Hi there, Ishibumi again! We’ve finally reached the end of Volume 17! This time, the story took place at the underworld school! We tried to follow up on various plot points from earlier volumes, so I wonder how many you picked up on? The main focus was on elements from Volume 10 onward.
Now then, it’s time for our customary commentary!
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Let’s start with Rossweisse.
She was the focus this time around, with the story centered on her past and hidden talents. Naturally, as this was a Rossweisse episode, it was her turn to bond with Issei. I struggled for a while on that point, so after discussing it with the editorial team, we decided to make it that she likes Issei but keeps herself at a distance. She’s a little older than our protagonist, but the story would be too repetitive if she acted the same as Rias or Akeno. Moving forward, she’ll probably interact with Issei out of sight of the other members. In a way, that might well be the more strategic option…
The odds of our DxD heroines getting kidnapped are awfully high, aren’t they? It’s practically a prerequisite by this point.
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Next up, Issei’s ultimate technique—Longinus Smasher.
At long last, this ultimate technique has been unleashed. Originally, he could only use it in his Juggernaut Drive form, but thanks to his irregular evolution as the Red Dragon Emperor, he can now activate it safely. It boasts a terrifying level of power, enough to lay waste to the surrounding environment, so its use will be limited to specific situations. I like to think of it as similar to the Mega Smasher from Gundam or the Gundam Virsago’s Mega Sonic Cannon. There sure are a lot of GX references here!
Speaking of which, Issei’s wyvern ability is based on the Psycho Gundam Mk-II’s Reflector Bit.
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Our heroines hold the key.
We now know that Rias might be able to recreate the sealing formula used to imprison Trihexa, significantly increasing her importance to the overall plot. Her powers will no doubt play a key role in future episodes. Additionally, Koneko has mastered a sage arts sealing technique for use against Evil Dragons. And of course, we have Rias’s ultimate technique. The women in our group are really stepping up their game. The spotlight will fall on Irina and Xenovia as the tale continues, and you can bet they’ll be gaining new powers, too.
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Then we have Xenovia’s candidacy, and the passing of the torch in the Occult Research Club.
Xenovia’s strange behavior in the previous volumes was because she decided to run in the student council elections. In fact, she set her sights on the position some time ago. I actually decided on the club’s new president and vice president a while back, so stay tuned for more details on that front. I think you’ll be surprised!
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Now for a little on Euclid.
You might have caught a glimpse of his sister complex back in Volume 14, but Euclid opens up to his sister Grayfia in full at the end of this one. Honestly, I was a little shocked myself while writing his scenes. Issei has finally beaten him to a pulp, but is this really where it all ends for him?!
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The Emperor of Betrayal?
What Emperor Belial said about the last ruler of Rias’s territory actually came up in Volume 3, so if you’re curious, be sure to check it out.
Please note the town Akeno intruded into just before Rias recruited her isn’t the same one Kuou Academy is located in. In other words, Rias’s predecessor is not Agrippa.
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We’ve discovered the ultimate dragon item—Asia’s mighty panties.
Similar to Rias’s magnificent breasts, this rare item can bring out new strength for our Two Heavenly Dragons. Remember, never attempt to replicate Fafnir’s cooking—that’s a recipe for disaster!
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Saji has finally unlocked his Balance Breaker.
However, that armored figure of his is clearly influenced by Issei. We’ll explore his abilities in more detail in future episodes.
Asia and Vice-Chairwoman Shinra are going to need to discover theirs soon, too. I’ve already settled on their superpowered abilities.
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Somehow, the name of the town where our protagonists live hasn’t come up yet. I wonder if it’s time we gave it a proper name? After a whopping seventeen volumes, I’m thinking we might just go with Kuou Town. So there you have it!
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Now, a quick update on me.
As it happens, I fell ill last September. I suffered a hernia in my lower back along with a sciatica, so I’ve been forced to change my writing routine. Since I couldn’t sit in a chair, I wrote most of this one lying on my back—which meant my writing speed ended up dropping to less than a third of what it used to be. Unfortunately, that has affected several projects. I’m going to keep an eye on my health moving forward, making sure to take adequate rest. But don’t worry—I’ll make sure the main story doesn’t fall behind.
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I’d like to express my gratitude to Miyama-Zero and my editor H for their continued support.
Thanks are also due to everyone involved in the anime, the video game, and all the merchandise. I’ve received so many samples—more than I could ever imagine! I’ve reached the point I can’t fit them all in my workspace anymore, so with a heavy heart, I had to pack some of them away in my spare room. I can’t help but hope we might see Issei’s or Vali’s armored forms as figurines, too… I hope that isn’t just a pipe dream!
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The next volume will be an Irina installment! But what’s going to happen next with Emperor Belial…? Xenovia and Asia will be getting involved, so it will be time for our Church Trio to really shine! Volume 18 will focus on the Occult Research Club and its heavenly members, with Team DxD’s leader Dulio scheduled to make an appearance, too! Plus, it’s time Irina powered up from a self-proclaimed angel to a real-life one! Stay tuned!