had in mind should not only stop her in her tracks, but act as some sort of masquerade for my abilities in general. It was altogether a slapdash and harebrained scheme that I came up on the spot, but it SHOULD work. I hope.

"Just wanted to say two words… DRESS BREAK!" I struck a pose and snapped my fingers with a grin on my face. A magical circle appeared, shocking pretty much everyone present, Fouquet especially. She aimed the thing at me and clicked the trigger… and nothing came out. Saito burst forward, ready to knock her out.

Then, Fouquet's clothes self terminated to reveal her figure to everyone present. My hand shot out, grabbing the wand in the midst of the shreds of fabric floating to the ground. This technique of mine also had the additional effect of derailing Saito's attack due to sudden fanservice. He crashed and burned after getting an eyeful of hot secretary butt, crashing into a tree with a satisfied look on his face.

"That Staff of Destruction only has one shot. And now I, who can use magic, have your wand. The question you have to ask yourself now is, are you feeling lucky?" I asked, dangling her magical focus in front of her as the others instantly bent down to pick up their own equipment and leveled it at her. Miss Longueville twitched before slumping down and covering herself.

"I surrender…" She said with a dull look of shock on her face, having never expected this outcome in the very least. Looking at me, she shivered as my hyper focused eyes roamed over every inch of her body, refueling my spirit of the bared flesh of a sexy lady. Then Tabitha bonked me over the head of my staff. Ahh, this place even has a Koneko! Now I'm really getting homesick.

(Timeskip)

Arriving back at the Academy with a tied up Miss Longueville dressed in only my jacket to preserve her modesty turned a lot of heads as the group of us marched towards Old Osmond's office. Since I was the one holding onto the rope and had unknown magic, she didn't try anything. The fact that everyone's weapons were still leveled on her was even more of an incentive. Still, I could feel everyone's questioning gaze burning into the back of my head since I pretty much kept mum about how I knew magic on the way back.

When we came to our destination, we told Headmaster Osmond and Professor Colbert what happened. Everyone gave them cold looks as they accidentally revealed that they were the reason why Fouquet was able to steal the Staff of Destruction with her seduction attempts. Miss Longueville just slunk down lower into the chair, hiding her face in shame.

Then we got to the part where I used magic and the teachers looked at me with surprise on their face. "W-wait, you have a magic that lets you strip female clothing?" Old Osmond asked with intense interest, earning him a bonk on the head from Tabitha's staff.

"Yep. It was banned where I came from." I said quite honestly, since the Rating Games patched themselves to ensure I don't strip every female opponent. I was still a bit miffed about that rule in particular, to be honest.

"…Well now, perhaps we can come up with a deal. You teach me that wondrous magic of yours and I'll enroll you in as a student of this very fine academia. You'll still have to pay tuition of course, but we can work that out by you-" Old Osmond stopped with his mouth agape when I pulled a dirty magazine from inside of my coat, my hand covering up all the naughty bits. Saito similarly looked like he wanted to read it, prompting a backhand from Louise who looked very scandalized. I also briefly heard something about "Another Summoned Book?!" emanating from Kirche for some reason. "…You're in on a scholarship if you give me that Summoned Book." The Headmaster said, obviously regarding this 2000 yen magazine as worth a lot more.

"Deal." With that we clasped hands together and a beautiful halo of manly camaraderie emanated about the two of us while everyone else looked horrified for some reason save for Tabitha who had her nose in a book as usual. With that, I was now a transfer student in the Tristain Academy of Magic. It felt… wonderful, really, messing around with the Nobility here. Probably due to my instincts as a Devil kicking in. Still, now… I smugly smiled as Louise's eye and hands twitched uncontrollably. Yep, it was awesome being a Devil.