Chapter 28 The Small Woods
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
The Pervert Trio didn’t mind the insults; they were used to it. Honestly, was there a single day they weren’t being cursed at by girls? They’d long since become immune to phrases like “get lost” or “you’re disgusting.”
Instead, they just clapped Hakuda Tetsuya on the shoulder and continued their tag-team effort to comfort him.
”We might not be in the same class, but we’re still schoolmates,” one said. “We’ll go to the woods with you and help you give that pretty boy the thrashing he deserves.”
”Exactly! As if having Hamazaki and that lot wasn’t enough, he actually moved in on Shinra-senpai and Himejima-senpai too!”
”Damn it… and the worst part is, he actually succeeded.”
”It really makes you env-I mean, he really needs to die.”
As they talked, the conversation inevitably drifted back to women. It just goes to show: a person might be given the wrong name, but they’re never given the wrong nickname. The Pervert Trio certainly lived up to theirs.
Hakuda Tetsuya wanted to blow up at them, but he restrained himself. I already told you guys to screw off. If you won’t listen, then don’t blame me for what happens. He sneered inwardly. These idiots were essentially delivering themselves as free tools; he might as well use them.
”Fine. After school, we’ll head to the woods together.”
Hakuda forced a smile that looked more like a grimace.
”It’s not like I agreed to go alone anyway. We’re going to teach that pretty boy a lesson.”
He couldn’t fathom why Aki had gone out of his way to expose him or manufacture those slanders. Because Shinra Tsubaki and Himejima Akeno’s intentions were unclear, he had hoped to just let things blow over. But being cornered by the Pervert Trio and comforted like one of their own made his blood boil the more he thought about it.
If he brought three normies¹ with him, then even if Himejima and Shinra did intend to punish him, they’d likely have to show some restraint. And if they weren’t there… if he didn’t leave that pretty boy a broken wreck, he wasn’t Hakuda Tetsuya!
The Pervert Trio, however, were all bark and no bite. They had the lust, but none of the courage. Aside from running their mouths, they were total cowards, let alone capable of a real fight.
”Oh, I almost forgot!” Motohama adjusted his glasses. “I have club activities today. Let Issei and Matsuda go with you.”
Matsuda caught on instantly. “Right! Sorry, I’ve got stuff going on at home. I have to head back right after school. Issei, he’s all yours!”
Hakuda: “…”
As he watched his two “friends” run off faster than rabbits, Hyoudou Issei was left standing there, his mind a complete blank. Just as he started looking for his own excuse to bail, he felt a heavy weight drop onto his shoulder.
Hakuda stared at him with a dark, menacing look. “It’s settled. I’ll come find you after school, and we’ll go deal with that pretty boy together.”
Feeling the grip on his shoulder tighten, Issei realized that if he said no now, he’d be getting a beating before the school bell even rang. He nodded solemnly.
”Good. I’ll see you in your classroom.”
Hakuda let go, his voice low.
”If you run, I’ll be coming to ‘chat’ with you every single day from now on.”
Issei froze. “Don’t worry… I… I won’t run. We’re all in this together… gotta help each other out…”
”Heh. You’d better.”
Hakuda saw right through the act. If the guy tried to flake, he’d just take his frustrations out on him. Thanks to that warning, Issei didn’t dare skip out after school. Going to the woods didn’t guarantee a fight, and even if one broke out, he might not be the target. But if he ran, Hakuda would definitely make good on his threat. That tone hadn’t been a joke.
* * *
The Small Woods
Kuoh Academy was built right into the mountain. Once you moved past the main campus and the Club Activity Building, you were essentially in the middle of a dense wilderness. A magic barrier was maintained here; to a normal person, it looked like a small patch of trees that ended at a wall a few dozen meters in.
In reality, this was the site for the Hidden Academy’s combat drills and special lessons. Since ordinary people couldn’t enter, it was the perfect place for students to settle their grievances.
Aki had been a major topic of gossip lately, so Hakuda had kept tabs on him. A sudden Succubus bloodline awakening, joining the Hidden Academy, and rumors of incredible magical talent. More than that, the rumor that coupling² with him could increase one’s strength had attracted witches and demonesses in droves. Combined with his pretty boy looks, they were more than happy to seek him out. Even elites like Himejima Akeno and Shinra Tsubaki, who possessed both beauty and power, had been charmed by him.
Right after school, Hakuda grabbed Issei. Ignoring his miserable expression, he dragged him through the barrier.
Issei nearly had a heart attack, thinking they were about to walk head-first into a brick wall, but he was yanked through before he could even stop himself. Looking at the unfamiliar forest around him, his face was a mask of pure, bewildered stupidity.
The existence of the Inner World was a secret to the public, though there were no strict rules against revealing it. If it caused too much of a stir, there were specialists to handle the fallout.
Hakuda didn’t bother explaining. Issei was just a pawn; he didn’t care what happened to him afterward.
”Haku… Hakuda…” Issei stammered, looking around helplessly. “Where are we?”
Hakuda didn’t even glance at him. He let out a roar and immediately began to demonize.
His demon bloodline must have been bottom-tier, as the transformation only resulted in his nails growing long and sharp, his muscles bulging, and his face becoming even more hideous. Aki, watching from a distance, didn’t think the change made Hakuda much stronger. But that face? It definitely looked the part of a monster. A real freak.
Transformation complete, Hakuda began searching for his target.
”Pretty boy! I’m here! How long are you going to hide?”
”Compared to a freak like you, everyone’s a pretty boy.”
Aki leaped down from a tree branch.
”I didn’t think you’d actually show up. I guess you’ve got a little backbone after all.”
Hoping the guy might actually show, Aki had been waiting at the favorite hook-up and fight spot since the bell rang. Of course, he wasn’t alone. Shinra Tsubaki and Himejima Akeno had masked their presence with magic and were watching closely.
”Hmph. If it weren’t for those two women…”
Hakuda tried to sense the surroundings. He couldn’t find anyone else, but he was still cautious.
”If you didn’t have Shinra-senpai and Himejima-senpai backing you up, you’d be nothing!”
”Sure, I rely on women. So what?”
Aki sneered, glancing at Issei.
”Still beats bringing a man along for protection. What’s the matter? Couldn’t find any girls to trick, so you started going after ‘cute boys’ instead?”
Hakuda: “…”
He realized that even in a war of words, he was no match.
”Shut up! Where do you get off slandering me? What did I ever do to you?”
—
Summary:
The ‘Pervert Trio’ attempts to comfort Hakuda after his humiliation, ultimately volunteering to join him for a confrontation in the school’s ‘Little Forest.’ However, Motohama and Matsuda quickly abandon Issei, leaving him to be forcibly dragged along as Hakuda’s ‘meat shield.’ They cross a magic barrier into the Inner World, a hidden wilderness where Kuoh Academy’s supernatural students conduct training and settle duels. Hakuda activates his low-grade demon bloodline, undergoing a hideous but underwhelming transformation. Aki reveals himself, having anticipated the ambush, and mocks Hakuda’s reliance on a male companion. The chapter highlights Hakuda’s desperation as he shifts from aggression to a hollow attempt at reasoning after losing the verbal exchange.
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Trivia:
- The ease with which Issei passes through the barrier suggests that either the barrier is specifically tuned to allow Hakuda to bring ‘tools’ or there is more to Issei than being a simple ‘normie’.
- Hakuda’s transformation being described as ‘low-grade’ and ‘hideous’ serves as a visual metaphor for his internal character.
- The mention of ‘specialists’ who handle the fallout of Inner World exposure hints at a larger governing body for the supernatural world
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Character Insight:
Hakuda views his ‘friends’ exclusively as disposable tools, while the Pervert Trio’s loyalty is proven to be non-existent as they flee at the first sign of trouble. Issei is trapped in a hierarchy of bullying, forced to follow Hakuda to avoid immediate violence.
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Lore And Worldbuilding Context:
Introduction of the ‘Inner World’ and the magic barrier at Kuoh Academy. Succubus bloodline abilities are revealed to include power enhancement through coupling.
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TL Notes:
The term ‘Little White Face’ (pretty boy) is maintained as an insult to preserve the flavor of the original text’s focus on appearances and social standing.
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Glossary:
Notes:
• Tetsuya – A third-year student with a monstrous ‘Stage Two’ transformation ability. He is physically imposing but lacks tactical depth.
• Hakuda – A student who attempted a ‘second-stage’ transformation during a fight with Aki. He is described as somewhat of a moron and is currently being interrogated for spreading rumors. A student with high-level networking and hacking skills. He is described as having a ‘pained’ or ‘bitter’ expression and admits to using supernatural powers for illicit activities.
• Himejima Akeno – Akeno Himejima is a senior member of the Occult Research Club in High School DxD. She has long black hair, a graceful aura, and often wears school attire. Known for her elegant, mature beauty, she can generate golden lightning from her palms, possesses an icy temperament when provoked, and hides a sadistic streak behind a kind smile. She is Rias Gremory’s trusted retainer and confidante.
• Shinra Tsubaki – Dark blue hair, refined and calm, constantly beside Sona in student council uniform; from ‘High School DxD’. Vice president, Sona’s ‘Queen’-type retainer, calm and collected, has the ‘Mirror Reflection’ and later ‘Demon Bloodline’ talent.
• Tsubaki – A girl associated with the student council or supernatural groups, appearing after the barrier is lifted. A member of the Student Council who wears glasses. She is composed and assists in investigations using her analytical abilities. The Vice President of the Student Council. She wears a school uniform and maintains a professional, authoritative demeanor while investigating school incidents.
• Akeno – Akeno Himejima is a senior member of the Occult Research Club in High School DxD. She has long black hair, a graceful aura, and often wears school attire. Known for her elegant, mature beauty, she can generate golden lightning from her palms, possesses an icy temperament when provoked, and hides a sadistic streak behind a kind smile. She is Rias Gremory’s trusted retainer and confidante.
• Aki – 16‑year‑old Kuoh Private Academy student, messy black hair, slender, delicate features, black‑rimmed glasses, adopted by Takamine family. Holds succubus/incubus blood, dual‑cultivation that copies talents via fluids and boosts partners’ magic, recently gained muscle. Trained by three girls at Hidden Academy. Newcomer to Inner World, Kuoh Academy pupil who just defeated Tetsuya Hakada, peak D‑rank, candidate for Rias’s peerage, pragmatic, cynical, plotting to seize the Boosted Gear while gatekeeping the original protagonist.
• Motohama – Buzzcut or bald, wears glasses, nerdy type, part of the comic trio; from ‘High School DxD’. Another of Issei’s friends, associated with the pervert group.
• Matsuda – Short spiky hair, glasses, goofy and nerdy appearance; from ‘High School DxD’. Part of Issei’s pervert trio, comic relief.
• Issei – Issei Hyoudou, a brown‑haired, average‑built high‑school student with a mischievous face, is the shocked normal student caught in the crossfire and the potential host of the Boosted Gear. Known as one of the “Three Perverts” for his lecherous antics, he is a comedic pervert from High School DxD.
• Hyoudou Issei – Issei Hyoudou, a brown‑haired, average‑built high‑school student with a mischievous face, is the shocked normal student caught in the crossfire and the potential host of the Boosted Gear. Known as one of the “Three Perverts” for his lecherous antics, he is a comedic pervert from High School DxD.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
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