Start in DxD as Motohama: Leveling Up in Another World-Chapter 25: A Friendly Chat. Issei’s Decision!

Shinji, back at his house, noticed that it was starting to get dark, so he decided to take a shower.

Even though he didn't sweat while wearing the real silk garments, the feeling of fatigue still lingered. And there was nothing better to get rid of fatigue than a good bath and a good night's sleep.

After leaving the bathroom, Shinji headed to the kitchen and started preparing his meal.

"Let's see... I should make something using that blood from before. What was it called? Dachi soup? Yeah, that's it..."

Checking the fridge, he confirmed he had all the necessary ingredients. Putting on his apron, he took some of the vegetables he cultivated in the other world and began chopping them into small pieces.

Even though these vegetables no longer boosted his stats, he had become addicted to their great taste.

As he was cutting them, he heard his phone ringing.

"Hm?... This..."

He was a bit surprised when he saw the caller's name.

Wiping his hands with a napkin, he quickly answered the phone.

"Ise, my friend, what can I do for you?"

{Motohama? Listen, I... I want to talk to you about that...}

The voice on the other end sounded uncertain.

Shinji's expression grew serious upon hearing Issei's words. The time to decide had come.

"Of course. Where do you want to meet?"

The sourc𝗲 of this content is freēwēbηovel.c૦m.

{Do you remember the arcade where you won that unlimited ramen coupon?}

Shinji searched his memory for a few seconds before recalling the moment.

"I remember. I'll be there in half an hour."

{...Alright.}

Shinji stared at his phone for a few seconds after Issei hung up, then let out a sigh.

"I guess this is where the fate of this world is decided. Issei, what will your decision be? I can't wait to find out."

His eyes lingered on the empty space ahead for a few moments. He worried about how his actions would affect the course of the story. However, he soon shook his head and smiled.

"What am I even worried about? From the beginning, my goal was to live my own way. Even if the plot changes, that doesn't really affect me. After all, I'm not the protagonist."

(Damn, he's got some nerve saying that.)

(N/A: Motohama raising death flags left and right.)

Feeling more confident, Shinji stopped what he was doing. Grabbing a hoodie, he left his house.

"Let's see... If I'm not mistaken, the next train should pass in about fifteen minutes."

Even though Shinji lived in Kuoh, his house was on the outskirts of the city. Every morning, he had to take the train to get to school, so he had memorized the schedule.

With a clear mind, he walked towards the train station.

...

It was a pleasant night.

The moonlight illuminated the city, making it easier to see.

The streets were empty. The few people still around were those returning home from work.

In front of a building with a large sign on the roof that read Kuoh Arcade, a young man with dark brown hair stood.

Issei looked around, anxiety creeping over him. After nearly being killed by Yuma (Reynare), he had become wary of his surroundings, and the fear of being attacked at any moment had settled deep in his heart.

"Why did this world have to be so damn complicated?"

He sighed as he tried to organize his thoughts.

Not even in his wildest dreams did he think that the beings he had only heard about in myths and legends actually existed. And to make things even crazier, they lived as humans.

If it weren't for the fact that he had nearly been killed by one of them, he would've thought it was all just a joke.

Even so, it was too much information to process all at once.

"Sacred Gear, angels, and demons. What is this? An anime?..."

(Issei breaking the fourth wall. XD)

He muttered while staring at his hand. For a few seconds, it emitted a glow before a small red gauntlet with a green orb in the center materialized.

He had been told about the entity residing within him.

Sacred Gear.

A creation of the God of the Bible to ensure that humans weren't completely defenseless against the supernatural.

"Still, if this is the kind of world I'm living in... then maybe it's not impossible..."

A lecherous grin spread across his face as he recalled Rias's words. Even though she had tried to be as serious and clear as possible when explaining the supernatural world to him, all he could focus on were the benefits.

At that moment, Issei heard footsteps approaching. Turning his attention to the source, he spotted a young man wearing a white hoodie.

He couldn't deny it—Motohama's physical and behavioral changes still left him baffled.

Remembering how he had saved him from dying that day and even exposed Rias's plan, Issei couldn't help but admire him and feel grateful.

"Hey."

He greeted him awkwardly.

"How's it going, man? It's only been a day, but it feels like much longer."

Motohama spoke in his usual tone, which helped Issei feel more at ease.

The two began walking toward the nearest bench. As Shinji observed his surroundings, he used {Universal Sense} and noticed something that caught his attention. Meanwhile, Issei was deep in thought, preparing for what he was about to say.

Once they reached the bench, both sat down. Issei was the one to break the silence.

"Hey, can I ask you something?"

His voice was serious. The tension was evident.

Shinji nodded.

"You... how did you do it?"

Shinji tilted his head in confusion.

"What do you mean?"

"I'm talking about all of this. How did you deal with it? The supernatural and everything that comes with it."

Issei clarified, looking directly at Shinji.

"Is your recent physical change related to all of this?"

"How did you suddenly become so strong?"

Issei finally voiced the questions that had been keeping him up at night (though not for long, since just thinking about Rias and Akeno put him right back to sleep). It was hard to believe that Motohama had been keeping so many things from him and Matsuda all this time.

If he was being honest, he felt a little envious.

Shinji looked up at the sky, contemplating how much he should tell Issei. The Gate was too big of a secret to reveal carelessly, and there was no way he could tell him he was a reincarnate.

Issei felt anxious. He thought Motohama might not answer his questions. And honestly, wasn't that normal? Motohama was someone powerful, someone who already understood the supernatural world, while Issei had only just stepped into it.

After a few seconds that felt like an eternity to Issei, Shinji finally turned to him.

"You see, Ise... Just like you, I only recently learned about all of this. However, my circumstances are completely different from yours. I don't have a Sacred Gear to help me grow stronger. What you see now is simply the result of facing my fears. It's what my determination has forged."

Issei stared into Shinji's eyes. He was so used to seeing him with glasses that looking at them directly felt like a completely new experience.

There was no hesitation or fear in them—just pure sincerity.

Issei took a moment to think.

Determination. Effort.

Words he had heard countless times but had never truly understood beyond the surface.

"If... If you had the chance to completely change your life, but that chance might cost you something... What would you do?"

He asked, his voice filled with uncertainty.

Shinji carefully considered Issei's words.

"...Did the spoiled princess invite you to join her group?"

Issei nodded, a bit embarrassed.

Shinji pondered for a few moments before asking another question.

"Do you feel like this is important enough that you can't give it up?"

"...It's more like... something I can't give up. Now that I'm part of this world too, I want to carve my own path through it. But..."

"You're afraid because there's no turning back, am I right?"

Issei nodded.

Shinji turned his gaze back to the sky, a mysterious smile forming on his lips.

"You know, my grandfather once told me that life is just a series of choices we make as we walk the path called destiny."

His expression grew more serious as he looked back at Issei.

"Make sure you don't regret anything. After all, we won't live forever. So why not go on a little adventure every now and then? It's your life, after all. You get to choose how to live it."

This was his creed.

He had decided to enjoy every moment as he embarked on the adventure that was his current life.

One step at a time, he would shape his own destiny.

Issei remained silent for a few seconds before breaking into a grin.

"You're pretty good with words, you know that? Felt like I was talking to my dad for a second."

"Well, my grandfather was like a father to me. That's why I make sure to remember his teachings."

Shinji replied with the same smile.

"I've made up my mind. I'll carve my own path in this new world and become what I've always dreamed of—a Harem King!"

Issei declared with determination before turning to Motohama.

"Just wait and see. Soon enough, I'll be just as awesome as you. No—even better."

"...This idiot..."

Motohama smiled at Issei's words. He felt like all his worries had been for nothing.

"Then go for it. Show me how hard you'll work to achieve your dream. There's still a long road ahead for both of us, so let's see who reaches the top first."

Even though Shinji's goal of becoming strong enough to never have to worry about the beings of this world couldn't exactly be called a dream, he was sure that along the way, he'd find something he could truly call one.

The two of them locked eyes, flames of determination burning within them, before bursting into laughter like little kids.

Not far from where the two boys were gathered, several figures observed their interaction. Among them, a red-haired girl had a serious expression.

"Something wrong, Rias?"

The question came from the voluptuous black-haired young woman standing beside her.

"I can't say for sure... That boy, Motohama Shinji. He knew we were watching. Not only that, but the information he gave Issei was incomplete. He didn't reveal anything that could give us a clue about how he obtained his powers."

Rias looked deep in thought.

Akeno, on the other hand, turned her gaze toward the two boys laughing together. With each passing moment, this young man intrigued her more and more.

"Do you think his relationship with the Headmaster has anything to do with it?"

Akeno asked.

"I can't say for certain. I don't sense any divine energy or senjutsu around him. Just mana—a very powerful one, at that."

The reply came from the petite white-haired girl standing next to them. Her serious gaze remained fixed on Shinji as she strained to detect any trace of abnormal supernatural energy.

"Well, I suppose everything turned out fine. That means we can leave now."

A voice spoke up—one that didn't belong to any of them.

All three turned to the side.

A short distance away stood Sona, accompanied by Tsubaki and Momo.

"You're only saying that because things worked out better for you, aren't you? Are you mocking me?"

"I don't know what you mean, Rias."

"Don't play dumb, Sona. You have the Black Dragon on your team and this talented young man who seems to be much more than he appears—who also happens to be your fiancé. Meanwhile, all I managed to get was a perverted kid with a support-type Sacred Gear."

Rias huffed in frustration.

"Hm. But that was your decision, wasn't it? We agreed that I would choose first this time. As for Shinji-kun, it wasn't something I planned—it just happened. Besides, no one forced you to try recruiting the boy."

Sona replied calmly, activating a magic circle beneath her feet before disappearing from sight.

Rias fell silent. She had no way to argue against that.

There was no way she would go through all that trouble to recruit the boy only to let him go now. She had to make her offer. Though she had never expected his Sacred Gear to be so... well, let's just say she expected more.

Watching Sona vanish, Rias could only sigh before summoning her own magic circle and disappearing as well.