DxD: DO System Chapter 26

Chapter 26: Back at Granny’s

Issei finally decided it was time for a makeover, focusing mainly on his wardrobe. He ditched his usual mix-and-match clothes—stuff he wore even on casual outings—and opted for something a little more... appealing.

He went for a black undershirt, layered with a light-colored coat, some black gloves —it was cold, after all— and a black scarf wrapped around his neck. He didn't bother with too many accessories, just the Seiko watch his dad had given him. The thing he’d stupidly never worn before.

He also had a small single-strap bag with him, packed with lunch for the trip—which, by the way, he’d already eaten.

But the most noticeable change?

“Ah, I love how fresh the air is here.”

It was his hair. It wasn’t super short, but definitely shorter. Gone was the weird ponytail, replaced with a more layered look. He’d even applied some hair serum, making it smoother and shinier than it had ever been. And, for the first time, he wore sunscreen.

All in all, he was putting in a little more effort to take care of himself. Whether or not he had harem luck, he couldn't just look like he’d rolled out of bed.

‘I remember you complaining about the climb being tiring just last week,’ Ddraig chuckled from within his gauntlet.

‘Yeah, well, I wasn't being trained for the Fallens with my life on the line before that,’ Issei replied with a grin.

Ddraig laughed again, making Issei shake his head as he continued walking.

As he approached, the view ahead became more comforting.

“Issei!” A familiar, cheerful voice rang out. “You came!”

It was his grandmother. She was standing at the entrance, beaming.

Issei couldn’t help but smile back. “As promised.”

He was planning to stay from Friday evening until Sunday evening—definitely a hectic but fun weekend ahead.

“You look different,” she said, giving him a once-over. “Popular with the girls, I assume?”

Issei wasn’t sure how to answer that. He was supposed to have a harem, but he didn’t really see what was so appealing about himself.

‘Almost every one of your predecessors had multiple lovers,’ Ddraig reminded him, making the connection a bit clearer.

“Anyhow, go freshen up,” she continued. “Though I would have preferred you visited for your love and care for me, I’ll accept this reason too.”

“I see it more as a chance to spend time with you and learn from Grandpa Hachiman,” Issei replied smoothly. “It’s not every day you get to learn so much about flowers and gardening, and get the chance to earn from it.”

His excuse—sort of—was that he was learning gardening from Hachiman, who ran a nursery nearby. Hachiman had offered to pay him, knowing he could use an extra pair of hands, especially since not many people wanted to work in such a secluded place with all the hiking and altitude.

“Rest for a bit, have something to eat, and then you can get to work,” his grandmother said, smiling. “But don’t rush out too soon.”

Issei appreciated her care, following her inside and setting his bag on an empty table before heading to freshen up.

As he looked around, he could see how difficult life was for the people who lived here. It was remote, and the only social events came from tourists and hikers. Thankfully, his grandmother had help—mostly in the form of Hachiman's son.

‘Why didn’t the old man have his adopted son help him before?’ Ddraig asked. ‘If he needed an extra hand even before meeting you?’

‘Apparently he didn’t back then,’ Issei explained. ‘Or maybe you forgot when he said his nursery only started expanding recently, and his son started helping Grandma long before I came along?’

Ddraig grumbled. ‘I don’t remember the unnecessary details.’

‘Well, this isn’t unnecessary,’ Issei chuckled. ‘This is one of our best bets for getting stronger, and fast.’

After cleaning up, Issei decided to help his grandmother with some basic chores—despite her insisting she didn’t need any help.

It was a lie. She was getting older, and she needed all the help she could get, but her love for Issei made her reluctant to let him pitch in. Still, he didn’t mind. Helping her out made things easier for her and gave her more free time, enough for them to have an early dinner together.

“I’m glad Hachiman finally has someone to help him with work,” she said. “He never shows it, but he works hard from dawn till dusk, and he never complains.”

Issei listened, intrigued by how someone as powerful as a god of war could live such a peaceful life.

‘How does this whole “god” thing even work?’ Issei asked. ‘Do they not have to actively do their godly duties? How do they have time for regular jobs?’

This question had been bugging him for a while, but he never got a solid answer—at least not until now.

‘Many gods of significance are more like phenomena than physical beings,’ Ddraig explained. ‘Hachiman is a figure, but he’s also an aspect. He embodies the aspect of war in Japan, so his very presence is enough to keep things moving. They only step in directly when there’s a major supernatural event or threat.’

Issei was amused. ‘How does that work? Like, why are there different gods for the same aspect?’

‘Think of it as one big phenomenon made up of many triggers and causes,’ Ddraig elaborated. ‘All gods of war share the same aspect of war, but they’re not strong enough on their own to influence everything, so there are multiple gods for the same aspect. They act more like overseers, ensuring things stay on track.’

After dinner, Issei quickly helped with the dishes, all while continuing his conversation with Ddraig.

‘So, what does that mean?’ he asked.

‘Think about it like this,’ Ddraig continued. ‘If the Japanese Sun God couldn’t act, would the sun stop rising? Or would it suddenly be dark in places like Greece?’

‘No?’ Issei frowned. That didn’t sound right, but it also kind of made sense.

‘Exactly,’ Ddraig said. ‘The gods don’t directly control these phenomena. They’re responsible for maintaining them. They're like watchers who can intervene when things go wrong. So, even if one god can’t act, the others can step in temporarily—though it’s hard for them.’

Issei nodded, getting the idea. It was like a huge company with branches all over the world. Each branch has the same mission and the same powers, but no one branch can handle everything alone.

‘What happens if all the gods with the same aspect are unable to keep things running?’ Issei asked.

There was a long pause. Issei couldn’t see it, but he could tell that Ddraig wasn’t thrilled by the question.

‘Chaos,’ Ddraig finally muttered. ‘Chaos beyond anything humans can comprehend.’

That sounded ominous, and Issei had a feeling it was much worse than he could even imagine. But he didn’t push. Ddraig clearly didn’t want to talk about it.

‘Let’s move on,’ Ddraig said with a sigh. ‘Go meet the God of War. He’s peaceful—ridiculously so, for a god of war—but he’s still the embodiment of violence and wrath. You don’t want to piss him off.’

Issei agreed completely. Hachiman was kind, but he was still a powerful being. Anger was never far away with those kinds of gods.

Issei quickly got ready, swapping into something comfortable—his undershirt, track pants, and a hoodie. Might not be the most stylish, but it was practical for where he was heading.

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[[A/N: A short chapter, Ik.

P.S. My current plans for this story is that I don't want to go beyond the Great Red and Ophis, as in I don't want to involve the Extraterrestrial Arc that the light novel was heading to. Trihexa is the plan, like the ceiling for the plot and beyond that, I want to expand and explore the mythologies of the world —many already mentioned in the story just not explored much. 

So, tell me if you like that idea or want to go beyond Trihexa.]]