High School DxD: The Lucifer's Devil Trigger — Chapter 15

Chapter 15: Sins of the Past

She paused, her gaze narrowing slightly as she studied the girl before her. Lord Levi’s younger brother, Vali, inherited the bloodline of the Maou just like you, and he has a Longinus in his possession. It wouldn’t be surprising if he has already successfully awakened his Balance Breaker.

Ingvild listened, her eyes dropping to the floor as the silence stretched between them.

When she finally looked up again, Grayfia noticed a subtle, unreadable smile touching the corners of her lips. He is him, and I am me. As Levi says, the value of a devil isn’t determined by comparing oneself to others.

The last hint of warmth in Grayfia’s eyes vanished, replaced by absolute frost.

Without another word, the silver-haired maid reached out, grabbed Ingvild by the collar, and began dragging her toward the training grounds. I hope that during this incident, when it truly comes time for you to contribute, you will use your full power.

W-Wait…

If you cannot do that, then I will have to force you to do so while we still have the time.

Ingvild instinctively planted her feet, wanting to resist the iron grip.

But the moment her gaze met Grayfia’s crimson eyes, a deep chill ran up her spine. Her neck unconsciously shrank back, her resistance crumbling instantly….Alright, I understand. I will try.

The Matou Family was said to be a line of Magus that migrated to Fuyuki from the West a long time ago. Their estate stood as one of the largest properties in the entire city. Places where Magus families took root were never small, requiring vast workshops and bounded fields to hide their craft from mundane eyes.

, this particular area was suffocatingly secluded, surrounded by dense woods that blocked out the moonlight.

Levi stepped into the courtyard, his boots crunching lightly against the gravel. He scanned the dark, oppressive architecture and muttered to himself. Even if we were to tear this place down to ruins, I doubt anyone would notice.

Artoria heard his casual remark. Her brows twitched in mild disapproval, but she kept her silence, her grip tightening on her invisible blade.

Instead, Sakura spoke up, her voice airy and calm. Lord Levi, are we going to tear this place down?

Levi shook his head, a dry sigh escaping his lips. In my opinion, rather than sneaking in bit by bit to look for clues, it would be safer to just blow up the entire house and see if any Heroic Spirit gets angry enough to jump out.

He paused, his eyes drifting toward the pitch-black doorway of the main house. It’s a pity, though. The one living here doesn’t seem too keen on letting us do that.

Sakura didn’t immediately react to his words.

Before anyone else could move, Karna had already stepped forward. He placed himself smoothly at the front of the group. With a casual, fluid swing of his golden spear, he precisely deflected a jagged projectile wrapped in dense black energy that had shot out from the shadows.

The deflected spear embedded itself into the courtyard wall, oozing an ominous, rotting aura that made the air feel heavy.

Immediately after, a guttural roar echoed from deep inside the house. It was a sound completely devoid of human reason, vibrating through the courtyard like the howl of a starving beast.

A black shadow darted out from the darkness of the hallway. It weaved left and right like a wandering ghost, tearing up the ground as it moved at extreme speed directly toward Karna.

But the golden Lancer was not its target.

Ar—thur—!

A heavy battle-axe, wreathed in dark flames, came crashing down with immense, devastating force.

Sparks exploded into the night air. Artoria’s invisible sword parried the devastating blow, her boots sliding back an inch against the gravel from the sheer kinetic weight.

The figure was finally exposed to the moonlight.

It was a humanoid monster clad in full, pitch-black armor. Intense, corrupted flames rose from the gaps in the metal and coated its weapon.

It’s a Berserker.

Levi recognized the opponent instantly. The fragmented lore from his memory snapped into perfect clarity.

He lowered his posture, his right hand resting casually against the hilt of the Yamato at his waist.

No one saw the draw.

A crescent flash of blue light swept past the dark knight’s neck, cutting through the very fabric of the air.

The monster instinctively recoiled, its supreme combat instincts causing the fatal blow to miss by a fraction of an inch. However, the spatial slash caught the top of its armor, cleanly slicing the dark helmet right off its head.

This was the exact effect Levi wanted.

The heavy metal helmet hit the ground with a dull thud, revealing a mane of disheveled, pale purple hair. Although the man’s face was already twisted by madness and corrupted by dark mana, Artoria recognized those features at a single glance.

Her breath hitched. She opened her mouth, the words dying in her throat as shock paralyzed her for a fraction of a second.

Levi spoke the name for her, his tone flat. It really is you. Lancelot.

Karna thrust his spear forward, the burst of solar flames forcing the mad knight back just enough to pull Artoria out from the overwhelming pressure of the axe.

Under normal circumstances, the proud King of Knights would certainly not appreciate someone interfering in her duel.

But now, she merely lowered her head. The shadows of her bangs obscured half of her face, hiding a dark, terrifying storm of guilt and sorrow.

Ar—thur!

Lancelot had long since abandoned his noble knightly code. He was like a rabid hound, staring fixedly at Artoria, his hollow eye sockets burning with a blood-red glow.

He carelessly threw aside the axe that was emanating black energy, letting it shatter against the stone path.

Reaching into the corrupted shadows around him, he drew a massive, flawless longsword.

It was his old partner. Arondight.

The moment the holy sword was in his hand, the chaotic black energy clinging to his body dissipated completely. In its place erupted his own true aura, far wilder, fiercer, and infinitely more violent than the madness enhancement alone.

Roar—

Lancelot roared, the sound tearing at the night sky as he launched himself forward.

But this time, it wasn’t him pouncing toward Artoria.

The blades collided, a shockwave of mana exploding outward and flattening the nearby grass. This time, it was Artoria who had struck first, closing the distance in a burst of prana.

She still wore that grim, pained expression, but the heavy emotion no longer hindered her movements. Master… can you let me handle this fight myself?

She asked the question through gritted teeth, her arms trembling slightly as she struggled against Lancelot’s overwhelming physical strength.

Levi looked at her, watching the sparks fly between the two legendary swords, and sighed. Fine. If you want to fight, then fight. But Artoria, in his current state, if you kill him, it might actually bring him release.

You should know better than I do that Lancelot is not this kind of monster.

Having delivered his piece, Levi turned his back on the clash of legends and began walking toward the main entrance of the Matou Family estate. Fight to your heart’s content. No one will disturb you.

Levi led Sakura and Karna away, leaving the courtyard to the two knights.

Artoria heard his fading footsteps. She let out a long, trembling breath, her emerald eyes hardening with resolve. Thanks… I’ll handle things here. Leave the rest to you. Sorry!

In the distance, Levi caught those words. The corners of his mouth curled upward in a faint, knowing smirk.

[Check-in Goal: Grant Lancelot redemption]

The redemption that mad dog wants is probably for his king to personally put an end to him. Once Artoria cuts him down, this check-in will complete itself naturally.

But by comparison…

Karna, I really can’t tell right now whether you have good luck or bad luck.

Levi’s Observation Haki had been spread out like an invisible net the entire time they were in the city. Compared to true, specialized long-range magical detection methods, it lacked fine detail. But compared to a Master walking blindly into the dark, it was a ridiculously convenient radar.

Karna frowned, his golden eyes shifting as he failed to understand what his Master was planning.

Levi didn’t bother explaining. He simply drew the Yamato an inch from its scabbard and sliced a neat, square opening directly into the empty air.

As soon as the black spatial rift tore open, a blinding arrow crackling with intense blue electricity shot right into it, vanishing into the void in an instant. The rift snapped shut, leaving only the smell of ozone behind.

Now Karna understood everything.

The Son of the Sun couldn’t be more familiar with the mana signature of that specific arrow. He immediately grasped Levi’s intention in intercepting the sniper shot….I suppose I’d have to say bad luck.

Karna’s tone sounded as flat and composed as always. But through their contract, Levi vaguely sensed an indescribable emotion emanating from the Lancer. It felt somewhat like helplessness, yet carried the heavy weight of inevitable destiny.

As soon as Karna finished speaking, the distinct crunch of footsteps echoed from the path leading to the estate.

The people approaching were the three from the Tohsaka camp. Arjuna, Tohsaka Rin, and Saint George.

Tohsaka Tokiomi did not appear. According to Levi’s earlier scouting, the head of the family, Kotomine Kirei, and Hassan of the Hundred Faces were currently guarding the Tohsaka residence.

Seeing this specific lineup step into the clearing, Levi’s mouth curled up in genuine amusement.

It hadn’t been long since nightfall. It was exactly the time for devils to come out and play.

I wonder if Tohsaka Tokiomi will even live to see tomorrow’s sun. To dare keep Kotomine Kirei by his side, and even let that broken priest lead a Heroic Spirit… should I say he’s too confident, or that he never considered his obedient apprentice would bite his head off?

A pity. Kotomine Kirei happened to be exactly that kind of predator.

Levi had already sentenced Tohsaka Tokiomi to death in his mind. At this moment, the three newcomers halted just a few paces away.

Arjuna’s dark, intense gaze locked instantly onto Karna, ignoring everything else in the world. Tohsaka Rin’s eyes, however, swept past the men and landed squarely on the purple-haired girl standing quietly by Levi’s side.

Sakura…

Having not seen her in ten long years, Tohsaka Rin could still recognize the remnants of her little sister’s face. Her voice trembled, a mix of disbelief and deep-seated guilt leaking into the night air.

Levi glanced at Sakura out of the corner of his eye.

If she couldn’t let go of the past, he wouldn’t force his peerage member to fight her own blood family to the death. He was pragmatic, not cruel.

But Sakura simply looked at the older sister she hadn’t spoken to in a decade with terrifyingly calm, dead eyes.

It seemed that after secretly observing her old home from afar earlier today, she had completely and utterly severed her ties with the Tohsaka name. Her eyes showed no ripples of emotion. Her voice carried its natural, airy softness, but the words she spoke were as piercing as ice.

Rin… it’s been ten years, hasn’t it?

Before either of the rival Servants had even made a move, the atmosphere between the two sisters had already turned rigid, suffocatingly tense.

The heavy silence lasted for quite a while, broken only by the distant sounds of Artoria and Lancelot destroying the courtyard behind them.

Then, as if guided by an unspoken, ancient agreement, Karna and Arjuna simultaneously vanished from their spots, charging toward the nearby dense woods. They needed a far more spacious battlefield to unleash their destructive power.

Sakura watched the golden blur of her Servant disappear into the trees, and without a second glance at Rin, she followed them into the dark woods.

Before completely crossing the treeline, she paused and looked back over her shoulder, her gaze locking onto Tohsaka Rin one last time.

Rin gritted her teeth, her fists clenching so hard her knuckles turned white, and she sprinted into the woods right after her.

Levi watched the family drama unfold and could only sigh helplessly, rubbing the back of his neck.

Only the last knight remained standing in front of him.

The armored man’s brows had furrowed the very moment he laid eyes on Levi. Judging by the dense, holy aura radiating from his armor and the heavy sword at his side, he was undoubtedly a Heroic Spirit.

And a very specific kind, at that.

You are a hero from the angel faction, aren’t you? Levi asked, his tone casual, though his eyes were sharp.

Saint George stared at Levi, his posture perfectly balanced and his tone calm. To be honest, I truly had not expected that there would be two devils serving as Masters in this Holy Grail War.

His palm pressed firmly against the hilt of his holy sword Ascalon. His feet had already begun to pivot, shifting his weight in the direction where Rin had just disappeared.

Of course, his warrior instincts screamed at him to draw his sword and strike down the devil standing right in front of him.

But he was even more acutely aware that his Master, Rin, was currently chasing after another devil into unknown territory. Her situation was incredibly dangerous. Compared to his own glory or duty to slay evil, he was far more accustomed to focusing on the safety of others first.

Saint George was simply that kind of protector.

But as he took his first step—

A crisp, terrifying ring of steel echoed through the clearing.

A razor-thin blade mark grazed just millimeters past the steel toes of George’s boots, slicing the solid earth wide open in a perfect, bottomless line.

Levi looked at the distinct features of the armored man, his mind matching the face to the lore he knew. He had already guessed this person was the Saint George of legend.

Knowing his identity was one thing. Letting a legendary saint-type Heroic Spirit run off to hunt down Sakura was absolutely out of the question.

The business between those two sisters is not for you to interfere with. Levi’s voice dropped, losing all its previous warmth. If you absolutely must do something with your time…

Levi fully drew the Yamato from its scabbard. A terrifying, oppressive wave of demonic energy erupted from his body as he directly activated his Devil Trigger. The air around him warped, turning heavy and suffocating.

…why not play with me for a while?

[Check-in Task: Let Arjuna and Karna decide a winner]

[Check-in Task: Resolve Tohsaka Rin’s inner conflict]

[Check-in Task: Defeat Saint George]

Three system prompts materialized in his vision all at once.

The first one, much like the situation with Lancelot, would resolve itself in the woods.

As for Rin and Sakura, he would keep a passive eye on them with his Observation Haki. It was best if those two sisters resolved their own twisted history without his direct interference.

As for his own side of the battlefield—

Levi slashed outward. His dense blue demonic magic violently condensed into a crescent blade of pure destruction, tearing through the air straight at Saint George’s chest.

If an ordinary Servant were struck by this casual Judgment Cut, they would likely be sent flying instantly, their armor shattered. At the very least, they would be staggered for several crucial seconds.

But Saint George was no ordinary combatant.

He fluidly tilted Ascalon, catching the spatial slash at an angle and letting the destructive blue blade slide harmlessly off the flat of his sword. He gripped the hilt tightly, not losing a single step of momentum. Instead, he used the deflection to take an explosive step forward, closing the distance to Levi in the blink of an eye. The holy sword swung down fiercely, leaving a trail of golden light as it collided with the Yamato.

The deafening sound of legendary metals colliding made the very air tremble, sending a shockwave that kicked up a cloud of dust around them.

Saint George frowned, his muscles straining as they locked blades in a fierce struggle of pure strength. What did you mean by that just now? Sisters? Are you saying that Rin and that devil from before are blood relatives?

Levi heard the genuine confusion in the saint’s voice and laughed, a dark, amused sound. That’s right.

You probably don’t know yet, do you? Devils in this day and age have the ability to turn humans into their own kind.

Sakura used to be human too. Her full name is Sakura Tohsaka, and she is the younger sister of your Master. Levi leaned in slightly, the demonic pressure rolling off his blade intensifying. But now, she is mine.

Every single word Levi said was the absolute truth of the Evil Pieces system.

But to the ears of a righteous, protective saint like George, the possessive declaration took on an entirely different, deeply sinister meaning.