By Ichiei Ishibumi and Miyama-Zero. Released in Japan by Fujimi Fantasia Bunko. Released in North America by Yen On. Translated by Haydn Trowell.
I am, frankly, irritated that we have another short story volume with Vol. 15 when we already got one with Vol. 13. I get that this is a Fujimi Shobo series, which means there’s always TONS of extra content written for Dragon Magazine, and that fans want to see it compiled (one story in this book is literally said by the author to be “we left it out, but fans complained, so here it is). But still, we’re ready to begin a new vampire-driven arc, and until the last 3 pages of this volume we don’t get that – which means we don’t get it. What we get is a lot more silliness that I didn’t really care for (the magazine stories) and two very good backstories that were written especially for the volume. I get that this is a series driven by fanservice, and that’s what the fans want, but I like what I like, and I like the action and character development more than the “oh no, they’re wearing a silly and sexy costume” stuff.
The wraparound story has Issei and Ravel, hanging at the pool, still trying to decide on a mage. Le Fay is the obvious choice, but sadly she’s still a terrorist. Meanwhile, we get a number of short stories. 1) Leviathan wants to audition for the live-action Magical Girl Milky movie, and cons the rest of the cast into coming in costume as well; 2) we learn how Rias and Akeno first met, when Rias rescued a 12-year-old Akeno from being murdered by her relatives for being part-fallen angel; 3) Irina tells us about the time she, Xenovia and Asia went to Akihabara to buy what turns out to be an eroge for Issei; 4) Akeno asks Issei to join her in going to the Grigori training institute, and Gaspar tags along, and they then learn what sort of training goes on there; 5) Fenrir tells us about their group’s efforts to untraumatize the White Dragon Emperor after it learned about Issei’s fetish; 6) We learn how Rias and Yuuto first met, which is much the same as Akeno’s story, but with more swords.
I enjoyed the two original stories, which work well with the characters and show off how awesome Rias can be, which is something I sometimes forget in this Issei-dominated series. I also, got help me, loved the Irina-narrated story. I’ve made a joke of the fact that a volume focusing on her is happening any day now, because she has gotten – by far – the least attention of the main cast. But this story shows off why the author may be avoiding it – Irina has always sort of been “no thoughts, head empty”, but here we actually see it from her own POV, and it’s kinda hilarious? Less hilarious are the Issei-narrated stories, which mostly depend on him thinking everyone is gorgeous and sexy (the first one), being stunned at the ludicrousness of the “training” the Grigori are doing (the second one) or being a loud, annoying tsukkomi (both of them).
Next time we should – finally – get the vampire arc. Till then, the good news is I think this is the last short story volume for some time.
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