Dog God of The Fallen - SLASHDØG - Vol 2

Table of Contents
Illustrations
Prologue
Chapter 1: Restart/New Life
Chapter 2: Practice/ Sacred Treasures
Chapter 3: Outing/Contact
Chapter 4: Seiryuu/Suzaku
Chapter 5: Four Fiends/Third Person, Fourth Beast
Satanael/Barakiel
Chapter 6: Eternal Ice PrincessAbsolute Demise/Crucifixion by the
Purple Flame High PriestIncinerate Anthem
Chapter 7: Distorted Blade Dog God of Luminous Night Sky -Night
Celestial Slash Dogs-
Convictor/Sword Enthusiast Teacher and Student
Final Chapter: Companions/Strength in Unity
Vanishing Dragon/Beyond the Balance Breaker
Origin of Calamity/To Infinity
Afterword
Prologue
I cannot protect everything.
Therefore, I will absolutely protect those precious people within arms
reach.
If it’s for the sake of that, I will slay everything.
That girl, she disliked puppet shows. No, she was disgusted by them.
Standing behind the puppet, the puppet maker was making a series of
movements to manipulate it using the strings, but nothing resembling good
feelings came from that.
The reason had been clear. From as far back as the girl could remember
a cold apparition had appeared in her immediate vicinity.
Anger, joy, sadness, whenever the girl’s mind and body were enwrapped
with such human emotions, that the cold apparition of ice would appear with
absolute certainty——.
When it appears, it was always from beside the girl or from behind her.
Even if the girl spoke to it, even if the girl shouted at it, the ice apparition,
far from expressing any emotions, didn’t offer up even a single word. On the
contrary, it didn’t so much as tremble. Quite simply, it was just there. For her
who was ranting and raving about the apparition, her childish mind found that
dolls, which were similar to the apparition, to be completely detestable.
For that reason, she disliked puppet shows. Because she’d end up feeling
as though the ice apparition was manipulating her with invisible strings——.
Even if she spoke to her loveable parents about the apparition, thinking it
was a joke of their daughter’s, merely a delusion of childhood, they didn’t
pay any serious attention to it. Most frighteningly, the ice apparition would
be standing beside her parents’ bed when they were sleeping at night. It
watched her father and mother’s faces with a silent gaze. Fearing that it
would make her parents disappear, the girl completely despised the ice
apparition.
Then one year, when the girl was nine years old, a tragedy occured.
Page 1 Goldenagato | https://mp4directs.com

She lost both her parents simultaneously——.
Having worked together at the same place, her parents were caught up in a
mysterious accidental explosions at their workplace…….
She couldn’t remember exactly what happened after that. Being informed
of the death of her parents, completing the funeral service, being unable to
find relatives who could care for her going forward……. All the girl
remembered was that, in her profound misery, she came to embrace complex
emotions towards the ice apparition.
By the time she noticed, she was in the home of an unfamiliar old woman
who was wearing a plain smile.
The old woman——was a witch, a magician. On top of believing in the
girl’s ice apparition, she instructed her in regards to the apparition.
——I will teach you magic.
Displaying a gentle expression, the old woman taught the girl, who was
accompanied by the apparition, a miraculous power——magic.
The old woman would address the girl whenever she would distance
herself from the apparition.
——Listen, Lavinia. You mustn’t be afraid of your own power.
The old woman who was teaching the girl named Lavinia——her witch
master, always spoke tenderly to her pupil who feared her own power.
——Magic is a miraculous power can bring happiness to everyone, and
concerning that puppet of ice——————.

Chapter 1: Restart/New Life
Part 1
That place——was darkness.

Without any light, it was a jet blackness without any impurity where not a
sound could be heard——.
His eyes should be open and yet it was dark, he should have been
carefully listening and yet not even the smallest sound could be heard.
Even if he moved his finger he couldn’t feel anything. No, to begin with,
whether he was even moving his finger, whether his finger was even moving,
he couldn’t sense even that——.
Noticing that he couldn’t hear even his own heartbeat, he——Ikuse Tobio
pondered whether he was hallucinating of his own death but…….
Together with a snapping sound sound like that of having received an
electric shock, he was assaulted by sharp pain throughout his entire body
along with a feeling like his nerves were being scrapped.
Shutting his eyes in pain, when he next opened them——light had spread
before his eyes. A white arm reached out from in front of him.
It seemed to him that the arm was of someone familiar. The arm of
someone holding out a hand to him as though to pull him up. To seize it,
Tobio stuck out his own right arm but——. His right arm, it was jet black.
The black arm did not appear at all to be that of a human——. Being
covered with black body hair, having the nails of the five fingers be
completely sharp, it was like that of a beast’s.
Tobio touched his hand to his own face. For the first time, what he sensed
there was something utterly foreign when compared to his own face.
A protruding mouth, ears that rose to a point, and his whole face was
covered with hair the same as his arm.
The arm of somebody reaching out from the light——was gradually
getting further away. Tobio hurriedly reached out to seize the arm, but there
was no indication of it reaching.

As it was, he did not seize that person’s hand. Something, if there was
something he could do to reach it……!
Thinking this much, what crossed his mind was a distorted protuberance.
If he were to consider it, it would seem that something would grow out of his
arm. With that he should be able to reach that hand.
——That’s no good. If I extend that protuberance, that Blade, I’ll cut that
person’s hand.
For shortening the distance with that receding important person, only that
disgusting blade——.
Suddenly that voice whispered close to his ear.
‘——Your blade, it reaches just about anything. However, your blade, it
wounds everything——’
That voice, it finished speaking by ridiculing him.
‘——After all, you have already ceased being human.’
Part 2
——Morning.
At the time he woke up, Tobio was sweating to an unusual degree.
Raising just his upper body, he meaninglessly took in the view of the
room. His breathing was wild, and his heart was also beating violently. He
realized his entire body was shivering.
He had surprised the black dog that had been sleeping curled up in the
center of the room, namely his partner «Jin».
At first he had been a puppy, however during the incident a few days
before he had been a splendid mature large dog. Naturally, this was through
quite a different method than the usual one…….
While taking a deep breath, Tobio covered his face with his hand. Drops
of water got on his hands. They were tears.
——Just what was that dream…….
A nightmare that was like a vision beyond comparison. Calming his
breath, with the beating of his heart returning to normal, he took a single
large deep breath.
——Let’s get out of bed.
Deciding this, Tobio started to get up and removed the thin covers.
Suddenly his hand touched something. ——It was, squishy.

Hm? Tobio became aware of a mysterious softness being transmitted from
his hand. Having a suspicion, he shifted his gaze to the area beside him on the
bed.
“Uun……”
…………
In an instant, Tobio’s thoughts soared.
Odd. It was so odd. A girl was sleeping next to him. Her figure was one
garbed in only a single white undershirt. What burst into his healthy young
male eyes was a pair of dangerously white bare legs.
——It was Minagawa Natsume.
She was a girl he was familiar with. However, it was odd. Since she ought
to be sleeping in a different room in the same apartment building. Wondering
if he was still half-asleep himself, he shook his head. He also rubbed his eyes
while he was at it.
Blinking his eyes, for the second time he checked who it was who was
sleeping next to him.
“Just a minute heree……, why are you taking iiit……”
Speaking complaints while sleeping, she pulled the thin covers that had
been removed back over herself.
No no, you wait just a moment. You entered my room without me
noticing? No, that’s not it. The issue is why this girl has climbed into my bed.
Calm down, calm down me! Just take a great deep breath just like before.
It’s no good——. I can’t calm down. Being next to a girl in the
captivating form of a white undershirt, for Tobio who is of that age it’s a
sight for sore eyes——not that, it’s poisonous. Since the hair that she always
wears up has been let down, it gives off a sexy impression. Moreover, it’s
somewhat disheveled. It seems she was tossing and turning in her sleep.
Tobio shook the shoulder of the girl sleeping next to him.
“H-Hey. Wake up I say.”
“……Uh. Come on, just a bit more……. After all, yesterday was munya
munya……”
Yesterday was what!? Did I do something yesterday!? No matter how
many times I wrack my brain, I can’t remember a thing. ……Let me just get
changed and then held to the apartment building’s communal floor. Let’s do
that.
Slipping out of bed ever so slowly, Tobio moved to in front of the closet.

Taking off his sleep wear while letting out a sigh, it happened just as he
was taking out his clothes.
The intercom made a ‘pin pon’ sound. ——And, at the same time, without
missing a beat, his ears detected the door to the entranceway opening with a
clank.
“Yoo, Ikuse, you getting up?”
Samejima! It was Samejima Kouki who was living in the same apartment
building. His great voice could be heard from the entranceway. All at once
unpleasant sweat was spurting out of his entire body.
“Hm? What, so you haven’t gotten up yet. So be it. Then I’ll start by
waking you up.”
Together with Samejima’s voice, the sound of loud footsteps advancing
could be heard from the corridor.
“I came together with Shark since you are being slow.”
Even Lavinia’s voice could be heard! Somehow or another, the magical
girl Lavinia had also come to visit Tobio’s room along with Samejima.
“Hey, is Minagawa Natsume not in her room or something? Rather than
that, why do I got to do kid’s errands……”
Even the silver-haired boy——Vali had come!?
Wait! Just wait there! This is bad! Minagawa Natsume is sleeping in my
bed! Moreover, it’s at the precise moment when I’m half naked from
changing out of my sleep wear!
If this spectacle were to be seen, I wouldn’t know what to say about it!
“For Tobio, it’s rare that he has problems in the morning.”
——!! T-This voice is the voice of his childhood friend Sae!! Not just
Samejima and Lavinia, even the one person who mustn’t see this had come
along as well!?
“Uun……. Fuhaa……. Geez, don’t raise your voices so much in the
morning.”
As though it was the final blow, the voice of the one who had woken up
was heard from behind him.
In his current state of having removed his sleep wear——the half-naked
Tobio turned his head, and his gaze met with that of Natsume who had raised
only her upper body from the bed.
As Tobio’s facial expression was twitching,
“……………”

Natsume’s state was one of a frozen expression from being unable to
swallow the present situation.
She visually compared the half-naked Tobio with the state she herself was
in. Slowly returning to the clothes she had slept in, her face gradually turned
red. Suddenly, grabbing the thin sheet, she covered half of her face. Ever so
fleetingly glancing in Tobio’s direction, she hid her face with the thin sheet in
embarrassment.
Eh? What’s with that reaction…….
If it had been the her he usually sees, he would expect her to have raised
an angry voice and thrown a pillow at him. At the unexpected reaction from
Natsume, Tobio was also perplexed.
“So this is, a sleep assault……”
Natsume let out a slightly disappointed chuckle.
No no no no.
“T-That’s not it! That is——”
“No. I don’t blame you Ikuse-kun. You are of that age after all. I’ve heard
after all that, for a boy, there are some things they just can’t control……”
This young woman, she had managed to completely misunderstand…….
This was an extremely awkward development.
“Just a, no no. That’s not it I say——”
Wanting to explain, Tobio unconsciously approached Natsume while in
his half-naked state.
“Yo—! Tobio—!”
The boy who with the appearance of a delinquent who opened the door
with a vigorous bang——Samejima Kouki, had his smiling face solidify
upon seeing the situation inside the room.
She whose face was blushing while on the bed, and him who was
approaching her who was on the bed while half-naked.
From a third-person perspective, they’d all think the same thing when
shown something like this.
“……Ah. Ah—, did I interrupt?”
The expression of Samejima, who was using polite speech that usually his
mouth never uttered, was so idiotic as to be unsuited to his aggressive look.
As for the one who entered after him——.
“What’s the story with Ikuse Tobio? I’ll be needing breakfast soo……”
It was Vali, but the moment he tried to see the current situation, the

person who was standing behind him——Lavinia covered his eyes with her
hands.
“? Hey, I can’t see anything?”
“A scene like this is too soon for Vah-kun.”
“What? It’s no good even for I who carry the blood of a Maou? Is that
so……”
And then, the last one to enter——.
“……Tobio?”
It was Sae——.
……Ah, aah, aaaaah……. The number one person who shouldn’t see this
situation had seen it. Tobio covered his face with his hands. He couldn’t
come up an excuse.
——For Tobio’s first day, this was the worst possible start.
Part 3
That day’s breakfast was something unpleasant.

In a vacant room in the apartment building that anyone could enter, Tobio
was sighing with his face having been dyed a deep red, and meanwhile the
appearance of Minagawa Natsume was similarly one of having a flushed
face.
Natsume in particular was feeding the falcon that was perched on her
shoulder. Her falcon was named Griffon.
Sitting opposite the pair, Samejima, while sinking his teeth into the bread
that was for breakfast, was alternatingly comparing the pair of Tobio and
Natsume.
On Samejima’s lap, a white cat was curled up asleep having already
finished its meal. His cat was Byakusa.
Lavinia was quietly sipping her soup while Vali——was stuffing his face
with a loaf of bread that had been filled with ham and eggs that had been
mixed with sauce, mayonnaise, and ketchup.
When i had been the morning of a holiday, everyone had been wearing
household clothing. For Tobio it had been a T-shirt up top with shorts down
below, for Natsume it had been a camisole and hot pants, Samejima had also
been in shorts like Tobio, but had had a tank top on his upper half. Natsume
had let down her hair from its usual up style she always wore. According to

Samejima, this had given her a “birdish looking head.” She had raged against
this saying “Are you saying I’m birdbrained!?” though……
Lavinia had been in casual clothes, and Vali had been dressed in a T-shirt
and shorts, with the same muffler as usual on his neck.
Specifically for Lavinia and Vali, their appearances were currently the
same as their usual ones. It seemed that they had stockpiled several identical
sets of clothing.
A period of strange silence continued for those five. The clattering of
spoons and forks was greatly audible.
Perhaps being unable to endure this atmosphere, Samejima opened his
mouth as his temple was twitching.
“Isn’t this good enough already. It seems that it was a misunderstanding.
Isn’t it the case that nothing happened in Ikuse and Minagawa’s room?”
Samejima had already been given an explanation for that scene.
As a result of regularly seeing Natsume, an absent mindedly hurried
young woman, the diligent Tobio had understood with just the single
statement of “It’s a misunderstanding.”
Uncomfortably, Natsume——sent a fleeting gaze over towards Toujou
Sae.
“……That’s not the problem. I think it was truly abominable for Toujou-
san……”
Sae and Tobio’s gazes——met. Immediately both their faces were
blushing. It seemed that Natsume was being considerate of Tobio and Sae,
but despite being childhood friends, as it was the two of them weren’t facing
each other and were simultaneously feeling embarrassed.
Samejima chewed on his cheek.
“Well, for a man, isn’t one or more affairs just fine? Even you, Ikuse,
wouldn’t you want to get close with several girls?”
Like so, he readily replied.
DOGAH! That was the sound of the chop of Natsume, who had been
leaning against the table, striking the top of Samejima’s head. As Samejima
was grasping his head that had been chopped, Natsume stammered with her
head in her arms.
“ARE YOU A FOOL! Goodness, you went and said that in front of these
two! Uuh! It’s not like that, I swear it’s not like that Ikuse-kun, Toujou-san!
Yesterday, I got up to go to the toilet late at night! The next thing I knew, I

was in Ikuse-kun’s bed——”
Having spoken to that extent she covered her face with both hands in
embarrassment.
“Now I can’t be a bride!”
“W-Wait. Doesn’t that completely make it seem as though I’m the bad
guy?”
As one would expect even Tobio objected to this.
“Then again, going to the bathroom, only to then slip into the bed of a guy
in a different room, that ain’t no ordinary feat. Furthermore after today is
when we start attending that mock school.”

While rubbing the place where he’d been chopped, Samejima who was
feeling on edge spoke.
“Shut up shut up shut uuupp! You who rides around on his bike all year
round can’t talk!”

“Whazzat you say!”
Somehow or another, today also started with an early morning battle
between Natsume and Samejima. Moreover, they didn’t even take heed of
Tobio’s objection.
Tobio sighed as a result of feeling astonished. As he looked over in Sae’s
direction——she, watching Natsume and Samejima’s argument, laughed ever
so slightly.
……The misunderstanding had been resolved then. Well, their
relationship was one of having spent time together since they were kids. With
Sae, Tobio could be relieved since she understood him better than anyone.
At Tobio’s feet, the large black dog——Jin had just finished his meal. He
had slurped down one kilo of boiled chicken tenderloin that had been
prepared for him. Since he was a large dog after all, it was normal that he’d
be able to eat a meal of this quantity. Furthermore he would have this amount
twice between the morning and evening. ……Tobio understood that a meal
of such a size was abnormal but…….
When they’d first met, Jin had been quite small, but in such a short time
he’d become this big——. Tobio had stopped feeling that what had befallen
him was such a bizarre experience.
Since the preceding incident——the battle against the ‘Utsusemi[1]
Agency’, two months had passed. The four of them, Tobio, Sae, Natsume,
and Samejima, who had been wrapped up in that incident, after it suddenly
ended, they met again in this apartment building, and a new life had started
for them.
For Tobio and the others, having come into contact with this country’s
darkness, not to mention the world of the supernatural and fantastic, they
couldn’t expect to return to their original lives. Relying on the organization
that was currently looking after them——the ‘
Grigori
Watchers of the Children of God‘, Tobio and the others had dropped out of
the schools they had been attending.
For about two months since then, while living on standby in the apartment
building, they had been engaging in self-study.
Sae and Samejima had borne injuries from that incident, however, also
due to the support of the Grigori, they had displayed favorable resilience——
no, resilience that was beyond expectations, and they had already become

capable of conducting themselves in their daily lives without issue. For
Samejima, due to being a possessor of an independent avatar type sacred
gear, it seemed that his resilience had been bolstered by conforming with
Byakusa, or so they’d been told by the organization.
As for Sae’s case……from previously having the the black lion dwelling
in her, they had been informed that there may have been some kind of
influence on her physical body. They weren’t aware of any side effects
resulting from the techniques the ‘Utsusemi Agency’ had employed on the
other participants, and so it was still necessary for her to be examined daily
by the Grigori. It would be nice if it remains uneventful but……such was
Tobio’s sole desire for tranquility.
In the midst of this, it had been decided that today Tobio and the others
were going to be brought by someone from the Grigori to the institution——
Nephilim
referred to as ‘The Fallen Ones‘, an institution attended by children who
possessed sacred gears, where they would shown around.
This apartment building itself was also a student dormitory for students of
that this institution. Tobio hadn’t yet seen any residents aside from
themselves. However, from the way the comunal floor was being used, there
were clearly people other than themselves living there.
As they had been informed in an earlier conversation, it had been decided
that Tobio and the others would be enrolling a class called ‘Barakiel
Classroom’.
He met Sae’s gaze. Sae, at the look from Tobio, felt uneasy about her own
appearance.
“……As expected, these clothes are a bit strange.”
Regarding what Sae, who has spoken such words, was wearing——it was
the Nephlim uniform provided by the Grigori. Not just Sae, Tobio, Natsume,
and Samejima had also dressed in the Nephilim uniform.
It was a uniform with a considerable design style. The underlying color
was blue……but rather than that, what concerned Tobio and the others was
how the design was a slight departure from the norm.
Rather than a school uniform, it was more like the of uniforms of boys
and girls belonging to special countermeasure organizations like those
middle and high school students seen in manga and anime. At a glance, it
looks like nothing more than cosplay.

For this even Natsume and Samejima stopped their quarrel to voice their
opinions. Standing up from her place, Natsume held the hem of her skirt.
“Certainly, the skirt is a little bit short.”
Catching a glimpse of the healthy thighs of a female high school student
that the skirt offered a peek of, Tobio ended up averting his gaze.
Also putting a finger into his uniform’s collar, Samejima acted all
bothered.
“Geez, so casual wear just ain’t no good huh. This is extremely formal for
me.”
Everyone seemed to feel the same way. For Tobio……though he would
also have preferred an ordinary uniform, rather than that he had felt delight at
being able to study even after falling down to such a level as this.
In this supposed ‘classroom’ of Nephilim, it was possible to study
normally like students——or so he was informed. For that he was grateful.
Even if their lives as ordinary humans had been snatched away, he still
wanted to obtain an education like an ordinary human. With this his
knowledge to drop below the average compared to that of other children the
same age as him.
However, what they’d be learning wasn’t limited to just that.
——According to what he’s been told, they’d be learning about the
proper way to make use of sacred gears, as well as ways to battle supernatural
power users and irregular beings.
Having been bestowed with such irregular powers themselves, this wasn’t
something they could ignore. Unless they could master them, even this
current lifestyle could be destroyed. This alone they wanted to avoid. Since
they had finally overcome that kind of experience to obtain tranquility——.
Indeed, by surmounting so many obstacles and tragedies, Tobio and the
others were here now.
Since then, the remnants of the Utsusemi Agency and those magicians
cooperating with them——’The Wizards of Oz’, hadn’t come to attack them.
However, that this was the end……was not what it seemed to be.
This was a temporary reprieve. On this everyone’s opinions were in
agreement.
There were also the other surviving students other than themselves——
the Four Fiends. By chance, it was possible they were fighting the enemy
even right now.

Thinking that way, they couldn’t help but to feel guilty about the
tranquility even if it was temporary.
However, Tobio had cherished this calm period. That which he had lost
had been immense, but that he had obtained was also immense. It was
certainly because of this situation that he had met Natsume, Samejima,
Lavinia, and Vali. More than anything else he was even once again laughing
with Sae. He wanted to cherish this environment.
As Tobio was thinking over this once again, Sae raised her hand.
“Though I was thinking of making curry for this evening, are there any
ingredients everyone wants added in, or else something you can’t handle?”
Sae had started living here together with Tobio and the others. She had
been living separately from her parents who had been rescued.
Since Sae’s family had also taken part in that incident they were in the
position of not leading ordinary lives. Receiving the Grigori’s cooperation,
they were living new lives under altered identities in a remote region
untouched by evil influence.
This was also done for the other students and their family members who
were rescued from the research institution. Under the supervision of the
Grigori, they were now living peaceful lives somehow. The Grigori had
altered a portion of their memories but……what’s most important is that
they’re living without issues, is what Tobio thought.
From among them, Toujou Sae had wanted to accompany Tobio and the
others. She was still living while relying on a cane, however she was healthy
aside from that. For the group of Tobio and the others, she was the primary
person in charge of cooking.
Natsume raised her hand.
“Ah, I’d like fukujinzuke[2] and rakkyou[3] for a garnish if it’s not an
issue.”
“Apart from the standard I’d say it’s fine with nothing else,”
So said Samejima. For him, rather than exquisite cooking, he preferred
familial flavors. On this point he was quite compatible with Sae’s cooking (as
well as Tobio’s cooking). As a juvenile delinquent, he hadn’t complained
even once about Sae’s cooking.
Lavinia also raised her hand.
“Something sweet is fine by me.”

Sae collected everyone’s opinions.
“Yes, I got it. Something sweet for Tobio as well right. We always end up
making two pans simultaneously.”
Vali suddenly spoke after having drank his milk.
“Curry’s not anything to fuss over in particular, but I would at least like
you to stir in some medium-fine Chinese noodles.”
Natsume retorted at Vali.
“Even though it’s curry, just how do Chinese noodles fit in?”
“Fuh, it seems you are unaware, Minagawa Natsume. When you add curry
to medium-fine boiled noodles it becomes curry ramen. With the curry
powder mixing with the curled noodles, it is considerably appetizing.”
“For Vah-kun, he puts noodles in even in stew.”
It was Lavinia who said this.
……So Vali puts noodles in even in curry and stew huh. Come to think of
it, Tobio had experienced him having asked “Are there no noodles?” when
they had previously made curry or stew.
Samejima blew out a ‘bufuh’ sound.
“Lucidra-sensei is consistently on about noodles noodles noodles.
Because of the strange nutritional balance, that must be why he’s so small.”
Vali was dissatisfied with this.
“Mumuh! Samejima Kouki, I should have told you to stop saying Lucidra
already.”
Natsume also shrugged her shoulders at Vali’s taste.
“No no, udon with leftover curry, spaghetti with leftover stew……if it’s
those sorts of things I’m aware of it.”
“A connoisseur would throw in Chinese noodles.”
Throwing out his chest with an ‘ahem’, the silver haired boy was
continuing to speak of noodles……but suddenly sensing a presence behind
him he raised some gossip without even turning his head around.
“Well well, it’s unusual for you to come here in the morning. ——
Azazel.”
Everyone’s gaze converged on a single point.
Without anyone realizing, a man in a suit had come in and had willfully
opened the room’s refrigerator. It appeared to have been of the worn-out
expensive sort. As for the man, popping the lid on a carbonated drink PET
bottle that had been in the refrigerator, he was gulping it down.

Sitting down at an empty seat at the table, he surveyed everyone present.
“Yo, young ladies and gentlemen.”
“Governor-General Azazel!”
Natsume had been surprised at the entrance of the man——the Grigori’s
Governor-General Azazel. Since his entrance had been sudden, not only
Natsume, Tobio, Sae, and Samejima had also been surprised.
As for Vali and Lavinia, they showed no sign of surprise and appeared to
be calmly accepting Azazel…….
Azazel inquired of Tobio and the others.
“How’s the flavor? Excuse me, if I may request two slices of bread,
Toujou Sae.”
Azazel asked Sae for the bread. Unconsciously replying “Y-Yes,” Sae
placed two slices of bread into the toaster.
Vali inquired of Azazel.
“For you to expressly show up at the meal table, is that to say that you
have some sort of business?”
While gulping down the carbonated drink, Azazel spoke.
kimitachi
“Well, that’s also the case, but it’s merely you all——that’s seems
omaetachi
unnecessarily distant. ‘You guys’ should be fine[4]. There’s also me wanting
to have some skinship with you guys. Hey, isn’t today the day you move in?
Well, I am in the position of running this institution. Isn’t it fine to have such
morning interactions with transfer students?”
Azazel came into contact with them in a friendly manner.
He wasn’t a hateful person. The guidance given to Tobio as well as to
Natsume and the others, as well as the students of Ryoukuu, it was
undoubtedly the kindness of this man. This being the case, even eating with
Sae who was living, it was because of Azazel’s cooperation.
However, he couldn’t perceive it——. His true motivations was the one
truth he still couldn’t grasp. For him to have come here like this, perhaps
there was something behind this “skinship”. This man’s true motive was
completely imperceivable.
Azazel had produced a booklet from his breast pocket. It was familiar to
Tobio and the others. For checking out ‘Nephilim’, it seemed that this was
the so-called ‘enrollment guidebook’.
Azazel flipped through the guidebook with one hand.

“Just in case, have you looked it over?”
Tobio, Sae, and Natsume nodded. Samejima had averted his eyes…….
To summarize what was written in the guidebook, it was about the kind of
place ‘Nephilim’ was, the kind of people who attended it, and what was
taught there. After that, it was also written there about the oath to be followed
by those living in the institution, as well as the penalty for breaking that oath.
Having been written out in excessively other-worldly language, though it
wasn’t Vali, it ended up seeming like the literary work settings written by a
boy with second-year-of-junior-high-sickness. However, that place was now
their everyday world——.
Compared with the lives they’d been enjoying until just a short time
before, this was like being plunged into a world that was completely cut off
from their earlier lives.
Having acknowledged the response from Tobio and the others, Azazel
displayed a grinning smile.
“If so then fine. Well, you can ask a staff member if there’s anything you
don’t understand.”
There was a sound that the bread in the toaster had been baked. Sae
delivered it to Azazel.
Azazel spoke while chewing it.
“Once I’ve eaten, I’ll teach you the way to get to ‘Nephilim’.”
Like that, breakfast (with a strange atmosphere swirling about) continued
along with Azazel.
Part 4
Having finished breakfast, Tobio and the others, carrying their bags, had
made preparations for the school commute.
Following Azazel who had been waited for them on the first floor of the
apartment building, on top of not exiting the building, they were heading
towards the apartment building’s elevator.
Despite feeling suspicious, the travel group of Tobio and the others
continued following Azazel.
Before entering the elevator, Azazel handed over something like black
colored ID cards.
“These are ID cards exclusive for authorized personnel……well, if it from

the perspective of you guys they’re your student cards.”
Tobio took one. While the black card had no picture, it did have letters on
it that were unreadable to Tobio.
Azazel, before embarking on the elevator, prompted Tobio and the others
to get on. The sacred gears of Tobio and the others——their partners Jin,
Griffon, and Byakusa also accompanied their masters. Jin was at Tobio’s
side, Griffon was on Natsume’s shoulder, and Byakusa was at Samejima’s
feet.
However, Lavinia and Vali didn’t board the elevator.
Lavinia spoke.
“Since I’m not a student there, we will not be going there together.
However, I will be coming together with Vah-kun later to observe.”
“Well, it would be good if you were to become accustomed to the strange
area before we come.”
Vali spoke with his usual ‘fufun’ as part of his impertinent attitude.
“Well then, see you later.”
As soon as Azazel had said his farewell to Lavinia and Vali, the elevator
door shut.
Without pressing any of the buttons inside, Azazel held the ID cards from
earlier in front of a certification device that was below the buttons.
Subsequently, without delay the elevator——was going down.
When they had boarded, they’d been on the first floor. For them to be
descending even with that being the case——.
“This apartment building actually has a basement.”
Samejima was smiling bitterly.
Somehow or another, there were plenty of devices in this apartment
building that they were unaware of.
However, even Tobio had been aware of the existence of the certification
device in the elevator. Each and every time he rode the elevator it had
concerned him. He couldn’t possibly have imagined that it was for the sake
of going to the basement.
It had been tens of seconds since they had gotten on. The elevator was still
descending. Even Tobio realized that it this wasn’t the level for a basement.
The number that showed the floor, it had stopped functioning as a result of
not knowing there exact position.
From among those on board, Natsume spoke to Azazel.

“Hey, Governor-General! Is it alright if I ask a question?”
“Sure, Minagawa Natsume-kun, what it is?”
You, the Governor-General, you name is Azazel correct? Isn’t that also
the name of a fallen angel that appears in the Bible?”
Indeed, that had been something Tobio was also concerned about. He——
Azazel had introduced himself as an angel who had fallen, a fallen angel.
Based on Tobio’s repeated investigations, the name Grigori was written in
myths——which were related to the Old Testament. In there, it was written
that the Grigori leader was also named Azazel.
“Yeah, that’s right.”
Azazel calmly confirmed it.
……The man before their eyes, he was an existence on the mythological
level, and the boss of the fallen angel organization……. Natsume gave a
delighted “Whoa”, but Tobio felt an indescribable fear.
Even as they were having that conversation, the elevator finally arrived.
What was there as the door opened——was an open white space. The
ceiling was high, it was horizontally long, and its depth was considerable.
Subsequently, the floor at Azazel’s feet opened, and some kind of machine
rose up from below.
It resembled an automatic ticket machine like those from station ticket
barriers.
Azazel spoke while waving the card in his hand.
“This is one of the gates leading to ‘Nephilim’. Watch closely. I’ll go
through first, so you head through by copying me.”
While speaking, Azazel held his card in front of the machine. A green
lamp on the machine displayed an arrow. Azazel went past the ticket machine
——and disappeared while enveloped in a faint light!
Azazel, who had been there until just a moment ago, had completely
vanished! They immediately realized that is was a special power of the ticket
machine…….
“Heh, how interesting.”
Natsume was full of glee at this phenomenon that had occurred before
them. Heading in front of the ticket machine, she unhesitatingly imitated
Azazel from just before and held her card in front of the machine. After that,
as she passed by——as before, Natsume also vanished while enveloped in
light.

“Guess we just gotta go huh.”
While exhaling, Samejima proceeded after Natsume.
Nodding to each other, Tobio and Sae pursued Natsume and Samejima
——.
|
Passing the ticket machine, he was awaiting being enveloped by the light
from before——.
What appeared before Tobio’s eyes——was someplace inside of a
building.
Different from the space from before, what appeared to be the building’s
interior had a lustrous black interior design. He checked in front of him,
where there was a long passageway leading deeper inside. As he looked to
the side, there were ticket machines lined up to the left and right, and when
he glanced behind, there as well was a long passageway stretching deeper
inside. With a high ceiling, he could tell that the buildings interior occupied a
huge space.
“Alright, everyone’s here then. Welcome to ‘Nephilim’.”
Having finally arrived, Azazel spoke these words welcoming Tobio and
the others.
Natsume, Samejima, and Azazel, having passed the ticket gate machine
first, were waiting……and there was one other, a tall man who was standing
there. He had a good physique and muscular features. Even Tobio and the
others could perceive from his presence that he was no ordinary person.
Having noticed their concern over the man’s presence, Azazel introduced
him.
“You’re thinking he’s the one put in charge of your guys’ training huh.
That’s exactly right, I requested that of this person who is presently an off
duty member of my staff. This guy is a part of the Grigori management, and
his name——is Barakiel.”
The man——the man referred to as Barakiel, took a step forward.
“I’ll be in your care if you’ll please.”
It was a simple greeting. ……But, the man was staring fixedly at Tobio.
It was bothering Tobio but……the man named Barakiel,
“Sorry, your face was a little like someone I’m familiar with. Pay it no
mind.”
He gave such a two line apology.

However, this person was ‘Barakiel’……. Given the name ‘Barakiel
Class’, this person would be Tobio and the other’s…….
Slapping Barakiel’s back, Azazel spoke to everyone.
“So with that, for the near future starting from today you’ll be looking to
Barakiel here for your instruction. Since you’ll also be depending on him for
guidance within the institution, well, you should get used to the lifestyle here
pretty soon.”
Like this, the new lifestyle——or perhaps ordeal of Tobio and the others
had started.
References
[1]Utsusemi means cast-off cicada shell

[2]vegetables pickled in soy sauce
[3]Japanese leeks
[4]Azazel changes the word he uses for ‘you’. Best as I can tell, the
former is a somewhat familiar way of addressing people while the latter is a
more coarse or rough form of address

Chapter 2: Practice/ Sacred Treasures
Part 1
Since Tobio and the others had come to the Grigori training institution
Nephilim
——’The Ones Who Have Fallen‘, half a month had passed.

As for what they were learning while commuting there, beginning from
general education, they were simultaneously taught everything about the
supernatural and fantastical beings that existed in this world.
Naturally, Nephilim was not an official school. Tentatively, there were
several classes and scores of boys and girls who wear enrolled here, but for
sake of Tobio and the others who had just entered this world they had to
acquire this knowledge first. Seeing how they will be living from now on,
they must at minimum be aware of the supernatural and the fantastical. For
that reason, after they began by greeting the students who were studying at
this institution, Tobio and the others were gathered together in a distinct
class.
Concerning supernatural powers, primarily it was explanations of the
sacred treasures——the sacred gears that resided within them, though they
had also experienced magic like that Lavinia used.
Concerning the fantastical, the lesson content had them reviewing demons
captured by the Grigori——monsters.
In other words, the quartet of Tobio, Sae, Natsume, and Samejima, in the
half month they had been coming to ‘Nephilim’, they were being trained in
the education and knowledge of a life they had never experienced until now,
as well as a world they had had no connection to until now.
Just recently, concerning Tobio who, manifesting supernatural power of
his own, had started a battle with another supernatural power user, it was an
often repeated story that was astonishing……no, one that seemed like a joke.
Nonetheless, it was a fact that it had happened to him and that he was now
being taught about it. Supernatural power was a reality, and residing within

him specifically, there existed both magic and a demon. That was something
he keenly experienced for himself in the earlier battle while his life was
exposed to mortal peril.
However, apart from the knowledge and education he obtained in the
tranquility that had come in the aftermath of the battle, what he was being
taught was nothing but perplexing.
While furrowing his brow at this state of affairs, he expressed himself like
so.
“……It seems just like they’re seriously explaining what things from
fantasy consist of……”
It may have been inevitable that he ended up thinking like that. The
lessons he was receiving on the supernatural and the fantastical were to such
a degree that they were beyond the scope of common sense. Still, seeing as
he was living here, this was elementary knowledge and the basis of
information. It seemed to be impossible to live as a student here and not
know about these things.
Despite being taught the surface knowledge, there were also lessons in
moving one’s body, what one could call physical education much like that of
actual schoolwork.
At this precise moment, the duo of Tobio and Samejima, dressed in
athletic wear, were continuing to run in the institution’s indoor running track.
Having circled the track many times, they at last finished the proscribed
distance of fifteen kilometers.
Having finished first, Samejima sat down immediately upon reaching the
goal, where he was violently breathing with a ‘zuuhaa’ sound. Samejima,
with sweat being released from his whole body, cursed.
“……Geez, making us run kilometer after kilometer……! It’s like we’re
aiming for the Olympics……! I haven’t run like this since middle
school……!”
Having reached the goal after Samejima, Tobio spoke while gasping for
breath.
“……According to what Barakiel-sensei says, it’s because it all starts
with stamina……. ……I feel I somehow or another get why the stamina to
run from place to place is necessary to start with. After all, we’re beginners in
this world. Since there’ll probably be those relentlessly aiming for the lives of
even us who are just beginners, if we don’t at least have the stamina to run

around……it certainly wouldn’t be strange if we died the next time.”
They were being taught all kinds of things by the fallen angel leader——
Barakiel.
Concerning the main system at ‘Nephilim’, it was a case where a
prescribed number of students would receive guidance under a single teacher.
Collecting several students in one classroom, it differed from the nature of a
typical school where the teachers would switch for each subject. For that
reason, in the case of Tobio and the others, they were receiving lessons under
Barakiel. In this case, they became known as the students of ‘Barakiel Class’.
There were a limited number of Grigori leaders, so receiving instruction
under one is extremely valuable, or so the Governor-General Azazel had said.
Was that due to the expectations for Tobio and the others, or else was it
due to them being regarded as dangerous——.
That Barakiel, after having taught them fundamental knowledge, he had
assigned Tobio and the others to raise their stamina. No matter what, without
stamina they would not move to a higher level. For that reason, they had been
assigned some thorough running to perform.
In Samejima’s case, he had suffered serious injuries in the earlier battle,
but having already completed recovered to almost his usual condition, he was
also running the long distance while leaving his complaints behind due to
having been rehabilitated. He was told that this was also a function of the
Sacred Gear that resided within him. The white cat that was his Sacred Gear
——Byakusa, stepping up to his master who had returned from the long
distance run, had been acting spoiled while rubbing its head up against him.
Speaking of Sacred Gears, in the case of Tobio’s partner Jin, having run
alongside his master for the fifteen kilometers, he had sat down politely just
past the goal. Unlike his master, Jin hadn’t run out of breath even once.
Whether it was his stamina that was terrible, or else Sacred Gears don’t
feel tired……. In any case, his master, who was in bad shape, was next to Jin
making ‘zu-ha-‘ sounds while being out of breath.
Tobio, who was rehydrating, after stretching his body to its limits, picked
up a rope for the sake of doing the rope skipping exercise that was next on
the regimen.
Giving a sidelong glance at Tobio who had started skipping rope,
Samejima spoke.
“……I was thinking since before, Ikuse, but rather than being an honors

student, do you just hate to lose?”
He lead off like that.
“What’s this so suddenly?”
Samejima spoke to Tobio who had asked him back while jumping.
“Well. You’re behavior is exemplary like an honors student, and yet
there’s something about the glare in your eye, like you won’t show any
weakness even if it’s only to the dog who’s your alter ego.”
Samejima also started skipping rope beside Tobio.
“To start with I’m not an honors student. My studies are reasonably fair,
and with physical strength as well my forte is just not standing out.”
As Tobio said, since the time he’d been at Ryoukou High School he
hadn’t been the kind to stand out. He was just a typical high school boy
whose studies were reasonably fine, and whose physical training was neither
passing or failing. As for his childhood friend Sae, she was the one who was
popular in class.
Hearing that Samejima laughed.
“That’s so huh. Since even though we come from the same school, during
the time I was there, I knew nothing about you. If you were the kind of
student who doesn’t stand out, there’s no way I’d have known about you
huh.”
If it had been the Samejima from back then, someone like Tobio who
would was neither beneficial nor harmful would have been the same as a
stone on the side of the road. Had Tobio been strong at brawling, or perhaps
been a target of yearning for female students, it seems that then word of him
would have reached Samejima’s ear……but unfortunately, he didn’t happen
to possess such attributes.
In contrast, in regards to Samejima who was famous for his delinquency,
Tobio had heard quite enough about him.
Somehow, given that the two of them were training by bouncily skipping
rope side by side, Tobio ended up feeling that destiny was quite an amusing
thing.
In the midst of Tobio and Samejima’s rope skipping, the voices of girls
were heard.
“……Zeh zeh, r-running like this……certainly, it’s good for dieting, this
is. Apart from that though, are you sure you’re alright, Toujou-san?”
“……Fuuh, somehow or another, I can sort of walk it.”

It was Natsume and Sae who were out of breath. The pair were dressed in
sports gear. It seemed that Natsume had just finished the proscribed long
distance running that Tobio and Samejima had been doing.
For Sae who was not endowed with a Sacred Gear like Tobio and the
others, just the classroom portion was sufficient, however, with it being a
good opportunity to build her own stamina, and having already been
rehabilitated, she had chosen to undertake some light training. Though it was
light, considering it was Sae after having gone through that incident, there
was no mistaking that for her it was intense. She was dripping with
perspiration even from walking the track.
As for Samejima who’d been injured in the same incident……he had run
the long distance and was now even skipping rope with repeated light jumps
as though he hadn’t been pierced through the chest.
“Being sturdy just isn’t my strong point.”
——She said nearly laughing.
With everyone having finished running, as they were moving to the next
activity, they observed the figure of Barakiel, who served as both the lecturer
for Tobio and the others’ classroom as well as their training supervisor.
He checked over Tobio and the others with a hard-faced expression and
nodded once.
“Hmm, so it appears you finished the long distance run. That still leaves
half the regimen, however at the very least make sure to rehydrate
yourselves.”
At first glance, the tall man gave off an intimidating atmosphere, however,
contrary to his appearance, he was a rather considerate person. In regards to
their special training, without tolerating compromise on anything, he would
absolutely not give up until everyone had finished that which had been
proscribed, but having measured the mental and physical limits of Tobio and
the others, he ensured that the training was never beyond their limits.
Instead of urging Tobio and the others on with a loud voice, keeping in
mind that they were complete amateurs, he would, while personally
observing them, walk among them giving out advice.
Samejima would raise complaints about this, but even he would then
quietly complete what was proscribed, seemingly not just because of the
silent pressure that Barakiel released, but also because he perceived from the
atmosphere surrounding his body that he was someone of strong presence.

Like this Tobio and the others had completed the foundation of their
special training, however, after working on their stamina and strength, they’d
switch locations for sparring. From the running track, they moved to an
expansive training room. The ceiling being very high, it was a place that had
been made to be easy to fight in.
Invariably at that time——.
“Looks like it’s my turn.”
The one who appeared before Tobio and the others, a fearless smile on his
face, was a silver-haired young boy——Vali.
Indeed, Vali would be their sparring opponent at these times.
Like Tobio and the others, though it was not every weekday, Vali would
also turn up at ‘Nephilim’. The Grigori had told that Vali to be the sparring
opponent of Tobio and the others.
Vali himself seemed to personally enjoy this sparring——.
“……Fufuh, Ikuse Tobio, Samejima Kouki, come now, and prepare
Vanishing Dragon
yourselves. It seems this ‘White Dragon‘ shall be your opponent today as
well.”
Stiffening his small body with a bang, he stood facing the pair of Tobio
and Samejima.
It would appear that, seemingly enjoying Tobio and Samejima’s beyond
expected growth, that he had taken the initiative to take over as the sparring
opponent of the pair.
Tobio and Samejima were accompanied by their respective partners——
Jin and Byakusa.
Tobio, by positioning Jin in front of him, and Samejima, by placing
Byakusa on his shoulder, were each settling into their respective combat
styles.
Standing by alongside the wall, Natsume and Sae were cheering.
“BOYS! Today you’ll surely beat Va-kun!”
“Try not to get injured you three!”
Neither of these was at all easy for someone like Tobio. He’d like it if at
least he could avoid injury, because although his opponent was younger, it
was considerably unreasonably advice.
Tobio and Samejima, and then Vali, Barakiel stood in the space between
these two parties. After having verified that both sides were prepared for

battle, he announced the start of the sparring match by saying “Begin!”
The first was to move was Samejima. The tail of Byakusa who had been
placed on his shoulder was being altered, becoming longer. It wrapped itself
like a coil around his arm and formed itself into a sharp, cone-shaped lance.
At that point——electricity began to run through it while producing a
sparkling sound.
At the time of the conflict with the ‘Utsusemi Agency’ the other day,
Samejima unconsciously brought Byakusa to the next stage——a step closer
to the its true Four Fiends form. In doing so, Byakusa accomplished a
transformation into a white beast——a large animal at least three meters in
size possessing the appearance of a saber-toothed tiger. It presently wasn’t in
that form, but in regards to the sparkling phenomenon it had manifested when
it had transformed into the large beast, it became capable of releasing it from
its usual cat size, and Samejima was now producing it from the lance.
Tobio followed by taking some distance to avoid being hit by that
electricity. A transformation had also come upon the Tobio+Jin combination.
From the shadows at his feet, Jin would soundlessly create a single-edged
sword, which he would then hold horizontally in his mouth. Jin, in place of
the ability he had lost from when he was a puppy in which he’d grow blades
from his body, he instead became capable of voluntarily growing blades from
any and every shadow.
In other words, it seemed Jin became capable of growing blades by his
own will. This was proof that Jin had come to possess a sense of self
compared to when he was a puppy.
Subsequently, Tobio also manifested the growth in his ability.
“——Come out.”
Tobio, with such a murmur as he focused, was manifesting a specialized
weapon from the shadow at his feet. A long shaft, having been grown from
beneath his feet, was seized by Tobio who then pulled it out in one go.
That which he held in his hand, it was a curved blade with a shaft, a
sickle. Drawing an elegant arc, it was a specialized weapon for reaping
targets. It was not a sickle for reaping weeds, it was akin to the large sickles
wielded by grim reapers.
His Sacred Gear ability having risen in the battle with the ‘Utsusemi
Agency’, like Jin, Tobio had also gained the ability to produce blades from
shadows at will.

During the battle with the ‘Utsusemi Agency’, Tobio had also personally
experienced that, not just his partner Jin, he himself would have to be mobile
during battle. If he were to run from place to place on the battlefield, giving
Jin orders as he did so, he wouldn’t survive the battles from here on out.
Tobio, as Jin’s master——the main body, would certainly be targeted by
opponents.
If his master was in peril, it seemed that Jin would act to protect him, but
there were apparently limits to that as well. If the opponent was stronger than
Jin, it would all be over. For that reason, as the master it was necessary that
Tobio himself be strong.
The same was necessary for Samejima who was linking up with his
Sacred Gear. Carrying something like that out would be out of the question if
the master wasn’t strong.
Tobio had selected a sickle as the weapon he would wield in battle. Prior
to this he had tried wielding and swinging all sorts of various bladed
specialized weapons……but the one that was most familiar in his hand was,
unexpectedly, a sickle. At a glance, it appeared far and away harder to
handle when compared to a sword, however, as soon as Tobio took it in his
hand, he found himself skillfully spinning the sickle round and round, raising
it overhead, pulling it hard, and then swinging it down. Though his comrades
found his choosing of a sickle to be ominous (Vali found it favorable), Tobio
instinctively said ‘This is it,” and settled upon it as his own specialized
weapon.
Like this Tobio, faced with Vali as a sparring partner, prepared himself
after spinning the sickle around several times.
The one who started first was Samejima. Nimbly rushing in, he drove the
lance that was alive with sparks towards Vali. Vali, without showing any sign
of evading, towards the blow of the nimbly approaching lance, with a
*pashin* he altered the attack’s trajectory with a brush of his hand. Without
letting a moment pass, Vali,aiming at Samejima, launched an ignited radiance
——a mass of aura from his hand. Samejima somehow defended against that
shot by using the lance as a shield, and the terrific shock of the mass of aura
pushed the juvenile delinquent’s body backwards. However, Samejima
wasn’t blown backwards.
Tobio incidentally had also begun to take action, and Jin was right behind
him. Having changed into a black bullet, Jin approached Vali at high speeds

that the eye couldn’t follow, and slashed at him with the blade in his mouth.
Vali, from the front, towards the brandished blade——stopped it by gripping
it with two fingers on his right hand. ——But, having become the size of a
mature dog, Jin’s body weight naturally added to the attack, and Vali who
was simply inferior in physical constitution had his posture forcibly
destroyed. Vali, also sensing this, instantly let go and blew Jin back with a
shock wave. Though he’d been blown back, Jin, magnificently righting
himself in midair, had landed splendidly.
Tobio+Jin and Samejima+Byakusa, reorganizing their stances, prepared to
once again advance upon Vali.
This was the present difference in the skill level of the three of them.
Since the time they had met Tobio and the others had also been growing, and
the end result of their practicing was that they were no longer completely
helpless against the silver-haired boy.
Nevertheless, even now Tobio and the others could see no chance of
victory. That was the extent of the boy’s strength. In these mock battles with
Vali, which had been repeated more than ten times, until now his behavior
had merely been to lightly parry every attack.
Tobio and Samejima were again launching attacks……but whether it was
the scythe Tobio was swinging or the lance unleashed by Samejima, even
with Vali being completely cornered by their threat, and although Jin and
Byakusa had displayed attacks of outstanding coordination with their
masters, it required no serious effort on the part of the silver-haired boy.
Tobio swung the scythe downwards with the attacking posture of the style
he’d somehow developed. Aiming at the collar, he slashed diagonally to slice
through it——but Vali, leaving only an afterimage behind, simply evaded the
swing from the sickle.
Simultaneous to the attack of his master Tobio slicing empty air, Jin had
also leapt forward once again, launching an additional attack from having
circled around to Vali’s blind spot. Vali easily evaded, but from the shadows
at his feet blades of deformed shape quickly sprout forth. Jin’s eyes glowed
red. The black dog had made those appear of his own volition.
Vali even managed to evade the blades from that shadow by jumping
from that place. However, something white had entangled the said Vali’s
foot.
The tail which was wrapped around his foot was even then circulating

electricity, which was transmitted to Vali who had just landed. The boy’s
body was violently assaulted by electricity with a sparkling sound……but
Vali, perhaps due to accumulating the aura within his body, did not seem to
be very affected. However, that the tail was wrapped around his foot was a
certainty.
“A chink in the armor!”
Samejima, having closed the distance, tried to pierce Vali with the
electricity-enveloped lance. It seemed he had surmised that there was no way
to avoid it in this situation——but Vali revealed a pair of wings shining with
light from his back.
——It was his Sacred Gear.
With the after effect of of the manifestation of the Sacred Gear, Byakusa’s
tail that was wrapped around Vali’s foot was forcibly torn off.
Vali, having grown glowing wings, had flown up to the high ceiling.
Looking down on them from up near the ceiling, he let out a sinister laugh.
“A chink? Fuh, for someone like me this has yet to even become
something to be enthusiastic about.”
He rained down masses of aura at random from the ceiling! Tobio or
Samejima, neither of whom could fly up there, could do nothing! The scythe
had its blade broken with just one shot, and Byakusa who was on Samjima’s
shoulder also took a direct hit, which sent him flying backwards. Even Jin
who was leaping about to the best of his ability wasn’t able to evade them.
Receiving the masses of aura with their bodies, the impact assaulted them all
over like struck with a blunt weapon.
Having confirmed that Tobio and Samejima’s specialized weapons had
been separated from them, Barakiel exhaled and raised his hand.
“That’s enough!”
With that one statement, the end of the mock battle was announced. In the
end, without being up to even making Vali show the letter ‘s’ of serious this
time either, Tobio and Samejima both ground their teeth in chagrin.
In response to the voice of Natsume, who had been cheering, saying,
“That was miserable, young men!”, Tobio had no words. Samejima fired
back “Shut it, Birdbrain!”…….
Nevertheless, this was the present difference in ability between Tobio and
Vali. The difference between him and the younger one was still so wide to a
harsh degree.

Part 2
“Owowow……”
Washing off his sweat in the shower room after the training, Tobio had
been experiencing the pain remaining in his body. After that, there was one
more battle, a mock fight with Vali……but invariably he had been defeated
without landing a single damaging hit. His body had been bruised all over.
Having been defeated twice, which brought today’s intensive training to a
close, he was taking a shower to wash his sweat off. Finishing his shower
immediately, Samejima had left. He had also been bruised, but since he was
fit to a superfluous extent, he had gone touring. Since driving his bike was his
own peculiar way of changing the mood, whether that mood be good or bad,
he had gone biking so as to pull himself together.
If one were to speak of Tobio, who hadn’t yet pulled himself together,
while he was taking his shower he was sharpening his focus and was groping
through his mind for a technique that would allow an attack to seize a skilled
opponent.
Although he had selected a scythe as his specialized weapon, with it being
of especially large size, both its usage and setup were exaggerated. In the
case where Vali had been the opponent, whether he swung it down from
above or swung it up from below, each and every action was grandiose. If the
opponent was skilled, from his body’s posture they’d be able to see through
his intentions as to how he’d next approach. If he were to thoroughly train his
own body, it seemed possible that the speed of his offensive actions could be
increased but……. For himself who had been an ordinary senior high school
student until just recently, it was difficult to immediately obtain such a
necessary tempering.
——As expected, the most vital thing to becoming powerful is through
linking with Jin.
It was only natural, but the strongest method, as far as Tobio was
concerned, was his ability, namely the black dog ‘Jin’ who was his sacred
gear. Other than a fool, there was no one who wouldn’t make the maximum
possible use of him.
……To increase the number of variations in his own attacks there was no
choice other than with Jin.

From there Tobio again thought deeply about various ways to link with
Jin. After more than sufficient time, he finally noticed he was taking a
shower. Coming to his senses in surprise, he stopped the shower while
shaking his head.
Since he dressed his lower half in the locker room, with his upper body
naked, he sat down on the bench that had been provided. Even as he stroked
Jin who was beside him, Tobio in his mind there was only reflection on
today’s special training.
No matter how much he thought about it, presently, it was certain that the
difference in power was insurmountable. Using such an ordinary answer was
his way of settling his emotions for today as well.
……Thus, every day, I’m assuaging my frustration in not being
victorious. ……Unexpectedly, that was quite cynically self-deprecating for
someone like me who hates losing.
With him riding on his bike, it seemed to Tobio that Samejima was also
seeking a change in the mood the same as himself.
For teenage boys, it was expected that being defeated by a junior was
vexing.
“Toby, is it not bad to not rehydrate after a match?”
——Came a voice from beside him, as a water bottle was held out before
him. Tobio spontaneously accepted it saying “Thank you,” and was
spontaneously gulping it down…….
……Noticing a strange point, he turned his gaze to the side.
A blonde girl wearing a racing swimsuit——Lavinia had been sitting
right there. Surprised by the sudden occurrence, Tobio immediately stood up.
“Lavinia-san! Why are you here!?”
This was the men’s shower room. For a woman like Lavinia to be here
was itself a strange thing.
However, at Tobio’s words Lavinia inclined her head in confusion.
It may have been because she wasn’t wearing her usual pointed hat, but it
seemed as though her hair was brightly glittering. Moreover both her hair and
swimsuit were wet. It appeared she had been in the indoor pool.
She frequently made use of this institutions facilities. Occasionally she
came to inspect their special training……but since he hadn’t seen her today,
he had thought that she hadn’t come.
“Just Lavinia is fine, right?”

She replied with a misdirected answer. Moreover she also immediately
stood up.
……Ending up looking at her racing swimsuit from a close angle, Tobio
immediately shifted his gaze. ……For a healthy young man, the smooth fair
skin of a caucasian girl——especially the area around her thighs——was
much too radiant.
Tobio spoke while averting his eyes.
“N-No, that’s not the issue here! This is the men’s shower!”
Even being cautioned so, paying it no mind, Lavinia stood in front of a
certain locker and——she wouldn’t be removing her swimsuit right! Was
this the ladies changing room!? He was on the verge of panicking that he’d
guessed wrongly, but he had used this place numerous times, and today
specifically he’d entered together with Samejima. As expected, no matter
how he thought about it this was the “men’s changing room”.
If that was the case, as far as misunderstandings were concerned, Lavinia
was the one who was at fault…….
If he were to give her a sidelong glance——the appearance that had come
to be there was that of Lavinia completely removing her swimsuit! Without
being able to resist, Tobio immediately embraced Jin, gazing into Jin’s face
to secure a safe place to look.

As for Jin himself, being suddenly embraced by his master, forced
himself to stand on two legs, and fastened his eyes on the situation right in
front of him. The black dog went “!?!?” in bewilderment.
With such a combination between Tobio and Jin occurring, Lavinia was

unmindfully addressing them at her own pace.
“How was the mock battle with Vah-kun?”
“I-I was defeated.”
“That was something inevitable. Since Vah-kun met Governor-General
Azazel, beginning with the Sacred Gear, he has been strengthening himself,
and therefore, at this time he is naturally someone who Toby and Shark,
having only just awoken their powers, cannot hope to compete with.”
“T-That is the case. H-However, nonetheless, since I want to win, I’ve
been deepening my connection with Jin; I want to to be strong.”
“That is the best. For certain, you are the owner of an independent avatar
type.”
Promptly removing the remainder of his change of clothes from the
locker, Tobio had appreciated that it was wise to give up on this
situation……but as the conversation continued further, for some reason that
couldn’t be understood it had occurred to him that it might be better to stay
until the topic changed. The chaos brought about by Lavinia’s appearance
was obvious.
Suddenly, a topic occurred to Tobio. Due to the term independent avatar
type being brought up, he recalled that Lavinia also possessed that Sacred
Gear.
“L-Lavinia-san, you also possess an independent avatar type Sacred Gear,
correct.”
“Yes. I’m also like Toby and the others.”
Tobio’s recollection thought back on the tall atypical princess made of ice.
From its whole body it had released a wave cold atmosphere that penetrated
both the mind and body.
“……As for Vali’s Sacred Gear……”
“Yes, I believe you were taught about it in class, but different from me
and Toby, for Vah-kun, his is the type of Sacred Gear that has an evil spirit
sealed inside it. It manifests that evil spirit’s ability, it’s traits. The wings of
light that appear from his back, you can think of them as equipment for the
sake of manifesting the evil spirit’s power.”
There were a great variety of diverse Sacred Gears, and those had been
grouped into several types, but he had heard in lecture that the number
possessing traits which couldn’t be categorized wasn’t negligible. The Sacred
Gear Vali possessed was different from the independent avatar types of Tobio

and the others, belonging to the sealed evil spirit type. Regarding that sealed
evil spirit, it’s written biography was that of a demonic beast of legend, a
legendary dragon……. He’d heard that in Vali’s Sacred Gear was sealed one
of the strongest dragons referred to as the ‘Two Heavenly Dragons’, the ‘
Vanishing Dragon
White Dragon‘. When they had learned that it wasn’t just Natsume and
Samejima who had been astonished.
” “It’s not just in his head!?” “
Due to them being under the impression that it had been a second-year-of-
junior-high-sickness delusion created by Vali, as soon as they learned that the
dragon story was real their eyes popped out in astonishment (although, all the
same they concluded that his title of Maou Lucifer was his second-year-of-
junior-high-sickness in action).
Regarding said trait of Vali’s Sacred Gear, he had made use of it when
Tobio had gone berserk during the battle with the chief engineer of the
‘Utsusemi Agency’——Himejima Hanezu, though Tobio himself had no
recollection of that. However, during the mock battle, he had never made use
of that trait. The manifestation of the wings of light had happened, but they
hadn’t been utilized for the Sacred Gear’s inherent supernatural power. In
other words, Tobio and the others, as far as Vali was concerned, were
merely opponents of that degree. Faced with that reality, Tobio had been
feeling bitter.
As though she had seen through Tobio’s true feelings, Lavinia spoke.
“I said just before as well, but you shouldn’t feel discouraged Toby. It all
begins from here on out. Toby and Vaa-kun possess the same kind of Sacred
Gear as myself, ones that are a bit special. If while here you learn to use it
properly it should be possible to surprise Vaa-kun.”
Indeed, in regards to the Sacred Gears Tobio, Lavinia, and Vali possessed,
to be perfectly honest, he had received an explanation that there was a clear
line between them and those possessed by Natsume and Samejima.
There were no more than thirteen current Sacred Gears that were
incarnations that can even overthrow God——that which was referred to as
Longinus. A transcendental power that, if he chose to, was considered
capable of slaying even a god, such a thing was lodged with him.
He suddenly peered into Jin’s eyes. The pupils were bright red like the
color of blood. His own figure was reflected in Jin’s pupils……but deep

beyond that, it seemed as though there was something deep there…….
Power capable of slaying even a god……. To him……it didn’t truly feel
like that was the case…….
According to Natsume, when he had been going berserk, not just the
outlook room, even the surrounding mountains had sprouted countless
enormous blades. Moreover it had been entirely due to his power…….
An uncontrollable power within him, it made him feel useless. It was
scary that a supernatural power that he himself wasn’t aware of could
aimlessly expose his surroundings to peril.
Lavinia spoke.
“As someone endowed with the same independent avatar type, may I give
you one piece of advice……. You need to achieve unification with the
Scared Gear beside you, which can also been seen as an offshoot of yourself
——”
“Unification……”
“Linking and ordering, it is naturally obvious that these are ways of
manipulating the Sacred Gear from above. However, the true way to
manipulate the Sacred Gear that is your other self, that is to sympathize with
it, resonate with it, not just in body, you must become one from the heart and
soul. In the depths of the Sacred Gear, it is said that if and only if you can
reach it, then you will be approaching the genuine truth of it.”
“……The depths of……the Sacred Gear……”
Jin’s pupils——. Was there something sleeping inside of them? Was she
saying that this black dog possessed something within it?
|
——Your blade, it reaches even to that extent. However, your blade, it
wounds everything——.
——Since you have already stopped being human.
|
——!!! Tobio body twitched as those words were resurrected in his mind.
……In that dream, there seemed to have been a voice from deep down, in
the darkness. Could that darkness be the depths of Jin……or rather, was is
something he carried, a darkness that exists within the power he
possesses……?
Lavinia spoke.
“……I have been speaking self-importantly, but to tell you the truth, I

also still cannot skillfully control my own puppet. In order to truly be
proficient with the Sacred Gear, if I investigate the truth by aiming to
integrate with it……I will come to understand the puppet. I should be the one
controlling the puppet, that princess, but the truth is that princess is not some
kind of marionette……. That is how it feels at least, and it is quite
frightening……. Even though I have learned magic, my fear towards the
power that has been lodged within me since I was born has not diminished in
the slightest.”
Different from her usual tone, in the words Lavinia was currently
speaking, he couldn’t help but to feel as though they also carried some sort of
grief while bearing dread within them as well. Even though she had been
facing an independent avatar type Sacred Gear for a long time when
compared to himself, she still felt the same about it…….
“I want you to be careful as well, Toby. With the independent avatar
types, even if you should investigate the power sleeping within it, the
moment you approach the truth there is a possibility of being consumed by
that power. Your other self is a part of yourself, another version of yourself.
If you show an opening at any point, that other version of yourself can
change places with you.”
Lavinia cautioned him in that manner.
Jin……could swap places with me……?
Tobio had locked eyes with Jin, but the black dog in question merely
inclined his head.
……Jin, that thing I encountered in my dream before, was that him
waiting for an opening to swap places with me……?
Tobio was newly aware that, for him to master Jin’s power, a suitable
firmness of resolution was necessary.
And then, having heard the word ‘magic’ by chance, Tobio suddenly
thought back to the old woman——the witch he had encountered at the
‘Utsusemi Agency’ hideout. At that time, Lavinia had glared at the opposing
witch with cold eyes…….
Tobio proceeded to ask about that.
“……Lavinia-san, that witch that you saw at the ‘Utsusemi Agency’
hideout……is there some relation between you……?”
It was obvious that that old woman she had confronted——the witch who
commanded that giant of purple flames, was a target of Lavinia’s hatred. As a

fellow user of magic, could there be some kind of connection between them?
Roughly speaking, he had been informed that said witch was connected to
‘The Wizards of Oz’……. With a name like ‘The Wizards of Oz’ appearing
from out of juvenile literature, Tobio and the others had been
bewildered…….
After Tobio had asked, suspecting that Lavinia would not reply, he shifted
his gaze away from Jin, giving her a fleeting sideways glance——
“That was an adversary.”
Lavinia’s face had drawn very close to him! Tobio was surprised by her
abrupt appearance. And yet, Lavinia’s appearance……was one of just a
towel hanging from her neck……. The twin white hills of her breasts, that
which was below……he ended up seeing it all!!
Lavinia spoke while paying it no mind.
“I came here for the sake of stopping that witch……of stopping them.”
In spite of her current appearance, her facial expression was still her
typical one…….
It happened at that moment.
“Are you there Tobio? I’ve brought you a bottle for rehydration but…….
Is anyone there?”
A voice came from outside! It was Sae’s voice!! How could her timing be
so bad! Being in this sort of situation, Tobio’s thoughts ground to a complete
halt. He thought of how good it would be if he could hide in the shadows like
Jin.
At the very least, to get through this situation he needed to go outside to
receive the bottle. His upper body was presently nude but……for Sae, with
whom he’d been together with since childhood, they had a relationship where
she’d seen his upper body numerous times. There shouldn’t be a problem if
it’s just to this extent.
Then, he would have Lavinia remain here, and at the same time he would
hurriedly go up to receive the bottle.
“Is that Shaae? If it is about Toby, he is in here, okay?”
Of all things, that Lavinia had replied to Sae who was outside from in
here! Moreover, she informed her that Tobio was in here! As usual, Lavinia
had called Sae “Shaae”.
After that reply, a short silent period came, and then the door gently
opened.

Sae timidly observed the state of affairs inside.
“……Tobio with……Lavinia-san……?”
As she said that, the image that appeared before Sae’s eyes was that of
Tobio, who’s upper body was naked, a girl who was naked short of a towel
hanging from her neck, and in addition to them there was a black dog
accompanying.
Faced with these excessive circumstances, as Sae gazed at both Tobio and
Lavinia in turn, her mouth absently hanging open, she fell completely silent.
“…………”
——Bad.
Bad bad bad bad bad bad bad!! Tobio, hurriedly coming up with an
excuse, began to speak.
“U-Umm, this is……Sae, this isn’t what it looks like!”
Sae, putting on a forced smile, held out the drink bottle to Tobio.
However, Sae then noticed the partially drunken bottle that had been placed
on the bench next to Tobio.
“This is a bottle for rehydrating……or it would be, except it seems you’ve
already been drinking one. Well then, I’ll hold onto this spare one. See you
later——.”
As she had said, Sae tried to leave that place, but forgetting to open the
door, she ended up crashing right into it.
“Ouch! …………I-I’m alright.”
While the tip of her nose was stinging, with a forced smile, Sae hurriedly
opened the door with an “Eheheh”, and left.
………….
……Tobio, having reached his wit’s end over this situation, sat down,
having nothing to say about the circumstances other than, “Ahh, now I’ve
done it…….”
As for Lavinia——,
“?”
She just stood there like that with a question mark floating above her
head.

Chapter 3: Outing/Contact
Part 1
The following Saturday, on which Tobio and others also had a holiday
from ‘Nephilim’, they had hurried from the apartment building and wandered
into town. It was a trip taken by the whole crew together, consisting of Tobio,
Sae, Natsume, Samejima, Lavinia, and Vali.
Samejima and Vali did not seem the types to be interested going on
outings together like this, and even Tobio had been feeling surprised.
While walking to the shopping district, Natsume was stretching as she
complained of muscle pain.
“Owowowow, it had been my intention to put in some good exercise……
however, as expected it does take its toll. That unsociable……Barakiel-sensei
is planning to beyond Spartan.”
Sae gave her a small smile.
“Just so. Although, I think he does properly care. There’s breaks after
completing the regimen, and he always tells us to stay hydrated.”
As Sae had said, that hard-faced lecturer, while as strict on the surface as
his appearance would suggest, he was also methodical and was never the kind
of person you couldn’t converse with. He was as much a Spartan as Natsume
had said but…….
Samejima also sharply cracked his neck.
“Well, it builds stamina that’s for sure. I even shocked myself when I
realized I had the stamina to run ten kilometers.”
It was just as Samejima had said, but for he himself who had originally
had athletic ability, in his case the stamina building regimen had born fruit.
Compared with before he’d gone to Nephilim it was clear that the
circumference of his arms had increased, and even from above his clothes his
pectoral and abdominal muscles stood out.
Tobio had also put on muscle but……. It couldn’t be said to be to the
same degree as Samejima.

“What is it that we are doing today?”
Lavinia who had come along with them……was wearing her usual
magical girl hat and robe despite being on a private outing. As they were
walking together, the people coming and going on the street were giving
them strange looks.
Natsume thrust her finger at Lavinia as she spoke.
“We’re starting with you, Lavinia! Clothes! For a young girl, that sort of
appearance is beyond bad! Since the subject matter is of the highest grade,
not being fashionable is entirely unacceptable! Toujou-san is helping as well!
Together we will coordinate for this girl!”
“Eh? Y-Yeah.”
Being overpowered by Natsume’s vigor, Sae consented.
As for Lavinia herself…….
“This is fine since I am a witch. This appearance is the best for boosting
magical power, so when the time comes——“
“Ahh, geez! We’re going shopping you hear, shopping!”
Dismissing Lavinia’s objection, Natsume pointed towards the shopping
district.
Vali let out a sigh as he spoke.
“Anything is fine, but what’s been on my mind since before is that I want
to have lunch at a ramen shop. I think I’d like one with a hearty seafood
soup.”
After Natsume gave a half-hearted “Yes yes,” to the silver-haired youth,
she suddenly whispered in Tobio’s ear.
(Ikuse-kun, shouldn’t you make up with Toujou-san?)
(Eh)
Tobio was surprised at the unexpected topic.
As Natsume said, while it may have appeared that there wasn’t anything
unusual between Tobio and Sae[?] in their normal day to day lives……and
although for the sake of getting along with their fellow comrades in the long
term they acted as though things were normal, it had become clear that they
had found themselves feeling complex emotions towards one another.
Indeed, they were complex emotions brought forth from the locker room
incident. Due to Tobio explaining things at the residence afterwards, the
misunderstanding had been cleared up. Everyone was aware of Lavinia’s
status as a natural airhead after all.

That being said, there was still a slight awkwardness between the two, or
to put it better, it was hovering in the background. Natsume appeared to have
sensed that.
Natsume was still whispering.
(Say, when those sorts of things happen, the best thing to do is to talk with
the girl while accompanying her shopping. While I accompany Lavinia, you
take to her while accompanying her with her shopping.)
(T-That’s all……?)
(That’s all. Rather than the delinquent or the ramen brat, Toujou-san is
that priority.)
For Natsume this outing was a chance to reduce his awkwardness with
Sae. ……For someone who would tease them it seemed quite unexpected,
and Tobio who was seeing it was quite surprised at Natsume. Could this be
what they call a maiden’s intuition?
Tobio immediately nodded once. Natsume also grinned broadly.
“Oi, Ramen Dragon. Don’t you also eat ramen at home?”
“Hmph, this is why you are beyond helping, Samejima Kouki. ——It’s a
mistake to equate home-ramen with shop-ramen. For house-ramen there’s the
sense of security in that it’s ready to eat, while for shop-ramen the quality
because it’s eaten at a shop——“
“Isn’t just that you like eating children’s lunches, Radra-sensei?[?]“
While children’s lunches are also good for children’s lunches, as
expected, the ramen from a shop……wait, don’t call me Radra.”
Sure sure, Lucidra Lucidra.”
Samejima and Vali could be heard going back and forth behind them……
but at any rate, while he would be paying attention to Sae today, Tobio
wanted to enjoy this outing.
Part 2
As they went around the shops, the three girls (primarily Sae and
Natsume) were happily squealing as they looked over the clothes as much as
they liked. Since having entered a certain shop, it had become shopping time.
Now that he thought thought about it, this was Tobio’s first time
accompanying Sae while clothes shopping. When he had been living an
ordinary life, they’d only gone to purchase food ingredients from the

supermarket.
To be buying clothes, that was something for which, unless you were
lovers——.
“Alright then, clothes for Vaa-kun as well!”
“I don’t really——“
“It’s fine, it’s fine. Aren’t you rather suited to girl’s clothes?”
“Male, I’m”
“It’s fine, it’s fine, just leave it to Onee-san.”
Not just Lavinia, Natsume was even dragging Vali along. Although he
was a boy, she was picking out girl’s clothes.
The boys——Tobio and Samjima, were inside the store watching the
girl’s shopping from a distance. Samejima, who had quickly finished his
shopping——having bought mainy weight training equipment, was currently
waiting for the girls to finish shopping.
Unexpectedly, Tobio felt that, for a delinquent, he was good at
socializing. He’d thought that he’d head back immediately once he finished
his shopping.
Incidentally, Jin, Griffon, and Byakusa were on standby just outside the
store. Since with that alone people passing by would become anxious (the
combination of a large black dog and falcon was an atrocious one), so as to
conceal their presence, they’d diluted their existence. Since they weren’t
people who excelled at supernatural powers, it seemed they couldn’t perceive
Jin and the others.
Samejima suddenly made an inquiry.
“Ikuse.”
“What?”
“What a thing you’ve been doing with Toujou this week, huh?”
“What a thing?”
To Tobio’s inquiry, Samejima made an obscene sign with his hand.
“It’s gotta be this right? That sort of relationship, right? Would it be
unreasonable to say you’ve been living that sort of lifestyle every day?”
As soon as he understood his meaning, Tobio’s face became red. Tobio
spoke in a fluster.
“N-No! Sae and I don’t have that kind of relationship! W-We’re not doing
it!”
Indeed. It wasn’t the case that he was going steady with Sae. Even so, that

sort of thing, it wasn’t unthinkable either.
Seeing Tobio’s reaction, Samejima smiled wryly as he inclined his head.
“Seriously? Although, since it’s that sort of relationship, I had actually
been wondering whether you’d extricate yourself as frantically as that. Ah, I
see. Well, since I’ve always been with you guys, it had been bothering me all
the while ‘When are they doing those kind of things?’……but if it’s not that
kind of relationship, it’s safe to it’s improbable that’s you’d both agree to do
it.”
Samejima was nodding his head in agreement with himself.
……Somehow, Samejima had been concerned about whether he and Sae
were going out, as well as when they were having male-female relations.
……However, both Natsume and Samejima had been concerned about
him and Sae, and both were getting in contact over that……. Even Tobio
could do nothing but blush when faced with such a difficult question.
Samejima spoke while directing his gaze at the girls.
“You think Toujou’s cute, don’t you? I do not recall noticing her when we
were attending Ryoukou, but with us living together, I get the feeling that
she’s a good girl.”
Samejima had said it.
It had seemed that way to Tobio who saw her in a favorable light, but
nevertheless, Sae was cute to the point that Samejima said so. Or rather,
she’d normally be classified as a beautiful girl.
However, rather than being gaudy, due to her light, refined atmosphere,
she hadn’t stood out at Ryoukou. She also had a simple personality, and in
fact he had heard that she was popular for a time among some of the boys,
but he had never heard her being confessed to by anyone.
Wrongly guessing that Tobio, who was
remembering his life at Ryoukou, was concerned about his words and
actions, Samejima gave an explanation.
“Ah, I’m not aiming for her or anything, so don’t worry. I was simply
voicing thoughts from my own perspective. For me……right now, girls are
kind of……”
Samejima was speaking indistinctly. He was making a bitter face. Could it
be that he’d had bad experiences with female relationships in the past……?
As Tobio was thinking that, Samejima changed the topic.
“By the way Ikuse. After each of the training periods and rounds with

Vali, is there something you’ve been thinking about? Many times, even if I
call out to you, you’re completely inattentive.”
“Ah……I suppose that’s right. I guess I have been.”
After the mock battles with Vali, he would always think back over the
fight in his head, but…….
“The kind of guy who reflects after taking damage then? By some means,
are you seeking a way to surpass Vali?”
“Sort of. Although there’s a difference in ability, it’s vexing that it’s an
honestly impossible fight.”
With Tobio having said as much, Samejima let out a sigh.
“……Ah, were you serious about that?”
“Eh? S-Serious about that?”
They ought had been seriously training, so by no means was Samejima
doubting that. At that point, he suddenly informed Tobio.
“Tell me honestly. Outside of when you went up against the Utsusemi
Agency, are you ever, how should I put this, ambitious? To put it in simpler
terms, perhaps it would be feeling animosity, or maybe murderous intent, or
something, but except for when you faced off against those guys, you haven’t
shown anything along those lines. It feels like, compared to right now, the
you from when you were going up against those bastards was unthinkably
more dazzling. I’ve thought thought that, ever since I saw you in that
department store when we first met.”
“——!!”
Faced with those brief comments from Samejima, even Tobio was at a
loss for words. Samejima continued paying him no mind.
“The you from that time, without mercy towards your opponent, would be
like ‘I’m going to massacre you! I’m going to bury you!’ How should I put it,
it’s that right? That feeling of wanting to save Toujou, it made you become
that. However, can the same be said of the present you? We’ve leapt into the
world of monsters, however the current you has Toujou close by. She’s the
one you frantically saved. Therefore it seems that, at present, your sole
pretext for having been so frantic is lacking. Even if you’ve become strong,
it’s fine if you can spend time with her from now on, right. Ikuse, during the
mock battles with Vali, aren’t you carrying a half-baked version of the
franticness you displayed at that time?”
………….

……Tobio had no words to respond to what Samejima had said. This was
because he’d ended up feeling from the bottom of his heart that he’d been
spot on. Certainly, for himself from that time, in order to retake Sae from
them, he’d fought to the bitter end using his just awakened power to the
maximum. He certainly had, in his franticness, been risking his life——.
At present……as Samejima had said, as result of result of Sae being at his
side, as result of them spending time together, he had been facing training
while having gained a sense of security. No, the sense of security was
essential. Since if he remained in a state of nervousness indefinitely his
nerves wouldn’t hold up.
However, supposing he were to face training with the franticness from
back then——.
Seeing that Tobio had fallen deep into thought again, Samejima smiled
bitterly. He slapped him on the back with an audible *bam*.
“Your tendency to ponder things is at the root of what I take issue with.
Well, that’s all it is. Wouldn’t it be fine to fight your opponent with the
feeling of protecting Toujou? Might you be the type who is amenable to
fighting for the sake of protecting someone?”
With his feelings of wanting to protect Sae, he’d face the training with
that desperation. For Tobio personally, it had be his intention to preapre
himself by becoming stronger in order to protect himself, his comrades, and
Sae from future threats, but in a way he was lacking the franticness he’d
displayed during the battle with the Utsusemi Agency…….
……Tobio appeared to have newly discovered this as he thought back
upon hs conversation with Samejima.
——Then, as Tobio and Samejima were having their talk between young
men, they turned around having sensed a presence from behind. As for what
was there when they did——.
“……Toby, Shark, these are the clothes that Natsume and Shaae picked
out.”
A blonde haired girl wearing a light blue one-piece dress——Lavinia was
standing there.
Long straight blonde hair that seemed to gleam like silk, blue eyes that
seemed transparent, long white arm and legs that were well-proportioned, and
though the light blue one piece was simple, it had drawn out the distinctive
characteristics of a young lady to the maximum.

Since she was wearing clothes that were so far apart from her usual
pointed hat and robe that made up her magical girl cosplay, Tobio and
Samejima were both captivated, their mouths hanging open vacantly.
Lavinia’s face was unusually red, and her arms and legs were fidgeting.
Somehow, her appearance was a state of embarrassment.
“……This appearance, from a short while ago, has felt somewhat
embarrassing.”
At this behavior and appearance that differed from the usual, even Tobio
was reflexively touched emotionally.
Next to him, Samejima had been cheerfully touching his hand to his chin.

“Isn’t it fine? If you were to go out right now there’d be guys calling out
to you.”
Certainly with to the magical girl look from shortly before, it did seem
that there’d be many who’d call out to her due to her being a beautiful blonde

haired girl. However, if it was this one piece dress appearance, that was
another story altogether. It was reasonable that there’d likely be many who
tried to seduce her if she walked around town looking like that.
Lavinia questioned Tobio.
“What about you, Toby? Does this appearance become me?”
“Yeah, I think it’s exceedingly cute.”
Hearing Tobio’s impression, Lavinia smiled even as she blushed.
To ask a man for that sort of impression……. Even Lavinia who was
thought of as a strange child was a girl of that age it seemed.
As Lavinia was inquiring after the thoughts of the male group, Natsume
and Sae made an appearance. Natsume spoke full of self-confidence.
“Well? Is it not the advent of the blonde-haired ultra-beautiful girl? Look
look, revere her all of you guys. Offer her tribute. And then, pay your thanks
to me.”
Faced with Natsume who had said this after puffing out her chest with an
‘ahem’, Samejima spoke with a half-opened eye.
“The magical girl was high quality material to start with. Didn’t you just
strip those clothes off her and dress her in a one piece?”
“You don’t understand! This is why yankees are no good! After all, this
one piece, the supreme article for illuminating Lavinia——“
As Natsume and Samejima slipped into their usual quarreling, Tobio and
Sae could only sigh in exacerbation.
Next to them, Vali, who had put on a black leather jacket that did not fit
his size, said, “If I could get just a bit taller already, I could dress myself in
something like this,” as he seemed to made a decision about something.
Part 3
Having finished Lavinia’s coordinated outfit, for lunch everyone

proceeded to a ramen shop that Vali wanted to eat at. The silver haired youth
began lecturing about ramen, but as it was something everyone was familiar
with, things flowed along smoothly……but the ramen itself tasted
considerably good.
After lunch, socializing as they went to each shop, they each bought what
they wanted. As for what Tobio purchased, it was primarily rare cooking
utensils and food ingredients.

Along the way, the gazes of the men who came and went were directed at
Lavinia who ad changed into the one piece. However, it seemed that they
couldn’t call out to her even though they wanted to. At any rate, there was a
scary-faced onii-chan with dyed brown hair accompanying her after all.
At such times, Samejima’s presence was useful. In a case where the other
party was a group yankee style young men, even Tobio likely wouldn’t be
merciful towards those trying to hit on the girls.
……Be that as it may, since for Tobio and the others the independent
avatar type were worthy of being extraordinary bodyguards, if the big black
dog was visible then even the yankee boys wouldn’t come out when faced
with such readily available decisive measures.
Having finished both lunch and their shopping, Tobio and the others went
to a park that was downtown, and at the plaza there they ended up playing
with Jin and Griffon, which also served as an after-meal workout.
“Jin-chan! Go!”
Sae threw a frisbee she had just purchased when they were shopping, and
Jin chased after it, catching the frisbee with a high jump.
“Yeah, you too Griffon!”
This time Natsume tossed a number of balls into the air. Griffon caught
these with his talons.
Playing with Sae, Jin was exceedingly at ease. Rather than Tobio who was
his master, Jin would lower his guard around Sae when compared to normal
to the point that it gave the impression that he might be emotionally attached
to Sae. This side of Jin could perhaps be due to him being an offshoot of
Tobio himself. No, it seems to be a result of Sae originally possessing a
personality that was good with animals.

At any rate, the white cat that was Samejima’s other self——Byakusa,
was also brushing up against Sae’s feet. As for his master Samejima himself,
he was lying down on one of the park benches taking a nap. It seemed that he
was worn out from shopping.

Tobio was sitting on a bench next to the one Samejima was sleeping on,
from which he was attentively watching Sae and the others.
Tobio’s gaze was directed at Sae. ……Tentatively, he had accompanied
her while shopping, and they had talked almost the entire time……but was
that sufficient? Had he accurately accomplished what Natsume had spoken
of? Regarding the awkwardness that was born from their misunderstanding, it
seemed to him that it had cleared up considerably as they were shopping.
……In the end it was just a feeling from Tobio’s perspective, but…….
Where a young man of his age was concerned, the true feelings of a girl of
the same age was an unknown territory. From Tobio’s perspective, even if it
was Sae who was his childhood friend, it was something he didn’t
understand.
……While considering how things will be from now on for the both of
them, would it be better for us to have conversed more?
……No, just what does ‘how things will be from now on’ mean? Sae and I
from now on……. No no, don’t take it in a strange direction. After all, after
all! This is about Sae and myself who have found ourselves thrown into a
unique situation. By no means is there anything to be ashamed of——.
…….
Having racked his brains to that extent, Tobio let out a deep breath and
then decided on just one thing.
——After this, I should make time to find an opportunity to be with Sae,
just the two us.
By declining to be accompanied by Minagawa Natsume, Samejim, and
the others, that sort of thing could be thought of as a……date.
They themselves had been thrown into a livelihood that differed from
ordinary people, however, for two people to spend time together——such a
luxury should still be fine.
Tobio had decided as much in his head but——.
“Is it alright if I sit next to you?”
The one who had suddenly inquired in that manner was Lavinia. In her
hand was a single small package.
His face was turning bright red since, having been thinking over various
things, Tobio completely hadn’t Lavinia approaching.
“Ah, sure.”
Having pulled himself together, Tobio slid slightly from the center of the

bench, at which point Lavinia sat next to him.
She opened the small package. From it, she handed over a cup of ice
cream. She apparently had purchased it from a shop operating in the park.
From the box’s size, it seemed she had bought some for everyone.
“Since I didn’t know what flavor Toby likes, I got vanilla.”
“That’s fine.”
In truth his favorite flavor of ice cream was chocolate, however he like
vanilla just fine.
The cup of vanilla ice cream……tasted like strawberry. Lavinia spoke
after he’d eaten a mouthful.
“Vaa-kun is having trouble at the ice cream store. He couldn’t make up
his mind about which one was good.”
It was easy to guess what was going through the mind of the silver haired
youth as he was puzzling over the flavors of ice cream while cocking his
head at the storefront. For that youth who was indifferent towards the things
he eats, he was unexpectedly finicky about it.
Perhaps due to having the figure of Lavinia, which was more dazzlingly
brilliant even compared to normal, beside him, Tobio’s heart was beating
furiously.
Somehow, he found it difficult to converse with her, and since the present
atmosphere was troubling, he began speaking to Lavinia about before.
“In that locker room——“
But, having started talking about it, he immediately ended up thinking
about that scene. As the image of her figure in state that she’d been born from
that day, which had been seared into the back of his eyelids, floated through
his thoughts, Tobio just became embarrassed, though Lavinia continued
while paying him no mind.
“Toby, you wanted to know how I am related to that witch we met at the
Utsusemi Agency’s hideout.”
“Ah, y-yeah.”
Indeed, at that time, he had asked her about that. Given the situation, the
strange intensity of Lavinia at the time, and Sae’s circumstances, the
conversation had been interrupted…….
Lavinia spoke.
To start with I will once again tell you the story of the people I am
pursuing. ……Between the human world and the world of fantasies there

exists the Dimensional Gap, and in that there is a country called Oz. This
country of magicians, compared to the magicians like myself who live in this
world, utilizes distinct ideals and theories. And that is——“
“……The Wizards of Oz.”
Lavinia nodded at Tobio’s words. She continued to explain further.
“In this Oz, there are castles to the north, south, east, and west, all
centered around the Emerald City where the magicians’ boss resides, and in
those castles is where powerful witches are residing.”
“It was the same in the children’s story of ‘The Wizard of Oz’. The Witch
of the East, the Witch of the North, and so on.”
Indeed, when he had been a child, Tobio had seen the same thing in TV
puppet shows and picture books.
Lavinia spoke with a frightening expression.
“The witch we encountered at the Utsusemi Agency’s hideout, she was
Oz’s Witch of the East.”
——!! ……That elderly woman, she was the Witch of the East from right
out of the children’s novel……. From the conversation, the Witch of the East
was certainly……should have been considered a wicked witch.
Lavinia smiled bitterly.
“To be precise, she is the ‘second generation’ Witch of the East. The
Witch of the East——Augusta of the Purple Flame. That is the true identity
of that elderly woman.”
The second generation……. In the children’s novel ‘The Wizard of Oz’,
the Witch of the East should have been crushed to death as a result of
Dorothy being transferred to the Land of Oz along with her house…….
Given that, would that mean that the first generation was the one that was
crushed to death?
Tobio had nothing but questions, but then Lavinia said this.
“In truth I am also connected to Oz.”
She spoke while staring at the sky.
“……The teacher who taught me magic, she was a witch dwelling in Oz
——Glinda, the Witch of the South.”
——!
……Completely surprised, Tobio was at a loss for words.
Under normal circumstances, conversing about the events of ‘The Wizard
of Oz’ as though they were true was unbelievable, and yet she, Lavinia, said

she was the disciple of the Witch of the South who was a character in that
story.
However, starting with the supernatural power dwelling with Tobio and
the others, after seeing things like demons and fallen angels with their own
eyes, perhaps this wasn’t such a strange thing. Still, nevertheless, since every
time something happens they’d learn something new from fantasy, for Tobio
who had been an ordinary high schooler until recently, each and every one of
them was something he found bewildering.
——But, even Tobio had come to understand slightly.
Just why was she pursuing the witch from the world of Oz?
Lavinia hadn’t spoken all that deeply yet, but regarding her pursuit of the
witches who collaborated with the Utsusemi Agency, it seemed that it was
because she herself also had something to do with Oz.
Lavinia, opening her mouth, had been about to start weaving her next
words——and that’s when it happened.
A strange figure showed up in Tobio’s field of vision. Directing his gaze
towards where Sae and the others were playing, there was a strange looking
boy there. He was a graceful faced boy of about the same age who was
wearing glasses. He was wearing a blazer that was primarily blue in color.
The youth was gazing at Jin and Byakusa with apparent great interest.
With what could be described as a suddenness which didn’t give off a
detectable presence, the youth had appeared near Sae and the others. Sae and
Natsume themselves were being vigilant, having put some distance between
themselves and him.
……He isn’t some kind of seducer. If he was a seducer, he would be
gazing at Sae and Natsume. However, that boy has been focusing his eyes
upon a black dog and a white cat. His attitude is certainly that of one who
understands that those aren’t an ordinary dog and cat pair…….
Beside him, Lavinia also had a stiff expression on her face. Tobio also
stood up and moved to protect Sae and the others.
The boy addressed them.
“Heh, that’s quite a cute cat. Is this your cat?”
——The boy had questioned Sae. Since Byakusa had pressed up against
Sae’s legs, it seemed he thought she was his owner.
“The hell are you? Tch, you’re no normal guy are you?”
The one who replied to the boy——was Samejima. Perhaps having sensed

the atmosphere of suspicion, at some point, Samejima had woken up, and
while shaking his head vigorously, was now walking towards them. There
was a sharp look in his eyes.
The boy, paid no heed to the look the yankee was wearing, and on the
contrary merely smiled.
“Oh, you were able to guess that much huh.”
After the youth had verified that Tobio and the others (with the exception
of Vali) had gathered in the plaza, he started with his self-introduction.
“Nice to meet you, Four Fiends and Inugami-kun. I am Kushihashi,
Kushihashi Seiryuu.”
‘——!?’
At the boy’s self-introduction, Tobio, Natsume, and Samejima were
astonished.
Kushihashi……if I recall correctly, they should have been one of the Five
Principal Clans.
On her guard, Natsume asked for confirmation.
“……Kushihashi? You’re part of the Five Principal Clans right?”
In response to Natsume’s inquiry, the boy——Kushihashi Seiryuu
nodded.
“Yeah, I’m pretty much the next head of the Kushihashi clan. Well, even
if I say that it might not feel real to you guys.”
Suddenly, they’d met a boy who was amember of the Five Principal
Clans, and moreover he called himself the ‘next head of the clan’. For it to be
those same Five Principal Clans that had exiled the Utsusemi Agency
organization that Tobio and the others had just fought against a short while
earlier, coming into contact with one from of clans that was their foundation
was an unusual situation.
The first thing they had to confirm was——had he come to this place with
hostile intentions or not.
As Natsume inquired after the opponent’s intentions, she also shot a
glance at Griffon who was flying in the air.
“……You’re not really a friend are you? Well then, an enemy is it?”
Faced with Natsume’s interrogation, Kushihashi Seiryuu spoke as though
ridiculing her.
“An enemy——I could be one.”
Kushihasi Seiryuu was putting on an attitude that bordered on being

lighthearted. Beside him, Samejima was becoming irritated. Given his
personality, it’s possible that he was prejudiced towards someone of this type.
Samejima whistled, and in response Byakusa, who had been at Sae’s feet,
instantly vanished on the spot. He had instantly leapt onto the shoulder of his
master, Samejima.
Byakusa’s tail wound around his right arm, forming a lance. While
imbuing it with electricity, pointed it towards Kushihashi Seiryuu.
Samejima spoke in simple terms.
“If you take any action I’ll act. Linking up after a meal feels just right.”
“Heh, that’s interesting.”
An indescribable pressure was released from Kushihashi Seiryuu’s entire
body.
It was looking like an explosive situation, but Natsume got between the
two of them and urged restraint.
“W-Wait! Are you……targeting us? For what reason?”
Kushihashi Seiryuu shrugged his shoulders as he spoke.
“——The Utsusemi Agency, you all were involved with them. Or rather,
it’s unfortunate that you ended getting involved with them. Then, the end
result was the collapse of that organization. Given that that is the case, it’s
impossible for even the Five Principal Clans from whom they spawned to
ignore it. That’s to say nothing of your cooperation with the Grigori. ……
This is a serious crime for us. We are antagonistic towards them after all.
……As expected, they’d made contact due to their involvement with the
Ustusemi Agency. Since he’d heard that they were a group that purges
incompetents (like those they’d been involved with) from the household, his
explanation was very easy to understand. Furthermore, it appeared that they
were not at all pleased by Tobio and the others associating with the Grigori.
However, even though he hadn’t said a single word yet, Tobio spoke.
“If it’s about those people who were exiled……I’ve heard all about it.
Moreover, after the incident, you’ve taken action to purge those involved in
the recent events.”
From the Grigori’s explanation, the remnants of the Utsusemi Agency
were considered elimination targets by the Five Clans, and to that end agents
had been dispatched to hunt down the survivors. The agents of the Five Clans
were now continuing to pursue the escaped members of the Utsusemi
Agency’s organization along with the agents of the witches.

And now, even Tobio and the others who had become involved
involuntarily were being targeted——.
That was what was Tobio’s inquiry was alluding to.
Kushihashi Seiryuu replied while surmising the true meaning of Tobio’s
inquiry.
“Unreasonable——isn’t it? Even I understand that it’s only to be
expected. ——But, for turbulent elements, the truth is that it is precisely
because they are plucked ahead of time that this country is here right now.
……Well, I also think it’s overbearing though.”
Kushihashi Seiryuu gave a cynical laugh.
And then, an unnaturally strong wind began to blow throughout the entire
surrounding area. The source of this wind——was the boy, Kushihashi
Seiryuu. With him at the center, wind was welling up.
“——Wind?”
Natsume spoke while holding down her hair and skirt in the wind.
Lavinia replied while paying no mind to her skirt fluttering in the wind.
“Be advised. Kushihashi is the family governing the Phase of ‘Wood’
from the Five Phases[?], and ‘Wood’ can manipulate ‘Wind’ and
‘Lightning’.”
The body of Kushihashi Seiryuu had become enveloped in in something
like a blue ‘essence’. This ‘essence’, oozing from his body, took form behind
him as——a monster with a long and thin body like that of a snake, giving
the impression of an oriental dragon.
“Since we’re also following orders, I’d like you not to curse me when you
die. Aah, please be rest assured. This entire area has been covered by a
barrier. The clearing of bystanders has been completed. Therefore, it’s fine to
rampage. Let me also use this for just a bit.”
Responding to this statement, Samejima prepared to fight.
“Heh, well said. Ain’t you cheerful, saying those kind of words.”
Kushihashi Seiryuu cheerfully looked at the large black dog——Jin, who
was positioned in front of Tobio, and at Lavinia, who was beside him.
“Well then. ——So it’s come to fighting a Longinus, and furthermore two
types, has it then?”
Tobio also sensed his fighting spirit with his own skin, and took on a
fighting stance. That sense was also transmitted to Jin, and the black dog had
produced a blade from his own shadow, which he held horizontally in his

mouth.
Tobio also prepared by producing a scythe from the shadow at his feet.
Sae was behind him. Tobio had assumed a posture for shielding her.
……I will protect Sae! I will absolutely keep her safe!
With this strong determination, he resolved himself to take on Kushihashi
Seiryuu. Natsume, Samejima, and Lavinia were also prepared. Only Vali
wasn’t here……but it seemed the opponent wasn’t going to wait for him to
make an appearance.
“……Light of protection.”
Unnoticed, Lavinia cast a spell by waving the wand that she held in her
hand. The entirety of Tobio and the other’s bodies was covered in a pale
green light. It seemed to be magic that raised defensive power.
The one who made the first move——was Samejima! As expected, the
one for cutting through the vanguard was him. His lance overflowing with
electrical sparks, he performed a full speed dash straight ahead. As he had
during the Grigori’s training, contrary to when they’d fought against the
Utsusemi Agency, he unhesitatingly moved quickly towards the distant
opponent.
Kushihashi Seiryuu showed no indication of evading. Samejima’s thrust
was thrown sharply towards him. Kushihashi Seiryuu, a smile touching the
corners of his mouth, merely evaded Samejima’s sharp thrust with using
evasive action that used the least amount of movement.
Without even hesitating, Samejima closed the distance as he struck with
the lance. Byakusa, who was hanging onto his shoulder, was also sure to fire
another long tail at Kushihashi Seiryuu like a whip.
However, those showed absolutely no sign of hitting the glasses boy. The
evasive movements, which could only be described as superb, gave a similar
impression to those of Vali. It would seem the opponent had considerable
knowledge of classical martial arts.
“Go! JIN!”
At that the black dog, having heard Tobio’s order, began charging forward
at high speed like a bullet, and drew close to Kushihashi Seiryuu. He
unleashed with the blade he held in his mouth. ——But Kushihashi Seiryuu
dodged even that. Paying it no mind, Jin made repeated sword attacks with
the blade, and even generated numerous Night Hakens from the shadows at
his opponent’s feet……but even for these Kushihashi Seiryuu merely jumped

up high to avoid them.
In the midst of the evasive movements he was displaying, Kushihashi
Seiryuu recited words of power as he made symbolic signs with his hands.
“‘By Four-Green Jupiter[?}, form wind’!”
In an instant, a sudden squall sprang forth with himself at the center,
which blew Samejima away. The aftereffects even reached the others, and
everyone was only barely able to brace themselves to avoid getting blown
away right there. With Lavinia’s protective magic, they were somehow able
to pull through this.
——Then, Sae let out a scream of “KYAH!” as the squall threw her off
balance and she ended up hitting the ground hard. For Sae who was still in
the middle of rehab, even being covered with defensive magic, if she was hit
by a squall of such a degree, it appeared that, while it probably wouldn’t
cause any direct damage, it could destroy her posture.
“——SAE!”
Tobio was now preoccupied with the collapsed Sae. Natsume stepped up
to support Sae.
Natsume spoke.
“Leave Toujou-san to me! In any case, with this wind, my Griffon……”
She looked up at the sky. Up there was the figure of Griffon, who was
doing all he could just to fight against the squall called up by Kushihashi
Seiryuu. For Griffon who flies in the air, an opponent who manipulates wind
could be said to have poor affinity.
However, it wasn’t just the Natsume+Griffon combination.
Samjima was performing many sharp slashes with his lance that was
infused with electricity, but even if he had finally gotten in front of him,
Kushihashi Seiryuu made a new sign.
“‘By Three-Blue Jupiter[?], form lightning’!”
What manifested together with the spirit of his words——was lightning
strikes. Blue lightning strikes were formed with Kushihashi Seiryuu in the
center.
The lance wrapped in electricity was forcibly repelled by those blue
lightning strikes. The force of it threw Samejima off balance. Without mercy,
the opponent threw the lightning that had formed in his hand at Samejima.
It happened at that moment.
In Tobio’s mind, the words Samejima had just told him resurfaced——.

——Well, that’s all it is. Wouldn’t it be fine to fight your opponent with
the feeling of protecting Toujou?
—— Might you be the type who is amenable to fighting for the sake of
protecting someone?
The next scene that he flashbacked to was……the Ustusemi Agency’s
hideout, the incident at the outlook room.
——Don’t cry……Tobio…….
——I……was happy……to see you again…….
It was the figure of Sae who had died once by being pierced through the
chest by Jin.
Is that going to be repeated……? Am I going to let Sae die AGAIN……?
………….
……Don’t screw with me. DON’T SCREW WITH ME……! IN ORDER
TO PROTECT SAE! IN ORDER TO FIGHT WITH EVERYONE!
——IN ORDER TO FIGHT AGAINST FATE, I DECIDED TO
BECOME STRONG!
“……Like I’d let you. LIKE I’D EVER LET YOU!”
Tobio’s body——was being enveloped by a black haze. The black haze
——the darkness that was being generated had completely encompassed his
entire body. Throughout his surroundings, warped blades were created one
after another.
Tobio, who had rushed forward at great speed at that very moment, by
simply exceeding the speed that Kushihashi Seiryuu could perceive, seized
the arm of Samejima who had been hit by the lightning strike and thrust him
away to the side. By doing this, the opponent’s attack was evaded.
And then, Tobio who had become Samejima’s substitute for Kushihashi
Seiryuu’s lightning——merely warded it off. The lightning from the
opponent’s fist flew past the side of Tobio’s head, slicing through air.
Tobio, his whole body clad in a dark aura, slashed with the scythe in his
hand. Kushihashi Seiryuu instantly avoided it, but Tobio’s attack hadn’t
finished as he unleashed high speed strikes.
The sharp slashes, which couldn’t be followed with one’s eyes, were
being launched over and over again, producing trails of pitch black darkness
as they went, until at last, discovering an opening by Kushihashi Seiryuu, he
sliced right into him!
Kushihashi Seiryuu was unable to avoid that blow and was diagonally

from his shoulder, but……. The figure of the bisected Kushihashi Seiryuu
collapsed, becoming large petals that scattered all over.
——Body substitution? Just before being hit, he made a shield of large
petals and escaped?
Lavinia had said that Kushihashi was the clan governing ‘Wood’. ……It
seemed that grass and flowers were the same thing.
When Tobio checked the area for indication, he found that Kushihashi
Seiryuu had escaped to a spot a short distance away. It seemed he had not
avoided Tobio’s slash perfectly, as the clothes he was wearing were split
diagonally from his shoulder to his flank.
He was displaying a daring smile in his direction……but there was blood
streaming from near his mouth.
“……Just from those dark waves my whole body has become numb. I see
now, so this is the dog that manipulates darkness huh……”
He swept his gaze over the entire surrounding area. Tobio also emulated
him by sending a glance at his surroundings.
Wherever Tobio had gone, blades of distorted appearance had formed,
and all of them were filled with a dark aura. Even the scythe clasped in his
hand was carrying a dark aura, which was gradually but certainly getting
darker.
Kushihashi Seiryuu, wiping the blood from his mouth with his hand, again
made a symbol with his hands.

“Without such splendidness it wouldn’t be interesting! Well then, I guess
I should also bring it out!”
The blue ‘essence’ covering him swelled further still! It could be clearly
realized that he was doing something tremendous.

“‘In the name of Jupiter, the spirit of wood, carriest the sun on the winds,
bringeth it to the east’! ‘By Three-Blue and Four-Green, at my cry——“
It was just as Kushihashi Seiryuu was about to recite the whole of this
verse——. In the space between Tobio’s group and Kushihashi Seiryuu, a
flash of lightning suddenly rained down like an enormous pillar. Even if it
was a blue sky above, high output ‘lightning’ was falling.
At that, not just Tobio and company, but even the opponent Kushihashi
Seiryuu stopped his hand signs and words of power.
“That’s far enough, next head of the Kushihashi.”
He heard a familiar voice from behind. When he directed his gaze in that
direction——he found that it was Barakiel. Electricity was running along his
hand with a crackling sound. ……That unbelievably large lightning strike
just now, could that have been fired by Barakiel? He couldn’t help but to
compare its output to that of the lightning strike fired by Kushihashi Seiryuu.
“So it was a battle with a next family head from the Five Principal Clans
that you brought me to, huh.”
Vali was also standing next to Barakiel. With these members it had
become a full lineup.
As soon as he noticed Barakiel and Veli, Kushihashi Seiryuu made a bitter
smile.
“……The fallen angel, Barakiel-dono of ‘lightning’, and the rumored
Vanishing Dragon huh. This is quite something.”
Kushihashi Seiryuu shrugged his shoulders, however his fighting spirit
didn’t abate. Even Barakiel’s appearance didn’t disrupt his battle posture.
——But, then that voice called out from behind him. Simultaneously, sparks
of fire danced around the entirety of the plaza.
“——Seiryuu, stop this.”
Hearing that voice, Kushihashi Seiryuu was astonished, and the fighting
spirit——the blue ‘essence’ that was enveloping his body, was erased.
This time it was a voice Tobio wasn’t familiar with.
From behind Kushihashi Seiryuu, a single figure approached while clad in
an aura of seething flame.
It was a girl wearing a blazer whose basic tone was red——no,
vermillion. For her age, she seemed to about the same age as Tobio and the
others.
She was a beautiful looking girl with glossy black hair worn in a ponytail.

……For Tobio, with just one glance at this girl, he had a mysterious
feeling. Looking at the girl’s face, it was as though it was familiar from
somewhere. It was strange. It was impossible. Even though the age difference
between the person he was reminded of and the girl in front of his was was
massive…….
Kushihashi Seiryuu spoke to the girl while exhaling.
“……I hadn’t heard that you would be coming. ——Suzaku.”
“It is something you weren’t informed about.”
The girl who had been referred to as Suzaku laughed slightly. And then,
she turned her gaze it his direction——towards Tobio.
——Then, she bowed to Barakiel.
“It has been a long time has it not. ——Barakiel oji-sama.”
At the appearance of the girl——Suzaku, Barakiel’s expression became
extremely complex.
“……Suzaku huh.”
“Yes, it has been a while since that occasion when we met.”
Suzaku replied in this manner while displaying a smile.
“……You’ve gotten so big.”
“For Oji-sama to have come together with Tobio and the Four Fiends……
could this also be fate?”
“……I’m merely teaching them the art of fighting.”
The two of them appeared to be acquainted somehow……but from their
reactions it could also be presumed that they had some complex
circumstances.
Leaving that aside, Tobio, who ended up becoming even more uneasy,
was unable to hide his confusion. It was as though the girl, Suzaku, knew
him. Moreover, she had suddenly referred to him intimately as ‘Tobio’.
Tobio couldn’t help but feel doubtful, but the girl in question closed the
distance and stood right in front of him.
She was entirely unafraid of the scythe he was holding, or of Tobio who
was clad in darkness.
Above all, with a simple expression on her face, she took Tobio’s hand.
“Ikuse Tobio. I’m Suzaku. Himejima Suzaku. ——You’re ‘second
cousin’. Nice to meet you, Tobio.”
——!!
………….

……At that information, Tobio couldn’t help but to feel astonished. Faced
with something so excessive, he couldn’t find any words.
……This girl is a Himejima. Moreover, my ‘second cousin’. ……She’s a
blood relative.
The girl’s hand which was clasping his hand——was warm, and reminded
him of his beloved grandmother.
Aah, I see. The reason why I thought of my grandmother the moment I
laid eyes on this girl……this is the reason.
Suzaku, while showing a smile, looked over Tobio and the others.
“Just for a bit, there’s something I would speak with you about. With
regard to the remaining Four Fiends, I would like to have a discussion. ——
Would you be so kind as to accompany me?”
Tobio and company exchanged a look with Barakiel. Everyone awaited
the decision of Barakiel who had been appointed to supervise them.
Barakiel replied, “……Understood,” and they journeyed to the location
Suzaku had prepared.

Chapter 4: Seiryuu/Suzaku
Part 1
Tobio and the others, being lead by Himejima Suzaku and Kushihashi
Seiryuu, left the shopping district and eventually arrived in an office locale
——at an enormous building that towered over the area.
Typical for one of the companies connected to them, they had traveled by
the so-called limousine service, which was greatly surprising to Tobio and
the others, who had been vigilant, but since Barakiel who was escorting them
brazenly boarded it without apprehension, they had also followed suit.
A garden had been established on the roof of the building. There was a
penthouse there. It was inside of this to which Tobio and the others were
admitted.
As for the inside the rooftop-built penthouse, it was heavily Japanese-
style, as even the room to which Tobio and the others were escorted was a
Japanese-style room with tatami mats.
In this Japanese-style room, Tobio and the others were seated along with
Himejima Suzaku and Kushihashi Seiryuu, as though in a meeting.
Completely without disrupting her posture, the manner in which Himejima
Suzaku so meticulously sat down made it clear that the training she has
received on social norms was quite high end.
It was Suzaku who started by making the first statement.
“To begin with there is something of which I must speak. The earlier
matter involving the ‘Utsusemi Agency’, their recklessness is the blunder of
the five families. For having gotten you all involved in that, I wish to
formally apologize.”
Suzaku bowed her head. ……Kushihashi Seiryuu who was holding
position behind her had also bowed his head, but, in some respects, his
expression was curt.
As someone who had been assaulting us a short while earlier, his attitude
is…….

Samjima, who was seated next to Tobio, was also feeling anger with a
bulging vein towards Kushihashi Seiryuu’s expression, but since Barakiel
had ordered him ahead of time to show restraint, he clenched his fist in order
to bear with it.
In relation to the incident involving the ‘Utsusemi Agency’, originally it
occurred as a result of the circumstances of those five families. Moreover,
Tobio and the others, who had gotten wrapped up in it, had reason to
complain, or rather, it would be excusable from them to rave while grasping
the other person by the collar……but even if they did so it would only serve
to further complicate the relationship.
Suzaku spoke while looking at Barakiel.
“Like the Grigori, our side is individually pursuing the remnants of the
‘Utsusemi Agency’, as well as that group of magicians who are cooperating
with them——‘Oz’. We have confirmed that while they are evading our
pursuit, there is something that they are pursuing.”
Barakiel spoke up.
“……The remaining ‘Four Fiends’ is it?”
Suzaku calmly nodded in response to the word of the fallen angel Cadre.
“Yes, we’ve heard that two former Ryoukou High Schoolers had taken
refuge in the mountains near a certain prefectural border, where the remnants
and the people from Oz are in the process of tracking them down. Based on
the information of our own spies who have been deployed on site, it’s been
verified that there’s already been skirmishes between them.”
“”””——!?””””
At Suzaku’s words, Barakiel with Tobio, Sae, Natsume, and Samejima,
who were themselves former students of Ryoukou High School.
The remnants of the ‘Utsusemi Agency’, together with the magicians of
‘Oz’ who were cooperating with them, were in motion, and they were
pursuing the two who were the remaining ‘Four Fiends’. The remaining
‘Four Fiends’——in other words they were also former Ryoukou High
School students, and therefore were classmates who had gotten caught up in
that incident.
“Contact with those spies almost ceased a few days ago. Most likely……”
Suzaku, her eyes serious, made an inquiry of Barakiel.
“I have heard that within the Grigori there was a fiendish force. A force
organized from people in possession of rare and ferocious sacred gears…… ‘

Nephilim Abyss
Those Who Fell into the Abyss‘. They are the ones known as the ‘Abyss
Team’ are they not?”
——Nephilim Abyss, Abyss Team.
For Tobio, this was his first time hearing these terms. For that matter, Sae,
Natsume, and Samejima, who were likewise former Ryoukou High School
students, had expressions that were just as bewildered as his.
……But, given that Lavinia and Vali accepted those words calmly, it
would seem that they have known about it.
Natsume spoke to Barakiel.
“……Barakiel-sensei, is this your first time hearing of this?”
Barakiel let out a single breath before answering.
“……It was something Azazel told me to discuss with you once I
observed the timing to be appropriate. My apologies. As she said, the Cadre
who betrayed us——Sataniel, when he left the Grigori he took
a certain force with him. ——Nephilim Abyss, also known as the Abyss
Team. They……are students of Sataniel, and on top of that, they consist of
the owners of fiendish sacred gears. For the human world they’re nothing but
dangerous abilities with the potential to have a negative influence. For that
reason, they had been placed under the protection of us Grigori.”
This was information they were hearing for the first time.
Sataniel, who betrayed the Grigori, took one of their sacred gear forces
with him……. As students, similar to us——the pupils of ‘Barakiel Class’,
could they perhaps have been……’Sataniel Class’?
Tobio, who could also be considered a fiendish possessor, couldn’t help
but to feel uneasy about this.
Suzaku inquired of Barakiel.
“By all rights, I have heard that the disposal of ability users is a matter of
course. Why then was this not done? From ancient times, records of the
Grigori doing this have been passed down and yet……”
When is came to sacred gears that could not be controlled, he had heard
that the Grigori, from time immemorial, had dealt with them severely,
but…….
Barakiel put on a troubled expression and didn’t say anything at all in
answer.
“……The only reply I can give is that we are also not monolithic.”

them
Even for fallen angels who had been living for an unimaginable length of
time——no, precisely because they’d been living since eternity, it seemed
that the respective leaders had each embraced their own respective motives.
Therefore, even a traitor came to exist.
Hearing Barakiel’s statement, Kushihashi Seiryuu put on a cynical smile.
“That’s quite a convenient statement.”
“Seiryuu.”
Suzaku uttered a rebuke.
“Alright, alright.”
Seiryuu shrugged his shoulders.
Returning to the topic of conversation, Suzaku continued.
“In regards to those contacted by the Agency remnants and the magicians,
Toutetsu
they are a boy and a girl possessing the remaining Four Fiends, Tāotiè and
Konton
Húndùn. I imagine that you also know of the individuals involved——“
In response to Suzaku’s statement, Barakiel,
“Nanadaru Shigune[?] and Koga Hyousuke——correct?”
followed up with that. Nanadaru Shigune, Koga Hyousuke. Those were
the remaining Four Fiends. They were students of Ryoukou, classmates, who
hadn’t been rescued yet. Tobio and the others had also been informed of who
the remaining Four Fiends were.
The names of these two had been known to Tobio and the others even
when they had been attending the same school. Both had been famous
students.
For the former, Nanadaru, she was the leading beautiful girl at the school
for whom, among the male students, the number who declared “She is
absolutely the cutest in all of Ryoukou,” was not insignificant.
And then for the latter, there was Koga——.
“……Koga huh. That’ll certainly be troublesome.”
The one who spoke after exhaling as though sighing was Samejima. Even
for Samejima the delinquent, his expression was just that bitter.
As for Tobio’s image of Koga, fundamentally it was on the Samejima side
of things……but by laying claim to the top class grades within their year, he
was a male student possessing duel natures.
He had heard that Samejima himself never hung out with him. Surely it

was possible that he——Koga Hyousuke had always been alone.
According to Samejima, “Since I was careful not to make an enemy out of
him, we didn’t really encounter one another,” was all that he said.
“Koga-kun, due to having brains despite being something of a delinquent,
was popular among the girls.”
Natsume had reminisced in this manner.
Suzaku changed over to the main issue as though throwing a switch.
“Well then, I would like to take this moment to convey my true intentions
for organizing all of this at the present place and time.”
After a beat, she stated the following.
“——Shall we not form a temporary united front?”
Tobio and the others were shocked at this sudden proposal from someone
from the Himejima, but Barakiel, Vali, and Lavinia gave no particular
reaction.
Suzaku continued.
“We will be putting forward our best efforts, the object being the capture
of the Agency remnants. At present, in regards to the Four Fiends and the
Magicians of Oz that participated with them, should they become hostile
towards us we shall take the position of dealing with them.”
Barakiel inquired.
“In other words, in regards to the Four Fiends——the Ryoukou students,
you’d be fine entrusting them to us?”
When Suzaku nodded, Barakiel’s expression became one of doubt.
“……Suzaku, is this your own judgement? With that family head,
something like this……it seems unlikely that they would permit an alliance
with an organization of fallen angels. No, even if the family head were to
forgive you, the chief executives would not remain silent.”
Suzaku just gave a sweet smile in response to Barakiel’s query.
“You could say that we are also not monolithic. The current matter has
been entrusted to me. Despite my appearance I did inherit ‘Suzaku’. Besides,
to be perfectly honest, the truth is that we have little information about the
Abyss Team and Sataniel, and the same goes for Oz. One of the conditions
that is part the implications of the united front I’ve been proposing is that it
also be a win-win for all parties.”
“There is much information that cannot be disclosed……but with the
Abyss Team and Sataniel being a issue we share in common, we’ll hand over

as much as we can. ……With this, it should be in your favor.”
At Barakiel’s words, Suzaku let out a sigh of relief.
“It is a great comfort to me that negotiations have gone well, Oji-sama.”
From behind Suzaku, Kushihashi Seiryuu did say in a low whisper, “I was
opposed this however,” with half-closed eyes, but…….
Barakiel inquired of Tobio and the others.
“The gain of a temporary cooperative relationship with her and her
associates is in regards to protecting the two Four Fiends. There does appear
to be a point of consideration towards them in consideration of the incident a
while back as well as the clash a short while ago but……to start with, the
important thing should be to rescue the Four Fiends——your classmates.
There’s no problem with that, is there?”
Tobio already understood that Himejima Suzaku and Kushihashi Seiryuu,
given that they governed the sacred beasts they were named for, as people
belonging to the Five Principal Clans, they were central figures.
From within the Five Principal Clans, who he had come to know as
people who would excessively purge any failures their family produced, her
side who were central figures were proposing a “united front”.
Tobio and the others had (forcibly) been involved with the ‘Utsusemi
Agency’, who were viewed by her side as traitors to the Five Principal Clans.
Nonexistent
For the Five Principal Clans, they were Purge Targets. For them, this was not
at all what they’d come to expect.
And yet in spite of this, Himejima Suzaku was offering to remove the
target from Tobio and the others, have her side deal with the Agency
remnants, and entrust the remaining Four Fiends to Tobio and the others.
The Agency remnants, Oz, Sataniel and the Abyss Team, for them to
rescue their classmates while dealing with these mixed organizations, and
while also being on guard for an encounter with the Five Principal Clans,
even with the cooperation of the Grigori, these were extremely harsh
conditions.
The idea that they wouldn’t be going up against the Five Principal clans in
the midst of all that would be the most desirable of outcomes, and moreover
her side was going to take responsibility for one of the cooperating
organizations.
On the matter of rescuing the remaining Four Fiends, there won’t be a

better opportunity than this——.
Given that our teacher Barakiel, who’s also a Cadre of the Grigori, is
acquainted with Himejima Suzaku, there’s a certain degree of reliability to it
all.
When it comes to the Five Principal Clans, whether it’s us getting
wrapped up in the original event, or whether it’s the attack just recently, these
are points to consider but……
As far as Tobio was concerned, should he rely on her, on Himejima
Suzaka, at least on this occasion? ——This was what he was considering.
That is, being clad in the same ambience as his grandmother——something
like an aura, as a consequence she did have a strong face, however…….
The first to answer was Minagawa Natsume.
“I……think it’s fine. In all honesty, there is a lot that I’d like to say to
those guys, however our goal of rescuing all of our classmates comes first.”
Samejima snorted, and then spoke while sending a glare towards
Kushihashi Seiryuu.
“Even though I’d like to give that smug fellow over there a good wallop,
well, if we’ve settled upon this united front I’ll go along with it. Nothing
would come of me throwing a tantrum over it by myself anyways. Well, in
any event, if someone should attack us, it should be fine if I just knock them
down.”
That truly was befitting his way of thinking.
To this, the unusual Vali also expressed the same opinion.
“It’s as Samejima Kouki said. Whoever it may be, if they oppose us we
it’s fine to defeat them. It’s truly quite simple.”
Lavinia placed her trust in the judgement of Tobio and the others saying,
“I shall leave it up to to you to decide.”
Tobio exchanged a glance with Sae, and they each nodded.
“Sae and I also have no problem with it. If we’re all fine with it, shall we
get things moving?”
This was Tobio’s response.
Indeed, it was as Samejima and Vali had said. If someone were to attack
them, whether it was Agency remnants, Oz, or the Five Principal Clans,
they’d just have to fight.
Having attained the consent of Tobio and the others, Suzaku, having
confirmed this, produced a single memo from her jacket pocket.

She spoke as she passed this memo to Barakiel.
“This is the location where the Ryoukou students who are remaining Four
Fiends were confirmed to be——their whereabouts. It would be a good idea
to leave promptly. Whether due to them escaping or to them being captured,
the more time that elapses the more likely they will depart from there. We are
also planning to head there before the day is up.”
Kushihashi Seiryuu followed up on Suzaku’s words with a hint of
cynicism.
“Well, if we should run across them first, we could protect them for the
time being. I hope you won’t hate us if we’re not in time though.”
It would appear that cracking jokes was part of the personality of the boy
named Kushihashi Seiryuu. Nonetheless, with the aura enveloping his body
being genuine, it was certain that his level of ability was several levels above
Tobio and the others.
Afterwards, following several rounds of exchanges between Barakiel and
Suzaku, the conference reached a conclusion peacefully and uneventfully.
Everyone stood up, and just as they were all about to, it happened. Suzaku
abruptly called out to Lavinia.
“Lavinia Reini-san.”
“Yes.”
When Lavinia responded, Suzaku posed a question.
“‘Augusta of the Purple Flame’——you are familiar with that name,
correct?”
The moment that name came up——it felt as though the temperature of
the room dropped slightly. No, it reality it actually did.
It wasn’t clear whether it was consciously or subconsciously, but Lavinia
was giving off an icy atmosphere.
“Yes. She is one of the magicians I am pursuing. She is ‘Witch of the
East’ Augusta.”
Having said as much, Lavinia was releasing pressure from her entire
body. Regarding the name that Suzaku had spoken, it had been sufficient to
disturb Lavinia’s emotions.
Tobio recalled the matter she had informed him of in the park earlier.
Lavinia was the disciple of the ‘Witch of the South’ Glenda from
‘Oz’——. And also, Lavinia was pursuing the ‘Witch of the East’ from
‘Oz’——the elderly woman magician who she had encountered in that

facility of the ‘Utsusemi Agency’.
Suzaku continued.
“In regards to the matter of Oz, I just recalled that I had been informed
that you are the disciple of Glenda who was the ‘Witch of the South’. ——
The ‘West’ is also coming here. Although both the ‘East’ and the ‘West’ are
troublesome, I wonder, could the ‘North’ be coming as well?”
“Perhaps, though I believe they have not yet come from their country.”
“Well then, the position of the king of ‘Emerald City’——of ‘Oz’ towards
the present situation is……?”
Lavinia lowered her eyes in response to Suzaku’s inquiry.
“……I do not know. I have received absolutely nothing about the
situation over there.”
In response to Lavinia, whose voice sounded forced, Suzaku merely
replied, “Thank you. That is sufficient.”
Raising her index finger, Suzaku gave Lavinia a piece of advice.
“Just one piece of advice. You shouldn’t associate too closely with the
Grigori. Even at the best of times, they are a target of observation due to the
power they have obtained. I have heard rumors that the Vatican has ordered
the assassination of the Grigori operating in this country. If you should
happen to come across an exorcist who’s enthusiastic about his job, it’s
possible they may hunt you if given the opportunity.”
“……My thanks. I will be careful to avoid being subjected to a ‘witch
hunt’.”
When it came to the conversation between Suzaku and Lavinia, for Tobio
and the others——those who were former Ryoukou students, there was much
that they frankly did not understand.
The matters related to Oz, the relationship between Oz and Lavinia, and
then the Vatican——the Church of Christ?
It appeared there was still a lot for them to learn. Moreover, if they
weren’t appraised of these dangerous circumstances it would become a
disadvantage for them.
In order to live, in order to survive, they would have to learn more about
the world of the supernatural——.
As they were exiting, Barakiel spoke to Suzaku without glancing back.
“Suzaku, I believe that you haven’t changed.”
Suzaku replied while smiling.

“……Barakiel Oji-sama, not one thing has changed since that time. Not
one thing about the Himejima Suzaku who played with Oba-sama and
Akeno. ——However, in regard to the Himejima……the present heads of the
Five Principle Clans, be be cautious of them. Of course, the same for the
exorcists——“
“Aah, naturally.”
After Barakiel exited, just as Tobio and the others were about to exit as
well,
“Tobio.”
Suzaku’s voice called out to him.
With even more gentle facial expressions, Suzaku spoke to Tobio with an
expression like one speaking to their family.
“Thank you for placing your trust in me. Let us speak openly now. When
things calm down, I will have a proper banquet.”
For some reason Tobio blushed in response to those words.
“……S-Sure, yes……”
——At that moment that was the best reply he could come up with.
His two female companions——Natsume and Sae immediately noticed
Tobio’s reaction. Natsume let out a breath of amazement, and Sae——was
slightly disappointed.
They decided to return to their temporary stronghold that same day.
……The date with Sae where it would be just the two of them, it ended up
having to wait until next time.
Part 2
Tobio and the others, after having returned to the apartment building,
immediately started to quickly pack. Naturally, they were acting in response
the information Himejima Suzaku had brought——to get in contact with
their remaining classmates from Ryoukou.
However, their location was a great distance from this place, so they had a
lot of territory to cover. For transport——it was necessary to go by car.
“I’m going to wait in the parking lot.”
The one who said that after having completed his preparations for the trip,
it was Barakiel who was also the teacher of Tobio and company.
In response, they followed the strong organization Cadre, who was

unaffected by events, as soon as they were able.
……As for the car’s driver, they’d thought it would have been left to a
lower ranking individual from the organization……. Whether due to his own
kindness, or else for the sake of some other purpose, or perhaps both——.

Tobio and the others had put together simple luggage. Together with the
self-defence goods that had been provided by the Grigori, there was also
emergency rations.
As for the information that had been brought by Himejima Suzaku——the
location on the map, it was a mountain village quite a ways distant from the
city. From this apartment complex, it was at a distance that would take a few
hours even at the car’s highest speed.
With Tobio and the others having finished their preparations, they headed
to the parking lot where Barakiel was waiting. As for the members who
would be going to the objective location, in addition to the former Ryoukou
students Tobio, Natsume, and Samejima, Lavinia and Vali would accompany
them.
For these members to be assigned to an incident, it was the first time.
Compared to Tobio and the others, the former Ryoukou students, Lavinia and
Vali were capable of demonstrating their abilities. Moreover, they were the
owners of special Sacred Gears. Nonetheless, due to Tobio and the others
also practicing, their abilities had been growing.
Barakiel was standing in the parking lot——in front of an eight passenger
blue station wagon.
Barakiel advised Tobio and the others who had gathered in the parking
lot.
“Before we proceed from here, there appear to be extremely dangerous
users lying in wait for us. Especially Ikuse Tobio and the two Four Fiends.
……Lavinia and Vali have their own obligations, but you have a choice.
What shall it be?”
Just Barakiel was giving this warning, without waiting for their reply, he
added on to it.
“——That is, I’m not saying that you should withdraw. In a certain sense,
my training that I’ve been putting you through was just in case of such a
situation.”
Natsume gave a complacent smile in response to Barakiel’s statement.
“That’s right, Sensei-dono. We, since getting wrapped up in that situation,
have been holding back various feelings after all. ……That said, I used ‘we’
on my own accord, but is that OK with you, Ikuse-kun, Samejima-kun?”
Samejima loudly cracked his neck as he spoke.
“Well, on top of suffering through bullshit like that, after being trained

like a common athlete, I’m not going to just give up now. Last time I was a
weakling at the final moments, this time let’s succeed in going all out.”
At last their gazes gathered on Tobio for confirmation.
Tobio spoke while stroking the head of his partner——the black Jin who
was beside him.
“There are a few classmates who we haven’t rescued. After having come
this far, I want to save all of them. If we can bring an end to this now, then
there is nothing I’d prefer to be doing.”
These were Tobio’s true feelings.
To put it in stark reality, they had already boarded the ship. Whatever the
outcome would be, he wanted to see it through to the end, to exert even the
very last of his power to welcome a pleasant conclusion.
Upon hearing the words of Tobio and the others, Barakiel let out a sigh.
At this point, if even one person were to shout NO, they would be able to
remain at the apartment complex. However, for Tobio and the others who
were here, they all had chosen “go”.
Barakiel nodded once, and in acknowledgement said, “Understood.”
——But, directing his gaze at Tobio, he announced the following.
“One thing, you will accept a condition.”
Barakiel calmly raised his hand. And then——from a sheltered area of the
parking lot, Sae made an appearance.
Barakiel spoke.
“She will also be participating in this present matter.”
Upon hearing these words, Tobio, Natsume, and Samejima were very
much surprised. It was only natural. Sae——in her current state her fighting
strength was essentially nonexistent. It was hard to say if the damage she’d
endured in the incident a while back would fully fade. Even though that was
something that even Barakiel should be aware of, he had told them to accept
her participation.
The first to raise an objection to this——as expected, it was Tobio.
“Sae cannot fight! Her body still hasn’t completely recovered after all! To
go to such a dangerous place……I oppose such a thing! Why Sae!”
Tobio clearly objected to Sae’s participation.
Even if usually the personalities of Natsume, Samejima, Lavinia, or Vali
could forcibly suppress him, when it came to matters involving Sae in
particular, he was always putting his emotions on full display.

Tobio……risking his life, had saved Sae, going as far as to turn into a
monster to do it. ……No, not quite. He had lost her right before his eyes.
With the aid of his comrades, he had somehow rescued their classmates from
the ‘Utsusemi Agency’, including Sae.
His personal childhood friend——.
And with them heading into danger……Tobio could not approve.
“Ikuse Tobio, I can also comprehend what you said. However though, this
is an order from the Governor General, from Azazel. Specifically, if Ikuse
Tobio goes, then Toujou Sae is to go along with him.”
“……Why is that?”
Tobio asked in confusion. With the name of the Governor General being
mentioned, he ended up temporarily regaining control of his emotions. As for
the probable reason, it was immediately inferred.
Barakiel spoke while directing his gaze at Jin.
“Hmm. Ikuse Tobio, the Sacred Gear you possess——‘
Canis Lykaon
Dog God of the Black Blade‘ has entered a half-awakened state. We don’t
want it to end up in a state like that from before——where the Balance
Breaker ran wild, due to some kind of chance occurrence. That being the
case, in order to return it as close as possible to its original condition, we
have also been struggling……but we cannot guarantee with certainty that it
has been reverted.”
——The Balance Breaker, the transformation that Tobio, when at the
‘Utsusemi Agency’ hideout the other day, had succumbed……or rather, had
set loose.
Tobio himself had only vague memories of that time……but what he
recalled was deep blackness, a dark thing that dominated his mind and body,
intense negative emotions like killing intent, hostility, rage, and sorrow
swirled about inside of him, and a sense that he had lost his true self.
……There was something at that time, as though out of a dream, that gave
rise to a definitive feeling of discomfort within Tobio, which he had realized
was from embracing some foreign entity.
Indeed, the him from that time had assumed the form of a black monster
——.
He had been unable to forgive the one who had stolen Sae’s life, until he
took the form of a black monster.

Raising her hand, Natsume inquired of Barakiel.
“Supposing, should Ikuse-kun become the black humanoid dog thing from
that time and start rampaging, couldn’t Lavinia and Vali work together again
to bring him under control?”
At that time as well, Lavinia and Vali, together with Governor General
Azazel, were able to successfully bring the awakened Tobio under control
without incident. He had then returned to human form.
“……It’s possible that it would succeed again, but it’s possible that it
would fail this time. Even we Grigori do not yet fully understand the power
of Ikuse Tobio. When it comes to the Sacred Gears that are Longinus, if they
aren’t dealt with using the strictest of caution, something could happen.
Particularly for a Sacred Gear that has previously reached that evolution——
the Balance Breaker, which can be described as a prohibited technique on the
level of destroying the world’s balance. Even for the Grigori, after all these
long years we’re in the midst of studying this phenomenon. Ikuse Tobio’s
awakened state, his present condition, is something we prefer to avoid if
possible.”
Barakiel continued.
“——That may be the situation, but to return to the topic at hand, taking
into account the time that your Balance Breaker ran wild, there exists a
possibility that Toujou Sae’s power will become necessary.”
Tobio was inclining his head in doubt at Barakiel’s explanation, but——.
“We’re speaking of the power of love.”
Azazel emerged from where he’d been hiding without a sound and spoke.
“Governor General! You were here!”
In her surprise, Natsume raised her voice, but Azazel continued without
paying her any mind.
“It’s been confirmed that there have been previous Balance Breaker
events, and based on the remaining data, what stopped someone who ended
up in a rampaging state was a lover. In addition, even that which was
restraining Tobio who was born possessing an awakened state, was none
other than his biological grandmother. And her love was immense. If it’s
Toujou Sae, shouldn’t she be sufficient for that role? Or else is her love
insufficient?”
With that, in response to the words that were like instigation from Azazel
(who was smiling obscenely)——Tobio and Sae’s faces became bright red in

extreme embarrassment.
‘……If you say such things in a place like this, of course this would
happen!’ thought Tobio as he was overcome with an immense desire to be
anywhere else.
Samejima also had his hand on his chin, and in spite of being the same
age as them said, “Love, huh. Ah to be so young,” while clearly enjoying the
situation.
Although she was still blushing, Sae inquired of Tobio.
“……That seems to be the case. Though I won’t be fighting, if Tobio ends
up becoming strange again……if you should need to be stopped, I wish to be
the one to stop you. Even if I can’t do anything else, that’s all the more
reason for me to want to be the one to stop you.”
She……intended to follow him no matter what it seemed. Her eyes were
determined. Since it have come to this Tobio understood that even he
couldn’t stop her.
Azazel then spoke further.
“It is certain that you’re heading into danger. There’s also the possibility
of Tobio reaching Balance Breaker. In that case, her very presence will be
necessary. Moreover if she cannot resolve the rampage, at that point we’ll
have no choice but to use our last resort. That requires no explanation, does
it?”
The last resort——elimination, or to put it another way, he’d be disposed
of. If his dangerous condition couldn’t be resolved, they’d have no choice but
to defeat him. In the case of his rampaging, where he would become a danger
to his surrounding to the degree of killing his companions without
warning……Tobio didn’t want to think about that.
In order to prevent that Sae’s presence was indispensable——.
While Tobio was calming his breathing, still blushing, he spoke with
reddened cheeks.
“……Sae, just don’t do anything rash.”
That was Tobio’s acknowledgment.
Sae nodded saying, “Sure,” with a smile.
Natsume, while watching this state of affair with a grin, had been nodding
her head in agreement repeatedly.
“Heeey, Toujou-san, so you intend to keep him safe! We will also be
protecting Toujou-san!”

“Well, being protected by you seems like it very much wouldn’t be worth
it.”
Such was Samejima’s response to this.
“Hey there! I’m not just a frail girl you know!”
Azazel gave a backwards glance to the visibly enraged Natsume as he
spoke to Lavinia and Vali.
“Above all else, I’m entrusting the two of you with these guys. Well, if
something were to happen, send a communication to me. Let us do what we
are capable of. Not just Tobio, both of you should be careful with your own
powers.”
Lavinia replied with a short, “I will do so,” while Vali confidently said,
“Hmph, I’m not some amateur.”
“Oh, will you be taking care of things Governor General? You did
expressly come all the way here.”
It was Natsume who asked this.
Azazel replied with a bitter smile.
“You’d like someone like me who stands out as Governor-General to also
come? How do I put this, if a representative such as myself were to go
wandering around enemy territory, it would be a very big deal. Barakiel will
escort you as far as the actual location. From there on you’ll just have to so
your best. Should the remaining Four Fiends be safe, or whatever condition
they might be in, we have made preparations so that there will be no problem
for them to return.”
——Whatever condition they might be in, huh.
……Naturally, it was their intention to rescue them safely. However,
there was a inexcusable premonition in spite of that. They were anxious about
the opponent they would be heading to face, but for the remaining Four
Fiends as well they——.
In this manner, in order to rescue the two classmates who were that which
remained from the Four Fiends, Tobio, Natsume, Samejima, Sae, Lavinia,
and Vali, as the members operating under Barakiel, set out towards the
location they’d been informed of——.
The blue station wagon proceeded with Barakiel at the wheel as he

followed the directions from the car’s navigation system, into which the
location had been input.

Vali was in the front passenger seat. The three people in the second row
were Tobio, Sae, and Lavinia, while Natsume and Samejima sat in the third
row. Vali had refused to give up the front passenger seat, and now occupied it
as though he owned it. It would seem that, as far as he was concerned, the
front passenger seat was his favorite spot. Tobio predicted that, most likely,
he would be the type to always sit in the first row of the first car when
boarding a train.
As for Jin and the other Independent Avatar Type Sacred Gears, Jin, being
the only one with a large build, slipped inside Tobio’s shadow, Byakusa
accompanied them inside the car, and Griffon seemed to be flying along
outside.
While filling up with gas at a gas station near their route, they took the
time to prepare a reserve amount using portable gas cans. It was insurance
since anything could happen where they were heading. Besides, gasoline
could also be a weapon when push comes to shove.
The sun was also gradually beginning to set. It would seem that, by the
time they reach their destination, the sun would have set entirely.
While driving the car, Barakiel raised a question.
“Have you looked over the material?”
The material in question was a file they’d been given back when they
were making preparations at the apartment complex. Tobio and the others
had reviewed its contents before heading to the parking lot.
Barakiel spoke.
“In all likelihood, in this present case, the probability of of exchanging
blows with the remnants of the ‘Utsusemi Agency’, the magicians, and the
Sacred Gear users is extremely high.”
Indeed, the data recorded was information about Sacred Gear users. There
were even attached photos of the individuals.
——It was the data on the aforementioned Abyss Team.
Samejima spoke.
“I did give the material a onceover, however, as far as their Sacred Gears
go, do they not manipulate living creatures the way ours do?”
As Samejima had said, according to the information Tobio and the others
recalled having been taught at Nephilim, there were several classifications for
Sacred Gear abilities.
Barakiel replied.

“Uhuh, there are a great variety of Sacred Gear abilities. The variety that
you all belong to, those abilities are classified as ‘Independent Avatar Types’.
As you were taught at Nephilim, and as those documents indicate, there are
several other varieties as well. The possessors from the Abyss Team, their
varieties are too dispersed to be grouped together.”
The abilities of Tobio and the others, which were embodiments of
supernatural power, were abilities that were primarily grouped under the
‘Independent Avatar Type’ classification.
This covered Tobio, Natsume, Samejima, and Lavinia.
For Vali, his Sacred Gear belonged to a system that operated by
unleashing the power of a dragon that was sealed within.
In addition to these, there wa a wide range of Sacred Gear abilities, with
the varieties including ‘State Alteration’, ‘Boundary Seal’, ‘Attribute’,
‘Defence’, ‘Counter’, and ‘Create’ among others.
Naturally, among these, there were those that awakened only a single
ability, however, there also existed the strongest of Sacred Gears which
possessed two, or even three superior abilities simultaneously.
Referred to as the Longinus, only thirteen of these had been confirmed to
exist in the world.
……Tobio and Lavinia, and Vali as well, were in possession of Longinus.
Among the thirteen, for three of them to have gathered in one place……
such a thing seemed frankly abnormal. With such a situation, it was suitable
that they, as the Sacred Gear owners, be under the protection and supervision
of the Grigori.
Barakiel continued.
Within the material you reviewed earlier, there’s just one thing I want you
to keep in mind, namely that the powers they——the Abyss Team’s members
hold are extremely troublesome and powerful. In a simple application, should
it come to a contest of power, yours are exceedingly superior on the surface.
——But, their abilities, depending on the time and place, and should the
conditions be met, can demonstrate atrociously brutal abilities. From the start,
the team was specifically organized from possessors of abilities that were
hard to handle. after all.”
As their teacher Barakiel had said, the threat as described in the
documents they had reviewed were enough to make one shudder.
Their abilities——had numerous effects that, if one was subjected to

them, were impossible to recover from. The people the team was put together
from had deliberately, or rather, purposefully included those individuals
specifically. If that was the case, Tobio thought that the person who lead the
Abyss Team……must have an extremely cruel personality.
Even the fearless Samejima had commented, “……They’re pretty
outrageous, these opponents of ours,” with a solemn expression.
Barakiel spoke.
The abilities listed in there, I want you to at least be attentive of them.
That information will directly impact your likelihood of survival.”
Tobio and the other students replied, ‘Yes.’
After that, they continued in silence for a short while. As they approached
their destination, a feeling of tension naturally began to grow within the
vehicle.
That was when it happened.
“Before we arrive at our destination, I would like to tell you a short
story.”
The one who broke the silence with these words was Lavinia.
When everyone was listening carefully, she began speaking.
“……I was born in a coastal town in Italy.”
She——Lavinian Reini, despite possessing a talent for magic, was not
born into a genuine magician’s household. She was born to an ordinary
family.
However, when she was born she had been in possession of supernatural
ability. From the time of her infancy, a doll of ice had manifested by her side
Absolute Demise
——the Longinus ‘Eternal Ice Princess‘.
As a young girl, she knew nothing about it whatsoever, and she feared the
princess of ice that no one other than herself could see as an ‘Ice Goblin’.
It was when she was about nine years old. A great incident befell her.
——Her parents died in an accident.
For a nine year old girl, having gone through the death of her parents, she
suffered even while understanding the situation.
Since she, who was always talking about the ‘Ice Goblin’ was considered
odd by her relatives, it was difficult to find someone willing to take in
Lavinia.
Lavinia narrated.

“For myself from that time, compared to how I have been since then, due
to losing Papa and Mama I was deeply depressed——and I was enveloped by
hatred of for ‘Ice Goblin’.”
Indeed, because she had been under the impression that what had killed
both of her parents——was the ‘Ice Demon’.
She felt resentment, hatred, as well as malice towards the ‘Ice Demon’
that never left her side. If observed by people who couldn’t see anything, they
could only perceive Lavinia as a troubled girl who would rage in a loud voice
towards empty air.
Even for Lavinia herself the memories of that time were rather vague.
Due to the excessive sadness, the excessive fear, the oversized negative
emotions she bore as a young girl, she sealed her memories from that time in
her own heart……or perhaps, in the Sacred Gear that was lodged in her body
——.
Nevertheless, she clearly remembered this much. Having gone for a walk
in her home’s garden, Lavinia experience a sudden and strange feeling, and
before she realized it——she was standing in a place with unfamiliar scenery.
The place was surrounded by tall trees. Before she had noticed, she found
herself standing in a forest somewhere. Surprised, Lavinia began looking all
around, and what she saw was——a wooden building like one out of a
fairytale. It was an ancient, isolated house with a slight roundness to it, like
one a witch might live in.
Standing in front of the isolated house——was an elderly woman wearing
an ordinary smile. She had a pointed hat and robe, was holding a staff, and
had the appearance of a prototypical witch from out of a story book.
The old lady spoke.
——It’s alright now.
The old lady——the Witch of the South Glenda who was Lavinia’s
master, took charge of her, and taught her the way to handle her Sacred Gear,
as well as how to handle magic.
In meeting this gentle teacher, Lavinia’s heart, which had been sealed
away, gradually began to thaw.
Glenda, due to certain circumstances, had moved from the world of Oz to
live in this world. Her purpose was to study Sacred Gears.
Life in Glenda’s forest was simple, and for Lavinia it was a time of
irreplaceable happiness.

It was there that Lavinia cultivated her talent for magic.
It happened when Lavinia was thirteen years old. Glenda suggested to
Lavinia that she spend time outside with magicians of her own generation.
That is to say, it was Glenda’s judgement that, if there were other
magicians present in this world, then she should cultivate a rapport with the
other magicians in this world.
Shortly afterwards, Glenda entrusted Lavinia to ‘Grau Zebaurer’. Lavinia
was pained to be separated from Glenda, but on top of longing for her
teacher, she resolved to throw herself into her studies at the magical
association.
It was after she’d spent a number of years with ‘Grau Zebaurer’——.
More bad news reached Lavinia.
——Glenda had come under attack by a witch who had come from Oz.
“Having received that report, I returned to the forest that was my second
home town. However——“
The isolated house in the forest she had spent so much time in had been
burned down, leaving only the carbonized ruin of a house behind.
Glenda’s wellbeing was unknown, however, if it was just concerning the
magicians who had come from Oz, she knew how to investigate their trail.
Lavinia pursued the magicians, and in the midst of that, she got wrapped
up with the matter of the ‘Utsusemi Agency’ and the ‘Four Fiend Project’
from the other day——.
Natsume then asked.
“……So you’re fighting in order to learn about the condition of your
master?”
Lavinia replied.
“……They did not give me a direct answer. Therefore, whether they
entered Oz directly or whether they remained in this world to continue
meddling, whatever the case, I have decided to pursue them. To that end,
since this is my situation, I would like for every one of you to fulfil your own
objective. I don’t want to be a hindrance. Even if it is just me by myself, I
will pursue them.”
As she said that, Lavinia’s expression, unlike how it usually was, was
displaying an attribute of cool-headedness.
Having learned of Lavinia’s objective, silence swept through the vehicle
for a short while.

The first one to speak was Tobio.
“I now understand Lavinia-san’s circumstances. I don’t yet understand the
full extent of my power, but even so I will cooperate with searching for your
master.”
Those were Tobio’s true feelings.
Hearing Tobio’s statement, Lavinia was slightly surprised.
Tobio continued.
“Lavinia-san has been cooperating with us despite having circumstances
of her own. If it wasn’t for Lavinia-san, I……would not have been able to
recover from that perilous condition, and Sae and our classmates certainly
would not have been rescued.”
Natsume and Samejima also nodded in response to these words of his.
If Lavinia hadn’t have been there, it would seem that the battle with the
‘Utsusemi Agency’ would not have concluded safely. Tobio felt strongly that
they also wouldn’t have been able to completely rescue their classmates.
To this Samejima, while folding his arms, smiled bitterly.
“It’s quite vexing, but it’s just as Ikuse says. If it was just us……it
wouldn’t have been a pleasant outcome. Well, the ship has already sailed. In
any case, aren’t we heading right towards those witches anyways? Well then,
I say we should clean them all up in one go.”
Natsume, leaning forward from the back seat, suddenly hugged Lavinia.
“Quite right, even Samejima-kun says good things once in a while. That’s
how it is, Lavinia. Let’s cooperate with each other! Seeing as we’re
companions, it’s too late to back out now!”
Even Sae chipped in at that.
“Lavinia-san. I……don’t know to what extent I’ll be able to cooperate,
but I want to repay you as thanks for all your help. Therefore, will you tell
me how I can be of service?”
In response to the voices of her comrades, Lavinia——smiled.
Lavinia placed her hands on the arms of Natsume, who was still hugging
her.
“……Natsume, Shark, Shyaae, Tobi……thank you.”
In explaining her circumstances, and by making all members aware of
them, they’d become unified in thought. While on the way towards a battle,
in this vehicle they’d strengthened their unity.
At this, even Barakiel cracked a smile from the driver’s seat.

Suddenly Samejima asked a question of Vali who was in the passenger
seat.
“How about you, Lucidra-sensei? Will you be cooperating with the
magical girl?”
Vali had not interjected at all during Lavinia’s story. Everyone’s gaze
focused upon the young boy.
Vali abruptly put on a nihilistic smile.
“I’ve been aware of Lavinia’s circumstances from before. I’ve had an
interest in fighting the Wizards of Oz all along after all. Well, I’ll lend you
my power.”
At his impertinent line, Samejima shrugged his shoulders and said, “Ahh,
sure sure,” in amazement.
Lavinia smiled and spoke.
“Yes, I am aware. Vaa-kun is such a simple boy after all.”
Lavinia’s smile reached Vali through the rearview mirror. Upon noticing
it, Vali’s face turned blood red.
He had wanted to put on airs suitable for his age, but his true intentions
were actually quite frank——.
Part 3
The location party was advancing through was changing. The car had
entered a valley, and the farther they went the fewer houses there were. It
seemed as though even the road was getting somewhat narrower…….
Already the sun had dropped from the sky, and darkness had fallen.
According to the time displayed on clock inside the car, it was 9:00 PM.
The darkened road was illuminated in the high beams from the station
wagon, but the world just a short way ahead was covered in darkness.
The number of trees nearby increase, becoming a wood a first, until at last
they were travelling on a forest road.
Even with the cars it was different, as the vehicles that were being driven
around before were no longer there.
“Uwaa……. This certainly isn’t a popular place.”
While peering at the state of affairs outside the window, Natsume voiced a
few of her thoughts.
This station wagon might have been similar to a reckless person’s coffin

plunging into hell.
The view outside alone was enough to give someone the chills. Perhaps it
was because it was ominously overgrown with various unfamiliar trees, but
the atmosphere was enveloped with a peculiar darkness.
“By any chance, will we perhaps be fighting in a forest for the first time?”
Tobio muttered while gazing at the forest.
Hearing that, the expression of Sae who was beside him instantly
darkened.
A battle in a forest late at night——. It seemed that it would be an intense
fight when compared to the above average conditions of downtown or a
department store.
Tall grasses, never knowing what’s underfoot, and trees that give rise to
shadows as well as cover. For them, these would become dangerous factors.
If the trees were to be used as cover, they could be used defensively as
well, but the same was true for their opponents. And in regards the the dark
forest that was right before them, they were well aware that it was enemy
territory.
——Well then, if we were to be attacked in the forest, just how would we
fight?
Tobio was pondering this. Barakiel then spoke.
“We’re close.”
The cursor on the car navigation system was steadily beginning to overlap
their destination point.
For a short while now, perhaps because they’d gotten close to their
destination, the guidance voice from the navigation system had been speaking
up frequently.
They would reach their destination very soon.
——From besides him Sae shouted.
“Ahead!”
The headlights revealed what seemed to be a person on the road in front
of them!
Barakiel hurriedly hit the brakes and the car came to an emergency stop.
With everyone riding in the car being impacted by the sudden breaking, Sae
and Natsume reflexively let out shrieks of, “Kyah!”
Samejima leaned forward from the back seat to inquire.
“What?”

“A person! There’s what appears to be a person in up ahead!”
It was Natsume who answered Samejima’s question.
In response to the sudden event, Barakiel unfastened his seat belt. Before
getting out of the car he calmly spoke to Tobio and the others.
“……Around here it wouldn’t be unusual even if something were to occur
already. Don’t neglect to be cautious.”
Having spoken thus to his students, taking a flashlight in his right hand he
opened the door and headed towards the figure up ahead.
Tobio caught his breath. Vali was the model of composure. A cheerfully
intrepid smile appeared on his face.
Barakiel aimed the light of his flashlight forward and investigated……but
the figure, what had appeared to be a person did not become visible at all.
It had been a misunderstanding……an apologetic ambiance drifted
through the car. If a person from the village had appeared that would also
have been fine. It was the present situation of nobody coming out that was the
most ominous.
That was because this phenomenon itself, given their opponents’ ability,
could possibly be a trap. That was something that everyone who was present
recognized.
A feeling of tension had drifted through the car’s interior, but Barakiel
who was outside the car, perhaps having sensed some indication, aimed his
flashlight at a certain point, and his expression became quizzical.
“Is there somebody there?”
Outside of the car, Barakiel inquired as such to somebody.
The gaze of everyone in the car gathered in the direction Barakiel had
addressed.
For a moment there was silence. Then, from the shadows of the trees
beside the road, there was a single figure——.
When Barakiel aimed his light there, what was there was the frantic form
of a lone girl.
She was a blond (part of her long hair had been braided) with dark tinged
features that suggested she was a foreigner.
Tobio, Sae, Natsume, and Samejima were astonished upon seeing her
familiar face.
In accordance with what they recalled, there was her characteristic——
mismatched colored eyes. The right eye was blue, and the left eye was black.

With beautiful looks, she was Nanadaru Shigune. Said to have been the
most beautiful girl at Ryoukou High School, she was a biracial girl who was
part Japanese and part Western. She had been called “Shigune[?]” by those
girls she was closest with.
Shigune was wearing the school uniform of the school she had transferred
to……but it had gotten dirty in several places, and there were even parts that
were torn. There was also a little bit of mud that had gotten on her face. She
was breathing heavily, which made it clear she had just been fleeing for her
life.
She appealed to Barakiel with a voice that seemed to take a lot out of her.
“……Please help.”
Barakiel nodded once.
Barakiel sent a glance towards those who were in the car.
“Relax. We are your allies.”
Understanding those words that Barakiel spoke to be a signal, Tobio and
the other Ryoukou students exited the car.
Natsume and Sae stood before the cautious Shigune. In response to their
familiar faces, Shigune’s eyes widened in astonishment.
“……Minagawa-san, and Toujou-san……?”
With two of her former female classmates appearing before her eyes,
perhaps feeling relieved in addition to her surprise, Shigune ended up sinking
to the ground right where she was.
“Woah woah woah! Are you alright!?”
“Relax, Nanadaru-san.”
Natsume and Sae rushed over to the now seated Shigune in order to lend
her a gentle hand.
At the same time, Tobio and Samejima, who had also exited the vehicle,
being faced with the safety of one of their remaining classmates, relaxed their
tension to a degree and let light smiles leak out.
However, Samejima noticed something that was being held in Shigune’s
arms and spoke to Tobio.
“……Is that Nanadaru’s Sacred Gear?”
As Samejima said this, Tobio had been looking towards Shigune’s arms.
In her arms——she was holding a small quadruped that was wearing
something like a mask over its face. Two horns were growing from its head.
The mask meanwhile had some kind of pattern like that of a character on

it……. However, the mask’s pattern was one that Tobio was familiar with.
When he had been investigation about the Four Fiends, he had noticed
something identical in a book.
That——was displayed as the pattern relating to Toutetsu of the Four
Fiends that was featured in Toutetsu engravings. In other words, the
mysterious creature Shigune was holding——it was a Sacred Gear, one of
the Four Fiends, the one known as Toutetsu.
……With independent avatar type Sacred Gears, while there are those
like Natsume’s falcon and Samejima’s cat that manifest as ordinary creatures,
there are also those whose manifestations are peculiar just from their
appearance.
Shigune, having been looked after and having recovered her disposition
that had slackened slightly, spoke to Tobio and the others.
“We should get away from here! People using strange techniques——“
Shigune only spoke to that extent, and the reason soon became clear.
Next to Tobio, a growl was released from Jin.
Ahead of the front of the car——towards the road that remained just
slightly dark in spite of the headlights, that was where the black dog Jin
directed his threat. His jet black fur bristled violently and he bared his fangs.
Seeing that, Tobio and the others took defensive postures.
Natsume let out a “Chih chih chih” sound from her mouth, and with sound
of flapping wings, Griffon descended from the out of the darkness. From
there he perched on her shoulder.
As Samejima was also preparing himself, Byakusa moved from his
shoulder to his arm.
Unnoticed, the sound of insects had died out.
Little by little their skin began to crawl from the blood thirst and hostility.
“Jin……”
At the quiet call of his master, Jin produced a distorted sword from the
shadows at his feet and prepared to use his mouth.
Vali and Lavinia had also gotten out of the car.
“Hmph, such obvious killing intent. Interesting.”
“This presence, it is not a magical formula.”
It was when all members had completed their battle preparations.
A strange dry sound with a fixed rhythm like ‘ku ku ku’ was heard from
in front of them.

What appeared in the area illuminated by the headlights——was uncanny,
one-legged, fifty centimeter stone statue. With tiny wings growing from its
back and a single horn on its head, its appearance was one of something
grotesque.
At first glance its eyes were closed but…….
Tobio recalled seeing it somewhere before……suddenly he realized it
with a jolt.
——This was in the materials on the Abyss Team we read before coming
here!
Barakiel stiffened and shouted as the stone statue suddenly moved as
though it was violently shivering.
“——Close your eyes!”
As Barakiel instructed, everyone closed their eyes, and even further
covered their eyes entirely with their arms!
In an instant, the area was completely filled with a dazzlingly intense
light.
When the light stopped, Tobio and the others timidly opened their eyes.
The uncanny stone statue that had been illuminated by the headlights had
vanished.
Barakiel spoke with a bittey expression.
“Really, so they’re sending that out first huh. That——is a Sacred Gear.”
Vali picked up from there.
“It was also written in those files right? ——
Brain Shine Statue
Cursed Statue of Radiance Lost. As for its characteristic, if one directly
receives that light it releases, it gradually steals their eyesight. Depending on
the circumstances a person’s eyes would become entirely unable to see
anything.”
It was a terrifying thing that the youth was saying, but his expression was
composed.
Natsume swallowed and spoke.
“Isn’t that beyond terrifying……?”
Barakiel then replied.
“It should have been described in the material as well. The Abyss Team
consists of members with those sorts of abilities.”
Indeed, the Abyss Team’s members’ abilities——they were Sacred Gears

that dealt damage their opponents could not recover from.
If they’d been hit by the attack like the one just now, they would have had
their eyesight stolen, or possibly lost their hearing. Characteristics that
impose severe mental pollution with serious side effect, or others that utilized
insects that would parasitically feed on the opponent’s body gradually from
the inside.
Assassination, torture, the Abyss Team was formed of a collection of
possessors who were entirely inhumane.
It had been explained to Tobio and the others that, if one were to fight
them upfrontly, their mind and body would suffer severe damage of some
sort.
The statue just now was a Sacred gear that, when it opened its eyes, would
release a light would rob a person of their eyesight.
“……A team that kills at first sight, if that’s the truth I rather not have
them as opponents though……”
While paying attention to her surroundings, Natsume muttered as much.
Then Barakiel, Vali, and Lavinia directed their gazes towards a single
point. Everyone else matched their gazes.
From the soundless darkness of the road, laughter could be heard.
“Pupupu, upupupu.”
As for that which appeared while letting out such an unpleasant laugh, it
was a slender man. He was dressed in something similar to the ‘Nephilim’
uniform worn by Tobio and the others.
The man wore sunglasses, had a crooked mouth, and wore an ugly smile
on his face. At his feet was the aforementioned uncanny stone statue. Its eyes
were closed once again.
“……I wish to render your eyes sightless quickly. ……I wish to make
you understand the sensation of having sightless eyes…….”
As the man spoke, he had the eyes of the stone statue at his feet open——.
Tobio and the others did not permit the silent attack, and Tobio, Natsume,
and Samejima all moved swiftly.
“Slash!”
“Do it!”
“Extend!”
Jin charged at high speeds with a sword held in his mouth, Griffon took to
the air, and the point of Byakusa’s long tail shot towards the opponent.

It was a threefold simultaneous attack, but even in the midst of this the
man’s disgusting smile did not cease.
Shigune shouted.
“That statue! There are two of them!”
Hearing that cry, Vali immediately took a quick look behind them and
fired a silver aura from his hand!
There was another stone statue, but Tobio and the others’ backs were
covered.
“Lavinia!”
As Barakiel called out Lavinia’s name, she expanded a magic circle and
fired at the male opponent. The man was enveloped directly by the blue
colored aura released from the magic circle……but there was no damage.
The simultaneous hits taken from Jin’s sword and Byakusa’s tail were
insufficient to break the stone statue in front of them, but the stone statue
behind them was destroyed with a single attack from Vali.
Griffon’s high speed diving attack was closely avoided by the man.
Towards that man, Barakiel spoke while generating a small scale
electrical phenomenon.
“To go so far as to take even me on, are you all such fools?”
The man, who seemed to be aware that Barakiel was a Cadre of the
Grigori, while squinting and showing a smile, calmly vanished into the
darkness.
Riririririri.
The sound of insects resumed. There was no longer any murderous intent
being released.
Tobio wiped the sweat that had amassed on his chin with his hand.
With the battle having ended, all members took a deep breath. Shigune
then spoke to everyone as though having just recalled.
“Koga-kun! Everybody, Koga-kun is……!! He’s fighting in the village
that’s over there!”
Shigune’s expression was urgent as she pointed towards the village.
It would appear that the situation was changing immensely——.

Chapter 5: Four Fiends/Third Person,
Fourth Beast
Part 1
After that they got back into the car again, progressed with vigilance, until
they reached what appeared to be the entrance to the village.
Houses had been built here and there. ……There was no sign of people.
Just from looking from the outside, there did not appear to be any lights
inside the houses.
The surrounding landscape consisted only of fields and mountains. After
that, there was nothing but the darkness of the night.
There was light from the light poles that had been set up at regular
intervals, but the light they produced was unreliable. Compared with the
darkness covering the village, the light was entirely insufficient.
Once they reached the entrance, they stopped the car and everyone present
got out again.
As he glanced around the area, Barakiel instructed Vali,
“Vali, are you okay with investigating the surrounding homes?”
Accepting the instruction despite it being tedious, Vali entered the garden
of a nearby home.
From the entrance of the village, Tobio and his companions made a rough
survey of their surroundings. Due to being in the mountains away from urban
areas, it was extremely chilly. Was this just the nature of this region, or
else……?
After entering the village, they were assaulted by a rather cold sensation.
Perhaps it should be called a pressure. Something that they couldn’t see was
making their skin crawl.
There were numerous dark places. It felt as though they were being
watched by that everlasting darkness.
Ri-ri-ri-.

In the world of darkest night, only the cries of insects resounded.
“An unpleasant atmosphere……”
While shuddering, Natsume hugged herself as she muttered.
Several minutes passed from when they entered the village. There was no
sign they could detect of the people who lived there.
They do say that people in the countryside go to bed quickly and early,
but it wouldn’t be strange for at least one or two houses to have lights on late
at night. Rather, this situation was what was strange.
Jin and Byakusa had been clearly vigilant since entering the village. The
look in their eyes and their gaits were free of any excess, showing no gaps.
In other words, this village had ended up as just that sort of place. It
would not be strange for the Abyss Team or the ‘Utsusemi Agency’ remnants
to appear here at any moment.
There was a swooshing sound.
“Hyah”
Natsume let out a pathetic shriek.
The sound came from a nearby clump of bushes. It was also a sign of life.
Tobio and the others raised their guards, but what emerged was a racoon.
While twitching its nose, it quickly went off and left them behind.
“What the, a racoon?”
Samejima lowered his raised arms and took a deep breath.
“…………”
Tobio had Natsume and Sae intertwined with his own arms. He met gazes
with them, at which point Natsume detached herself from his arm while
acting flustered.
“I-It’s nothing. I just blindly got dragged along with the atmosphere for a
bit there! It’s not what it seems……”
Natsume spoke confidently, but she was hanging her head and her face
was bright red. She couldn’t look Tobio in the eyes.
With the mood of the place and the sudden appearance of the racoon, she
had clearly been greatly startled. Unintentionally, she had reflexively jumped
at Tobio who was nearby.

——It was then that Vali returned from investigating the private homes.
“In every house, the inhabitants are sleeping. However, they aren’t
sleeping just because it’s nighttime. It would be right to say there’s an effect
that compelled them to go to sleep.”

This was what Vali informed them of.
Shigune spoke as though realizing something.
“……So that’s why, even when we yelled for help nobody came out……”
It appeared she had asked this village for assistance.
Hearing this information, Barakiel put his hand to his chin and pondered.
If the people from the ‘Utsusemi Agency’ or the witches of Oz were to
anticipate a battle possibly occurring here, they might have used a technique
to put the residents of this village to sleep. It would be so they wouldn’t see
anything unnecessary.”
If there was a chance for it to become troublesome, they’d put everyone in
the village to sleep.
He thought it was good that the villagers wouldn’t become victims……
but Vali then continued speaking.
“However, if the situation becomes complicated, it’s possible the entire
village might be erased.”
At that single statement, Tobio, Sae, and Natsume all shuddered. Indeed,
such a thing had been planned for their comrades and themselves as well.
——Then, Barakiel, Vali, Lavinia, Jin, and the other Independent Avatar
Types all suddenly turned to look in a certain direction.
Tobio also turned to face the same way……and he experienced a
sensation of indescribably ominous chills running through his whole body.
From that direction he could sense something powerful whose nature was
unfamiliar.
Vali spoke.
“It’s the aura of Satanael. Heh, so he himself came here directly.”
At Vali’s statement, Barakiel’s expression became complicated.
Satanael——. Originally from the Cadres of the Grigori, he was the fallen
angel who had concocted the current incident. The Cadre who had cut ties
with the Grigori…….
Barakiel spoke.
“……I’m going over there. Nanadaru Shigune.”
Suddenly being called out by name, Shigune let out a sound of, “Y-
Yessir!”
“You can bring them along to where Koga Hyousuke is, right? If it’s
them, they’re bound to be helpful.”
It was a request from the unusually hard-faced man, but Shigune, while

tightly embracing her Sacred Gear, nodded.
Barakiel then spoke to Tobio and the others who were his students.
“I will speak with Satanael. You guys rescue your classmate. If Vali and
Lavinia are with you it’s by no means impossible.”
Barakiel turned his gaze upon the masked beast Shigune was carrying.
“However, at the very least don’t make a mistake when using that Sacred
Gear. What you Nanadaru Shigune are holding is the strongest of the Four
Toutetsu
Fiends, ‘Tāotiè‘. It seems like it damage this whole area the moment it’s
used.”
Upon hearing this statement, Tobio and the other former Ryoukou
students were shocked. The demon Nanadaru Shigune was holding……for it
be an Independent Avatar Type Sacred Gear that would damage the entire
area…….
Shigune however was merely finding those words to be strange.
“……I don’t think Poh-kun is such a despicable child as that though……”
Natsume then asked in response.
“Poh-kun? That’s this child’s name?”
Even as Shigune nodded, the demon opened its large mouth that was
hidden under the mask. From the sharp fangs lined up inside its mouth, it let
out a completely unique sounding cry of “Poh”.
“From the cry of ‘Poh’, it became Poh-kun.”
Toutetsu
Shigune spoke as she lovingly embraced Poh-kun that was ‘Tāotiè‘. Just
from looking at Poh, it didn’t appear all that atrocious on the surface at
least…….
Even though he had just revealed various things, Barakiel immediately
moved away.
Vali spoke.
“I really should go that way as well. There may be a battle with Satanael.”
Barakiel replied without even turning his head.
“For that you should first gain use over the armor.”
Hearing that statement, Vali’s fearless smile vanished, and his expression
became that of an atypical pout.
“……I’ll gain use of it immediately. ……Kuh, I understand. Today I’m
their babysitter.”
Hearing Vali’s response, Barakiel showed a brief smile, and then left them

behind.
After seeing off Barakiel, Tobio and the others immediately went into
action.
Tobio inquired of Shigune.
“Well then, do you know Koga’s whereabouts?”
Shigune pointed towards the interior of the village.
“I came from that mountain over there. On the way Koga-kun stayed
behind on the mountain to oppose some scary people……”
All who were present turned towards where Shigune was pointing.
Everyone nodded, and while remaining vigilant, they began walking.
The group was walking towards the mountain——but Tobio’s arm was
grabbed by Sae.
“…………Tobio.”
The hand Sae was grasping Tobio’s arm with was trembling. This was
Sae’s weakness, that she was fundamentally a coward. Since they’d been
children she’d been the type who’s extremely weak when it comes to haunted
houses, to the point she absolutely refuse to enter.
Nevertheless she’d come this far by burying her fear within her small
body.
Tobio gently clasped Sae’s hand.
“Let’s go, Sae.”
The pair of Tobio and Sae continued walking while holding hands. Tobio
smiled so as to give her even a small amount of relief.
As a bright red coloration arose on her face, she gave a small nod.
Part 2
About ten minutes after they entered the village——.

The group was advancing along a country road that passed between paddy
fields.
While shining the flashlight on the road they were heading towards the
mountain.
“We walk and walk and there’s nothing but paddy fields.”
Once again surveying the paddy field scenery, Samejima spoke up.
While enveloped by an air of tension, Tobio and the others continued
onward, but there came to them an audible chewing sound like “crunch

crunch, munch munch” that was entirely unsuited to the atmosphere of that
place.
The source of the sound——was the Sacred Gear “Poh-kun” that Shigune
was carrying.
Just as they had been passing through the village entrance, there had been
a stomach rumbling sound.
According to the master Shigune,
“Poh-kun is something of a glutton. Since his stomach in invariably
empty, I keeping having to feed him……”
So it seemed.
Due to the mask covering its face, his expression was unreadable, but due
to the great “Gukyurururururu” sound of his stomach grumbling, which was
somewhat cute, and with the sound being able to possibly reveal their
position, they immediately fed him the types of emergency rations for the
independent avatar types that they’d brought along.
Jin’s type was dry dog food, but “Poh-kun” had begun munching at it
without minding.
Shigune’s stomach let out a rumble at the same time, so she was provided
with a type of jelly beverage Tobio and the others had brought for their own
use. It was for supplying energy rather than for eating, but Shigune accepted
them and immediately drank five of them.
Afterwards they continued walking as they crunched down on nutrition
bars.
As they were traveling in the midst of this tension, Natsume, who had the
nerve to calmly eat while walking, spoke while thinking back on their time at
Ryoukou Senior High School.
“Now that you mention it, it was said that Nanadaru-san was a girl who
ate a lot.”
At Natsume’s statement, Shigune’s cheeks were dyed red.
“Y-Yeah. It seems to be a familial thing, as there was always a lot on the
dining table at home.”
While glancing at her stomach, Natsume continued.
“……However, you haven’t gained weight at all. H-How enviable.”
Natsume let out an utterance while comparing it with her own stomach.
In Tobio’s judgement, he thought that Natsume was also adequately
slim……but he concluded that a girl’s perspective and a boy’s perspective

had different world views.
As they were moving, Natsume raised an inquiry with Shigune.
“Nanadaru-san, there’s one thing I’d like to ask though……why did you
reject the assistance of the ‘Governor-General’? We heard that you and
Koga-kun rejected the cooperation of Governor-General Azazel, and were
rampaging on your own……”
Indeed, Tobio had heard the same thing from Azazel.
However, just by looking at Shigune who was before them, he couldn’t
conceive of her having rejected a friend in need to go rampaging.
Shigune’s expression became one that told absolutely nothing.
“The truth is, Koga-kun and I were temporarily captured by the enemy.”
‘——!!’
At that gut wrenching confession, the Ryoukou students, Tobio, Sae,
Natsume, and Samejima, were shocked.
……Shigune and Koga, for them to have been captured by those
guys…….
However, judging from appearances, she did appear to be safe with no
physical issues……. The aim of the ‘Utsusemi Agency’——the ‘Four Fiends
Project’, is supposed to have been Natsume and the rest who possess Four
Fiends personally.
Natsume spoke in surprise.
“You were temporarily captured by the ‘Utsusemi Agency’? And you
were perfectly okay……”
Shigune shook her head.
“Uh-uh. Not the ‘Utsusemi Agency’. The ones who captured us were
Chaos……they call themselves ‘Those Who if Forced to Choose Would
Bring About Chaos’.”
…… ‘Those Who if Forced to Choose Would Bring About Chaos’ ……
even Tobio couldn’t help but to feel baffled by this completely unforeseen
state of affairs.
Shigune continued.
“Shutting themselves is a place that’s something like a research institution
somewhere, they desired a means to extract a Sacred Gear……to extract Poh-
kun……. They subjected me and Koga-kun to something, some kind of
experiment it seemed, several times. Eventually, I think he was a big-whig
over there or something…… he was a beautiful man, that person reached an

‘agreement’ with Koga-kun.”
Koga had made an ‘agreement’ with a man who was a leader of the
hostile organization Chaos……. Tobio couldn’t help but to feel a strange
apprehension, but Shigune continued her explanation.
“As for what Koga-kun did for that big wig, it was becoming something
scary……”
Shigune was hesitant to speak. Her expression had been so lifelike.
Samejima inquired.
“What, so Koga-kun became something scary then.”
It happened just as Shigune seemed about to reply to Samejima’s query.
A thunderous roar of ‘Goooon!!’ resounded from the direction of the
mountain!
Everyone simultaneously turned to look in that direction. It had come
from the precise direction they’d been heading……but the sound just now
was not at all usual.
Shigune squeezed out a voice as she embraced “Poh-kun”.
“……Koga-kun, so you became that again……!”
Shigune shuddered. This supernatural wave——the aura that could be
sensed from the mountain, Tobio’s mind and body conveyed that it was not
an ordinary thing.
The party nodded to one another and started running towards the place
where the aura had manifested.
As they were heading towards the place where Koga seemed to be, from
out of the shadows of the countryside that had been silent, they could hear the
sounds of unimaginably heavy explosions and impacts.
It was obvious that Koga has gotten dragged into a fight.
From the country road the party advance into a forest, and Vali who was
in the lead muttered a soliloquy.
“What, why? ……What the hell? Is that really true?”
It seemed he was conversing with the thing inside him——the dragon that
was said to reside within him.
“Vali, did you learn something?”
Natsume asked Vali about it but——.
‘It would seem that I should perhaps speak so that everyone present can
hear.’
An unfamiliar voice was heard from the direction of Vali!

‘This is the first time I’ve spoken with everyone, huh.’
Looking at him the mouth of the dragon plush toy placed on his shoulder
was moving, and a voice was being emitted!
“…………”
“…………”
“…………!!”
At this Tobio and the others stopped walking, having been struck dumb.
Natsume and Samejima both raised their voices as they pointed to the
plush toy on Vali’s shoulder.
“”W-Who’s that!?””
Tobio hadn’t raised his voice like the pair of them, but deep down he was
also surprised. To think, for a voice other than Azazel’s to come out of the
plush toy…….
According to Natsume, the dragon perched on Vali’s shoulder was a
means of emergency communication from Azazel. For an unfamiliar voice to
emerge from it was surprising.
While resuming her walking, Natsume inquired of the plush toy.
“……W-Well then, you are the dragon that dwells within Vali then.”
Vanishing Dragon
‘Uhuh. I am one of the Two Heavenly Dragons, the White Dragon known
as the White Dragon Emperor Albion. Allow me to express my apologies for
my late introduction.’
While narrowing his eyes, Samejima muttered under his breath.
“……So it isn’t just an ordinary plush toy?”
To this Lavinia responded, speaking with a smiling face.
“Governor-General Azazel and I have been occasionally conversing with
Al-kun.”
‘It’s because Miss Lavinia and Governor-General Azazel have had
various things to discuss when it comes to Vali.’
So Lavinia and Azazel had already spoken to him before. Or rather,
judging from the tone, it seemed they’d been socializing in a way.
The plush dragon——Albion spoke.
‘Since there are numerous things in which Vali is still inexperienced, I
make use of this device in order for my voice to be audibly heard by those
outside.’
Vali spoke while displaying a dissatisfied expression in response to this.

“Albion, I’d prefer if you didn’t say so much.”
‘Hmph, is that so. My apologies.’
Although Vali and Albion were having such a give and take, Tobio asked
the dragon about before.
Vanishing Dragon
“Well then, if I could ask the White Dragon about before, what was it that
you realized?”
‘Just now, the enormous aura from the mountain ahead, it was
exceedingly similar to a certain phenomenon.’
“……A certain phenomenon?”
In response to Tobio who had asked back, Albion continued.
‘When the Sacred Gear and the owner of the ability reach a dramatic
change in body and spirit, it’s a different domain that they then reach.’
Balance Breaker
“……The Forbidden Technique.”
The phenomenon was one that Tobio was already aware, since Azazel had
told him about a short while ago. Tobio had found out that, from the time he
himself had been born, he had already been setting foot in that domain.
The Balance Breaker——it was the power of the Sacred Gear that would
manifest when one achieved a certain domain, a phenomenon considered to
be the final achievement for a Sacred Gear.
Fundamentally considered to be a power of an impossible degree,
depending on the owner, this phenomenon was something that would form an
exceptional power.
Regarding this thing of which Tobio had spoken, Albion gave his
affirmation.
‘Quite so. The surge of this aura was extremely similar to that
phenomenon.’
In other words, if what Albion said was true, that strange aura they had
sensed from the mountain due to the phenomenon of Balance Breaker……?
If that was what Koga Hyousuke had become——.
Shigune spoke up cautiously.
“……Koga-kun said that that pretty man also called it that……. In that
case it might just explain that power……”
Shigune, who apparently had already seen Koga’s power, was able to
agree with Tobio and Albion’s describing it as a Balance Breaker.
Natsume inquired of Albion.

“So Koga-kun, by cooperating with Those Who if Forced to Choose
Would Bring About Chaos, was able to evolve his Sacred Gear to the point
that it transcends our own?”
However, Albion gave an ambiguous response.
‘……No, it merely resembled it. I have a good understanding of Balance
Breakers. Consequently I find that aura incomprehensible……’
It seemed that even Albion who knew a good deal about Balance Breakers
was perplexed by the aura.
Well then, just what happened to Koga’s body?
With that not being the only question on their minds, Tobio and the others
finally arrived where the aura had originated from.
Lavinia produced light using her magic and illuminated their
surroundings.
As for what was there——.
“Ugh!”
Natsume’s involuntary reaction was being at a loss for words.
What was revealed by the magical illumination was a ghastly scene coated
with blood.
All throughout the area, there lay men wearing business suits who had
been turned into gruesome corpses. Those who had been chopped to pieces,
those whose arms and legs had been removed, and those whose heads had
been mashed into a pulp.
The scene had become something they couldn’t bear to look at.
Sae and Shigune forcibly suppressed their shrieks with their hands, having
turned their faces away.
Perhaps out of consideration for them, Lavinia regulated the light so as
not to illuminate the remaining corpses.
In this scene that caused people to avert their eyes, there was only one
living thing that was moving.
Lavinia directed the light at it——and standing there was a single boy.
The boy had unkempt black hair set with gold highlights here and there,
and an indescribably ominous thing was coiled around his entire body.
——He was Koga Hyousuke.
He was wearing his old school uniform from when he’d transferred away
from Ryoukou Senior High School.
……There was something resembling a gauntlet equipped on his right

arm, and which concerned Tobio……. When he looked it seemed that
Lavinia and Vali were also concerned with Koga’s gauntlet.
Even as Koga was looking towards the light, he was wiping the blood of
the men off his face with his hand.
Koga noticed that Shigune was there and spoke with a light-hearted
expression.
“Oh, if it ain’t Nanadaru. So you came back. Something going on……
other than this that is.”
Becoming aware of Tobio and the others around Shigune, he began
counting them off one by one, pointing at each in turn.
“Let’s see, Ikuse, Same-chan, Minagawa and Toujou……and two
foreigners besides that. By any chance, the lineup of the Four Fiends……did
it unexpectedly end up becoming the six fiends?”
As he inclined his head while letting that comment leak out, at his side
——there existed a body that looked like a mass of deep black fur.
Under a closer look, it looked similar to a black furred dog. With a
protruding mouth like a dog and four limbs with claws, the creature seemed
to embody a dog’s characteristics……but with the fur covering the area
around the eyes, its face was indiscernible.
A long-haired breed——was not what it seemed to be. The aura the
creature was clad in was a stagnant black, to point of inducing feelings of
unease.
Having noticed Tobio’s gaze on the dog-like creature, Koga spoke.
“Aah, this is Blitz. He’s what you’d call my Sacred Gear.”
……As expected, that creature was Koga’s Sacred Gear, the last member
Konton
of the Four Fiends——Húndùn.
Directing his gaze towards Jin who was at Tobio’s side, Koga was
astonished.
“That dog……it’s exactly like my Blitz. By any chance, is Ikuse or
Toujou one of the actual Four Fiends?”
Tobio shook his head.
“……No, Sae and I are not of the Four Fiends. Jin here is my Sacred
Gear.”
Hearing that, Koga stared at Jin with great interest.
The black dog——Jin, and the black dog-like Four Fiend——Blitz, also

made eye contact with each other.
Tobio and Koga watched as the Sacred Gears stared at one another. ——
Then Koga shrugged.
“Well whatever. Leaving that aside——“
Koga’s gaze settled amidst the interior of the mountains. Jin and the other
Sacred Gears also reacted, glaring in the same direction as Koga.
“It seems our guests have some business with us.”
Hearing this statement of Koga’s, Tobio and the others all simultaneously
became alert, and prepared themselves.
From out of the depths of the mountain, what which appeared together
with darkness was an elderly foreign woman with the appearance of a
magician in a purple robe.
The sharp glint in her eye was familiar.
When he’d been taken to the stronghold of the ‘Utsusemi Agency’, Tobio
had encountered this old woman.
——Augusta of the Purple Flame, there’s no mistaking that was what she
was called.
Augusta had appeared having brought along a girl wearing gothic style
clothes——her disciple Walburga, along with several magicians.
“We have been surrounded.”
Lavinia spoke while glaring at Augusta who was before them.
As she had said, people who appeared to be female magicians wearing
robes had, without them being the wiser, surrounded Tobio and the others.
……Having not noticed when they had been surrounded, Tobio and the
other Ryoukou students were especially surprised.
Augusta observed Tobio and the others one by with while narrowing her
eyes.
“Since I had heard that there was a hard fight against those guy from the
‘Utsusemi Agency’, if I were to come here with my disciples——I would
find that the dog from before and Glenda’s disciple would also be here.”
Augusta spoke with a pleased sounding voice.
Subsequently, a chill began to dominate the area. The season changed to a
cold atmosphere, which wafted throughout the area.
The source of this outbreak was Lavinia. Her expression had become
frighteningly cold, and as her breath turned white, she stated the following.
“This is just great. While assisting Tobio, Natsume, and my other

companions, I will eradicate all of you.”
To Lavinia’s provocation, the old magician displayed a fearless smile.
“Those scary eyes are so unlike you, Glenda’s disciple.”
“……That was caused by you all.”
In this state of heightening tension, a loud ringing voice resounded from
up in the sky.
Longinus
“Hmph, one of the God Slaying Tools, ‘
Incinerate Anthem
Crucifixion by the Purple Flame High Priest‘. So the user is the Witch of the
East from Oz.”
Looking in the direction of the voice, Tobio and the others could only just
make it out.
On a tall tree, standing on a branch overlooking them, was the figure of a
silver haired boy——Vali. As for just when he had climbed up the tree,
Tobio and the others hadn’t noticed.
The wings of light that were his Sacred Gear had appeared on his back.
While folding his arms, Vali spoke to Augusta with a magnificent smile.
Vanishing Dragon
“I am Vali Lucifer. The being that carries the White Dragon with him. As
those possessing similar Longinus, I wish to compete with you by all means.”
Natsume spoke to Vali who was up in the tree.
“Va-Vali! I-It’s dangerous so get down from there! Don’t go making
provocations from such a place, you can do it just fine down here!”
Disregarding Natsume’s statement, Vali and Augusta glared at each other.
The old witch laughed with a “Kah kah kah.”
“Oho, so a small boy like you is this era’s White Dragon Emperor.
Moreover, as rumored, it’s the successor to ‘Lucifer’. This is quite
interesting.”
“Well, perhaps you’ll enjoy this as well.”
As he spoke, Vali flapped his wings of light, descending until he reached
the surface.
It wasn’t possible to say anything about Vali’s statement……but since the
members other than Tobio, Natsume, and Samejima seemed to have
generally come to terms with it, given the situation, they decided to assume
battle poses while paying it no mind.
Koga, though watching over this carefully, broke the silence, and spoke

while scratching his cheek.
“Somehow, I don’t really get it, but is it fine just to say that the purple
grandmother is our opponent?”
From the tip of Augusta’s staff, a magic circle for the sake of using magic
was formed in midair as she herself spoke.
“That’s fine. It seems that the likes of you understands.”
At the old woman’s reply, Koga nodded and said, “I see, I get it now.”
Subsequently, after giving a single stroke of his Sacred Gear——the beast
Blitz, he took a single step forward.
“Well then, I guess this is the continuation. ——Blitz.”
Koga, advancing together with Blitz, held out the right-handed gauntlet
from before, and operated a slide on that gauntlet with his left hand. Just as
the gauntlet started glowing, it started to release an ominous brilliance.
Simultaneously, Blitz, who was beside him, began releasing a deep black
aura from his entire body, which resonated with the brilliance of the gauntlet.
The vibrations made the atmosphere tremble violently, and as a sound was
emitted from the gauntlet, Koga raised his voice.
“——Balance Break.”
‘Si-xiong HúnDùn Over Booster!!!!’[?]
A massive aura filled the area with Koga and Blitz at its center, and a
dazzling brilliance spread along with it——.
When the light ceased, what was there was a lustrous black exoskeletal
powered suit. It had a beastial shape where the head and limbs resembled
those of a dog, and what looked like the long fur which had hardened grew
from the back of the head.
In the center of the body——the middle of the chest, there glittered
something which resembled a gem.
It seemed that by using the thing resembling a gauntlet that he wore on his
right hand, Koga could manifest that powered suit, which he would then
don…….
Blitz, who had been beside him, had vanished, while the powered suit
displayed an appearance that closely resembled Koga’s Sacred Gear.
Could Koga and his independent avatar type Sacred Gear, by using the
gauntlet, be said to have been unified——or combined?
Did Blitz assume the form of the powered suit that Koga is wearing……?
Seemingly having understood something, Vali spoke as though in

admiration.
“……I see, so research using our armors as reference has already reached
this far……”
Augusta, who had been watching this, had brought her hand to her chin in
great interest. She was observing the gauntlet on Koga’s right arm.
“……He used that to forcibly Balance Break. ……No, it appears as
though it’s a type of rampage. Is there some degree of compensation for it? In
any case, it can be said that that man is relentless. I suppose we should also
act. ——Walburga.”
At her master’s call, a girl wearing gothic lolita style clothing stepped up
from the rear, dancing as though for joy as she stepped into the limelight.
“Yessir, Oshi-sama ”
“You shall cooperate with the Abyss Team along with the other
magicians, and go run wild with that boy.”
“Ufufufun You got it! What an interesting idea ”
Walburga’s gaze came to rest on Koga——and Tobio and the others. Her
innocent eyes also bore a cold hearted look.
“Now then, I shall——“
Augusta’s eyes shifted over to Lavinia.
“I guess I should tell you about Glenda. That’s provided that you can
defeat me though. ——Accompany me, Ice Princess.”
Augusta calmly vanished in the mountain’s nighttime darkness.
“…………!”
In response to Augusta having distanced herself from them, Lavinia was
troubled what to do next.
She wanted to pursue, but she couldn’t just leave her companions behind.
Lavinia decided upon her companions and formed a magic circle directed at
Augusta’s subordinates.
In response however, Natsume, with Griffon perched on her arm, shouted
to Lavinia.
“Do something! At long last you can grasp at a clue to your master after
all, so it’s no good not to pursue it! We’ll manage somehow on this end!”
Tobio and the others also nodded their consent with Natsume’s comment.
Everyone was behind Lavinia.
During the battle with the ‘Utsusemi Agency’ the other day, she had
supported Tobio and the others. This time it was their turn.

Lavinia’s expression became overwhelmed with emotion at her
companions’ kindness, and she immediately turned her attention towards the
direction in which Augusta had left.
“Natsume, everyone, thank you!”
Lavinia ran off in pursuit of Augusta.
Natsume spoke to the running Lavinia.
“If you think it’s a trap, escape immediately!”
“I understand!”
That exchange served as the signal for the commencement of hostilities at
that place.
With Augusta and Lavinia having departed from there, Walburga issued
instructions to the the magicians.
“Well then, first of all, let us start rampaging!”
As Walburga raised her hand, the magicians also held their hands forward
in preparation, forming magic circles.
They were about to fire magic from those, but sound of the air being cut
resounded nearby, and before the eyes of Tobio and the others something
wriggled at high speeds.
In an instant——raising a momentary *prin* sound, the magicians’ magic
circles were destroyed.
If they were to focus their eyes, long and narrow black whip-like things
were wriggling back and forth at high speeds throughout the area, and were
smashing the magic circles.
Regarding those long and narrow whip-like things, they were growing
from the head of the powered suit-like object that Koga was wearing.
It was something taking the form of hair whose usual stiffness had been
altered, and it was destroying the magicians’ magic circles as though
possessing a will of its own.
At this Walburga smiled intrepidly.
“Wow That’s quite a method of attacking! Isn’t this fun?”
Walburga was also forming a magic circle, from which she was about to
release magic. In response Koga’s hair that had taken on the hardness of a
whip extended.
Just as it had destroyed the magic circles of the surrounding magicians, it
was expected the it would also shatter Walburga magic circle but——.
Walburga’s magic circle, easily repeling Koga’s attack, was launching a

sphere of flame from the magic circle.
Tobio and the others evaded. They were assaulted by heat strong enough
to roast their skin, but Tobio quickly gave orders to Jin, who sliced the sphere
of flame in half using the black sword held in his mouth.
The flame sphere that had been sliced in half vanished into thin air.
If that mass of flames she released had spread within a mountain wood
like this one……it’s possible it would have turned into a forest fire. It was
scary to imagine what might have happened had reached the point of
damaging the village where the residents had been put to sleep.
Just by looking at the ecstatically smiling Walburga, one could see that
she thought it would be fine if such a thing befell those people.
Samejima shouted while forming Byakusa’s tail lance on his right arm.
“Ikuse! Chase after the magical girl! Birdbrain, Toujou, and Nanadaru go
with him! It’s just my intuition, but I have a hunch that victory or defeat
between that hag and the magical girl has yet to be determined. Vali, you’ll
remain here with me and smash these guys!”
Vali gave an unusual response to Samejima’s proposal.
“It can’t be helped. It’s annoying to to be given instructions by Samejima
Kouki, however I’m interested in the forced Balance Breaker of this man
named Koga. While fighting here, I may get a chance to watch it from up
close.”
Tobio was also in agreement with what Samejima had said.
As Natsume had said to Lavinia not long ago, it appeared that Augusta
was luring Lavinia into a trap. He believed that Lavinia was aware of that to a
certain degree, but…….
He couldn’t help but to feel that that old woman——Augusta was beyond
her expectations.
Samejima’s proposal was correct, as even if Lavinia could be said to be
stronger than Tobio and the others, it seemed unwise for her to be on her
own.
Tobio spoke to Natsume who was putting up a fight with Griffon, to Sae
who on alert in the rear, as well as to Shigune.
Minagawa-san, Nanadaru-san, let’s go! Don’t get too distant from me
Sae!”
With the female group also depending on Tobio, the four of them quickly
ran from that place.

Koga spoke in response to the behavior of Tobio and the others.
“Oh, so they’re chasing after that grandmother. ——Well, shall I form a
joint front with Same-chan?”
Samejima, while avoiding fire magic that was being shot from a magician,
blew away his opponent with his lance and shouted.
“I didn’t exactly get along with you ever since we were at Ryoukou
but……well, I can accompany you for just a bit!”
Next to them, Vali was erasing the spells of several magicians with aura
fired from his hands.
“My my, surprisingly, you’ve mellowed out. Well, I guess I could get
used to it.”
The two Ryoukou Senior High School problem children had commenced
hostilities against the opposing magicians——.
Meanwhile, Tobio and the others were pursuing Lavinia.

Satanael/Barakiel
Having parted from Tobio and his other students, Barakiel had been
advancing towards the mountain area by relying upon the familiar aura.
The place he finally arrived at——was an aged Shinto shrine that had
been a site of worship in the village.
However, as a fallen angel and not being of Japanese mythological origin,
it was inappropriate for Barakiel to set foot on the site of the shrine without
the permission of the gods worshiped in this country.
Coming to a stop before the torii, that memory was suddenly recalled.
Over ten years ago, having been driven to the edge by an antagonistic
organization, he had concealed himself near a Shinto shrine that was in this
country.
——A-Are you okay? Though it does seem that you have been
injured…….
In his mind, he recalled a single beautiful woman.
The memory was dear, fleeting, warm, and also——painful, to the degree
of a pressure in his chest.
“As far as you are concerned, your wounds have yet to heal, right? The
sort that you’re experiencing that is.”
Barakiel directed his in the direction the voice had come from.
The one who appeared from the shadow of a large tree was a tall man
dressed in a fallen angel-use battlesuit.
“Choosing this place was not on purpose.”
The man who said that had brown hair over masculine facial features, and
his silver eyes could be seen to gleam dubiously even in the nighttime
darkness.
The man continued while brushing his hand upwards through his hair.
“The god that is worshipped here, it won’t appear if someone from the
village gets injured, so unless one enters that compound, it doesn’t care what
they do. When it comes to the gods of this country, it seems that, for many of
them, regardless of which mythological system the other party originates

from, they basically don’t care so long as you don’t pollute their territory.”
The man shrugged his shoulders.
“Rather, it’s like it’s the people nearby who worship those gods who are
strict with us foreigners. You as well, as someone who isn’t a god, had peers
who would approach and deify you.”
Barakiel let out a long sigh and assembled his words.
It’s not like I came to talk with you about this country’s mythological
system. ——Satanael. Why did you leave the Grigori?”
In response to Barakiel’s direct words, the man——Satanael looked
pleased.
“As usual, you’re just straight up asking. ……Well, even if this place
drags up the incident that you went through, it’s not as though there’s any
benefit to me……”
Satanael gently raised his left hand. The movement was one that was
similar to restraining something.
From the time he had come here Barakiel had understood. That he was
already completing surrounded by assassins.
Eight or nine cases out of ten, his backup was Satanael’s proteges, the
‘Abyss Team’. An unpleasant atmosphere of fighting intent waft drifting
through the area.
Satanael spoke.
“I just desire the same Sacred Gear possibilities as the other researchers.
However, Azazel had no intention of slackening his degree of oversight.”
“So therefore you slipped away from the organization and joined hands
with other powers? You offered the Grigori’s research and the like to an
agency related to the Five Principal Clans……did you not realize just how
much chaos that would cause?”
“…………”
Satanael made a complicated expression in response to Barakiel’s
statement.
……Barakiel understood that he himself was unqualified to say the
statement from just now……but nevertheless it was advice from one who
didn’t want his companions to feel the same way as himself.
For his part Satanael, who dared not return to that situation, replied thus.
“It is merely that my goals are in agreement with the ‘Utsusemi Agency’
and Oz.”

Barakiel directed his gaze towards the powerful aura that been causing
him to feel uneasy since some time ago.
“……So that is also your doing then.”
“It’s merely the theory of myself and Azazel quickly showing its form.
……I won’t deny though that it was a considerably coercive method.
Tentatively, it appears to be a success. Azazel’s theory was splendid.”
“……Don’t just do things that invite chaos into the world.”
“Aren’t those Azazel’s words? Try persuading me with your own words.”
In response to Satanael’s question, Barakiel began to release electrical
discharges from his entire body. His entire body began to flow with
electricity.
“Aren’t you well aware that I’m slow of speech? Where my words are
concerned, I have no choice but to use this.”
Satanael became joyful in response to Barakiel’s fighting spirit.
“That should be easy for them to understand. Forcibly bringing me back
to headquarters. Isn’t that the purpose of ‘lightning’? ——However, before
that I must fulfil one of my purposes.”
True to his words, Satanael snapped his fingers once.
Subsequently, a mist began to spring forth throughout the area.
Satanael spoke.
“It’s a transference-type Sacred Gear.”
Barakiel was thinking back upon the possessor among the “Abyss Team”
Satanael had brought along who manifested the “Forest of Bewilderment”.
By means of crafting its ability into a part of the forest, it was something
capable of guiding those who were treading within it to whatever place the
user wanted.
After a short while, he sensed the presence of several people from within
the mist.
The ones who appeared from within the mist were——.
“……Barakiel-sensei?”
It was the four person group consisting of Ikuse Tobio, Minagawa
Natsume, Toujou Sae, and Nanadaru Shigune——.
Satanael displayed a smile once he realized that they had been brought
there.
“Now then, let’s finish what I have to do.”

Absolute Demise
Chapter 6: Eternal Ice Princess/
Incinerate Anthem
Crucifixion by the Purple Flame High
Priest
Part 1
In order to follow Lavinia who had been chasing Augusta, Tobio and the
others had been dashing deeper into the mountains but…….
They were suddenly enshrouded in mist, and by the time they’d noticed
——they’d reached a place where before their eyes was Barakiel and a tall
man.
“Eh? What is this? We were chasing Lavinia……and yet before us now is
Barakiel-sensei……huh?”
Natsume couldn’t help but to be confused.
Tobio was also feeling the same……he had judged however that, most
likely, the mist from earlier was some sort of supernatural power, one which
had brought them to this place.
The tall man approached while watching them with his silver eyes.
His gaze held extreme towards them, to the degree they could practically
see into his soul.
The man displayed a thin smile.
“——The imitation god and each of the Four Fiends. Nice to meet you. I
am Satanael.”
——!
At the man’s self-introduction, Tobio, Natsume, and Sae were terribly
surprised.
This was because they recognized the man before them as one of the
masterminds behind the series of events. Moreover, he was the leader who
betrayed the organization of Azazel.

Shigune let out a subdued mutter while holding Poh-kun.
“……The aforementioned beautiful man……. This is the person, the one
who made a deal with Koga-kun.”
With the transformation accomplished by Koga fresh in their minds, upon
realizing that the transaction partner was right in front of them, Tobio and the
others were able to understand that Satanael’s connection to the current
events was considerable.
His black dog accomplice——Jin, even while remaining vigilant towards
Satanael who was before him, was using his eyes and ears to scan the
surrounding area.
Somehow or another, it seemed that the enemy had surrounded the place.
In response to Jin quietly, without so much as a growl, raising his aura of
fighting intent, Satanael put on a seemingly happy expression.
Satanael pointed at Jin as he spoke.
“Your Sacred Gear bears a certain will within it. ——Are you perhaps
aware of the being known as Lycaon?”
“……I heard a little bit from Governor-General Azazel.”
In regards to the sacred gear that dwelt within him, Tobio had received a
certain degree of an explanation from Azazel.
Of course, that didn’t mean he had been told everything, and it had ended
up such that the continuation of the tale would happen when circumstances
permitted.
However, he had heard roughly everything in regards to its origins.
Satanael spoke of things identical to what Azazel had said.
“The paradise that appears in Greek mythology——‘Arcadia’, Lycaon
was said to be the name of the king who ruled over it. Due to accumulating
misdeeds against the chief god of Greek mythology Zeus, he earned Zeus’s
wrath and was degraded into the form of a beast. His name was passed down
in legends as a wicked king.”
Lycaon——.
The originator of werewolves——the king who was said to be the original
true ancestor. As far as the myth of Lycaon was concerned, he was famous as
a wolf even if it was only a temporary form from when the gods would
descend to walk the earth.
Satanael stared at Jin with narrowed eyes.
“——But, that thing of yours isn’t a wolf, it’s become a dog. It is an

imitation god that isn’t a wolf at all——. The reason is something that even
the Grigori haven’t been able to understand. Most likely, even for the
God
person himself who made it, that was a result that could not have been
predicted.”
Azazel, perhaps coming from his influence that transcended mythological
systems, had stated several theories but…….
Satanael raised his index finger.
“There is one more will that is lodged within that Sacred Gear.”
Indeed, Jin——‘Dog God of the Black Blade Canis Lycaon’, had another
existence other than Lycaon lodged within it.
Satanael spoke.
“——‘Ama no Ohabari’[?], the strongest among the Totsuka-no-Tsurugi[?]
that are considered divine swords, which even obtained divinity. While a god,
it is a blade——. That will is also lodged within you.”
The source of the warped blades produced by Jin is ‘Ama no
Ohabari’——.
However, it was also considered to have lost its divinity. As a
consequence it is receiving Lycaon’s influence, turning it into an ominous
blade.
Satanael then continued.
“However, that you emerged from the Himejima bloodline is not
coincidental from my perspective. The one they worship is the god
Hinokagutsuchi. The sword which beheaded him——was ‘Ama no Ohabari’.
It’s what called a god-slaying sword. It seems almost inevitable that you
would be born possessing that power.”
When he first heard about that from Azazel, he felt like he understood the
reason why Himejima Hanezu had been so attached to his power in the end.
For a man who detested the Himejima, if an existence that slew the god
worshiped by the Himejima was born from the Himejima bloodline, it was
only natural that he’d bear a great interest in it.
——I have fashioned you into an ominous blade.
Tobio did not recall that instant, but it seemed those were the last words of
Himejima Hanezu.
Satanael shrugged his shoulders and spoke.
“It’s a mashup of Greek mythology and Japanese mythology. Moreover,

it’s a cross between King Lycaon who bore ill will towards Zeus and god-
slaying sword……. How befitting that the one who produced the Sacred
Gears was such a whimsical, or rather, crazy Creator. ——Don’t you think
Dog sword
so? Imitation Dog God possessing the god-slaying fangs.”
Tobio was the one being asked but…….
‘Canis Lycaon’——when it came to sacred gears, for two beings to dwell
within one simultaneously was an exceedingly rare case, and with them both
being powerful, it followed that such a thing would be counted among the
Longinus.
However, perhaps because they were mutually contrary existences, their
original characteristics had been warped into their current conglomeration.
Tobio replied with careful vigilance.
“……I have an interest in my own ability, but for breaking through the
present situation, it is necessary in order to survive. It seems you have a great
interest in Sacred Gears……but for me if it brings everyone back safely that
is all I care about.”
From out of his own shadow, Tobio produced a single scythe.
Satanael was watching Tobio’s actions with cynicism. He pointed at the
sickle.
“However, that blade seems to be releasing an entirely ominous radiance
regardless of your intentions.”
As Satanael said, the sickle Tobio was wielding was releasing a dangerous
brilliance, to the point that even Tobio who was wielding it could feel a deep
black something from the sickle.
He sensed that the being dwelling within him, pushing past the will of its
host, was attempting to alter his awareness……. It was still to an extent that
it could be held back, but if it got any stronger than this, just how would
things end up……?
While experiencing a touch of anxiety, that voice became audible.
“Would you be so kind as to not indoctrinate that child with strange
ideas?”
The one who appeared was Himejima Suzaku.
She appeared while clad in a courageous aura and atmosphere.
With next head of the Himejima clan to having appeared, Satanael’s
expression seemed to become even more pleased.

“The Himegimi[?] of the Himejima clan. Are you hunting the remnants of
the ‘Utsusemi Agency? Or else did you come to capture the Dog God?”
In response to Satanael’s query, Suzaku spoke while producing flames in
her hand.
“The former of course. My subordinates are already concealed throughout
this entire area. Though there are only a few of them, I shall have them
capture the remnants of that agency. Please do not hate me though should
those practitioners from Oz, as well as thy own subordinates, end up being
injured or even arrested while that is ongoing. That incident that developed
before was because of thou after all.”
“As always you are at least quick when it comes to brushing away the
sparks involved with your household. After speaking with a friend, I was
even able to see the face of the dog at last. ——Well then, I’ll leave the rest
to the Purple Flames.”
As he said that, Satanael expanded a magic circle beneath his feet.
“——Transporting is it? I won’t allow it.”
Reacting instantly, Suzaku proceeded to fire a sphere of flames
originating from her hand.
Thrusting his hand forward, Satanael produced a magic circle that served
as a protective wall, which protected him from Suzaku’s flame.
Satanael was enveloped in light released from the magic circle he’d
created.
“Let us meet again, ladies and gentlemen.”
When those words were concluded, the light light ceased——and the
figure of Satanael was no longer there.
It seemed he had jumped to some other place using a transportation type
magic circle.
Suzaku spoke to Barakiel.
“Oji-sama, please pursue him. For such a well-informed man, it is likely
possible to acertain insight in this situation as to place he transferred to.”
“However”
“Considering the possibility of being a hinderance to that man, the only
one in this situation who can do that is you Oji-sama. Please leave Tobio and
the others to me. ……Can’t you depend on me?”
In response to Suzaku’s question, Barakiel seemed as though he wanted to

say something, but he swallowed them down and made black wings appear
from his back.
“Sorry.”
Barakiel flew away from that place.
“You all! Don’t be rash at the very least!”
Leaving those words behind, Barakiel pursued Satanael.
Tobio, Natsume, Sae, Shigune, and Suzaku wer left behind——.
Suzaku boldly addressed the people who appeared to be on standby in the
surrounding area.
“Be so kind as to come out. You will won’t you? Given that your master
isn’t nearby, you surely were left behind in order to fight us.”
In response to Suzaku’s provocation, four men and women revealed
themselves from where they were hiding.
There was the sunglasses man they had met just before, a new man with a
handsome physique, a man with a bandage wrapped around his right arm, and
a woman with braided hairstyle who was holding a tattered bear plush doll in
both arms.
They were all dressed in a uniform resembling that of ‘Nephilim’.
As Tobio and the others had been told by Barakiel, this was the exclusive
uniform of the ‘Abyss Team’.
All of them were people who had been listed in the materials they’d been
given.
The opponents were oozing an uneasiness from their bodies, and from
their eyes most of all. As though to curse the entire world, their eyes reflected
a terrible corruption.
……Their circumstances had also been written about in the materials.
As a result of the sacred gears they carried in their bodies being atrocious
ones, they’d been neglected by those around them since the time they were
children. Even their true blood relatives kept a distance, and more than a few
people had tried to kill them.
Due to having lived while only seeing the ugly side of humanity, they
were warped entirely from their personalities all the way to their abilities.
It was also said that none of them had not become murderers. Being those
sorts of people, in accordance with Grigori policy, they would have naturally
been disposed of before they could cause any harm, and yet…….
In gathering them, Satanael had organized them for the sake of making

use of them rather than disposing of them.
The woman who had been carrying the plush toy, taking a step forward,
inquired of Tobio and the others while smiling.
“Hey hey, you guys are also the owners of sacred gears, right?”
In a complete turnaround from the cute smile, she switched to being mean
as she continued inquiring.
“——About how many people have you killed so far? Five? Ten? Or is it
even higher?”
Responding to those words, the male group also let out ominous chuckles.
Natsume spoke as Griffon perched on her arm.
“……There’s no reason for something like murder. We’ve only been
frantically fighting in order to survive.”
The woman inclined her head at Natsume’s statement.
“……You mean even if it’s in order to survive, it’s not okay to kill
people? But, if we don’t kill, won’t it be us who get killed? Ordinary humans,
despite being powerless, try to kill us.”
In the middle of saying that, the woman stopped speaking……and her
body completely stiffened.
Her head alone was making rapid unnatural movements, and she suddenly
shouted.
“I’LL BE KIIIIIIILED!! I’M GOING TO BE KILLED!!! Forgive me,
forgive me! I didn’t do anything! I was only just looking!! I was just playing
with this child!! Mirei-chan and Yuuri-chan were also just playing because
they said they wanted to play with this child is aaaall!! Therefore, forgive
meeeee!! I didn’t do anythiiiiing!! That Mirei-chan and Yuuri-chan ended up
chopped to bits is something I hate too!!!”
The woman’s eyes became fixed on a specific point as she raised a cryptic
shriek.
That became the battle’s starting signal.
The bear plush doll the woman was holding separated from her hands, alit
upon the ground on its own, and then grew to a gigantic size.
What appeared before Tobio and the others was a bear plush doll that
reached three meters in height.
The plush doll opened its mouth with a ‘gupah’, extended pointed fangs
from it, and sharp claws appeared from inside of its fingerless hands.
This woman’s Sacred Gear was an independent avatar type. Its special

characteristic was to protect the woman autonomously, but due to her
possessing tremendous power from birth, without her control the sacred gear
had ended up indiscriminately attacking the people around her.
Furthermore, the claws and tusks were endowed with a deadly poison.
The now gigantic bear plush doll——the Sacred Gear rushed at Tobio and
the others. With the Ryoukou students who were there, there were three in
possession of sacred gears——but to be perfectly honest, when it came to
fighting potential there was only Tobio and Natsume. Shigune was also in
possession of sacred gear, but for starters its ability was still unknown and on
top of that “Poh-kun” seemed to lack motivation as he was yawning even in
this situation.
Tobio and Natsume began employing their alter egos Jin and Griffon to
defend Sae and Shigune.
“Go! Slash!”
“Griffon, fly!”
At Tobio’s instruction, Jin produced a sword from the shadows, gripped it
in his mouth, and was shooting towards the bear plush doll like a bullet.
Griffon also rose steeply into the evening sky, preparing to dive bomb
from high altitude.
However, it wasn’t just the bear plush doll before them that had started to
attack.
The man of handsome appearance began breathing in deeply, his abdomen
having swelled to a bizarre degree. It seemed as though his abdomen was
being filled with something, which he would then forcibly expel from his
mouth.
Tobio and the others evaded using the defensive movements from
Barakiel’s training.
BECHAH! ——What the man had spat out had clung to a large tree
behind them when they had evaded. When they looked, it was a gelatinous
substance, and the smoke rising from the large tree where it clung made it
clear that it was melting. Moreover, this gel wriggled as though with a will of
its own.
This man’s sacred gear had the ability to bring a highly corrosive slime to
life within his abdomen. Moreover it wasn’t just one——.
The man was bringing forth slimes successively, and the unpleasant
slimes were crawling to surround Tobio and the others.

That slime, according to what had been written in the materials, as a type
that would engage in parasitism towards an opponent, would enter through
the mouth, nose, ears, and other orifices and would gradually dissolve the
person from the inside.
And then there was the third person. The man with the bandages around
his right arm was unwinding the bandages.
As for what was there——it was a strange right on which there existed
closely packed mouth-like things covering the entirety.
According to the materials, if one heard the curses let loose from those
numerous mouths, they’d receive a curse that would induce extreme
variations in their mind and body.
Above all, there was the man in the sunglasses. Just like when he’d
attacked them a short time before, he had made two stone statues appear to
steal away their eyesight.
All four of them were now being hostile, but it would only be unpleasant
for the owners if they were directly bathed in their ability.
Jin, who was complying with Tobio’s lifeforce, performed a single slash
with the sword in his mouth towards the bear plush doll’s torso, bestowing a
single straight diagonal wound from the tip of its shoulder until the base of its
flank.
When the plush doll staggered, Griffon descended from the sky and
scored a direct hit with a ramming attack. The woman’s sacred gear collapsed
to the ground.
While the battle had just commenced, Suzaku took a single step forward
and inquired of the man vomiting slime creatures and the the man with the
ominous mouths covering his right arm.
“There is just a single inquiry I would like to make. ——You all are the
low ranking members of the Abyss Team, correct?”
The well built man sneered in response to Suzaku’s question.
“……Certainly we might seem like small fry compared to the superior
members of the Abyss Team, but even so isn’t it sufficient with just us if it’s
about to mortally wounded you all?”
In response to the man’s statement, Suzaku let out a breath as though
sighing.
“As expected, you really are low ranked members. After all, while
opposing me and a Longinus your speaking in such a manner. ……I wonder

if Satanael is currently taking a wait-and-see approach. Well, no matter.”
It happened in an instant——. The aura of flame covering her swelled to a
tremendous degree, imposing high temperatures on the entire area. The
temperature reached a degree where one would suffer injury just from
breathing——.
Forming flickering flames in her right hand, she directed her sights
towards the group of slimes that were surrounding them.
“To start with——“
She slashed horizontally with her arm while the flames were dwelling in
her hand, and instantly the group of slimes was assaulted by an extensive
blaze.
“Let us erase those smelly things.”
There had been a group of at least ten slimes, but they were instantly
reduced to dust by Suzaku’s flames.
Furthermore, turning to the man vomiting slimes, Suzaku held her right
hand in the shape of a gun and performed a shooting action.
With a ‘Booh!’ sound——a pillar of flame rose from the man’s mouth.
“Gaah!”
The man raised a shriek. It seemed that flames had been fired at the same
moment that Suzaku had made a gun shooting action.
Having lost consciousness, the man fell prostrate on the ground.
“I shall put a lid on that while I’m at it.”
The shooting incident had occurred in such a brief instant that it couldn’t
be followed.
Next Suzaku turned towards the enormous bear plush doll that seemed to
be getting to its feet..
“Next——“
Raising the palm of her right hand, Suzaku manifested flames there which
began to take the shape of something.
Above her palm, the flames formed into the shape of a small bird.
Suzaku released this, at which point it charged directly at the bear plush
doll. The small bird of flames crashed into the bear plush doll’s guts, boring a
large hole into it.
With the small bird having penetrated its abdomen——flames instantly
flared up from inside of the bear plush doll, and its large build was covered
by the fire.

“M-My sacred geeeeEEEARRR!”
With her sacred gear seeming to have hit its limits by being engulfed in
flame, the woman raised a shriek.
Strangely, the flames manipulated by Suzaku didn’t burn the surrounding
vegetation. Most likely, she was capable of regulating them.
With her sacred gear having been burned the woman leaped at Suzaku in a
fit of rage and began attacking her with Taijou[?]. Perhaps having also learned
technical skills with the Grigori, the woman was someone familiar with
Taisabaki[?].
Highly accurate palm strikes, magnificent spinning kicks, she moved with
those movements that driven people away time and again.

However, since Suzaku was also learned in the arts of unarmed combat,
she nimbly evaded all of the woman’s attacks.
By shifting her upper body——the opponent’s attacks would go sweeping
past, and seeing an opening she struck with her feet to sent the woman to the

ground.
Suzaku spoke to the floored woman.
“My power[?], it has the ability to easily burn you if I wanted to. If I get
serious, then I’m sorry.”
As Suzaku said this, she delivered a palm heel strike into the tip of
collapsed woman’s chin, at which point she lost consciousness.
Suzaku immediately turned her gaze upon another one. The one there was
the man with mouth-like things manifested close together along his right arm.
The countless mouths present on his right arm, having started to open,
were all muttering something. Letting out curses, they were trying to place a
curse on them.
Suzaku asked Natsume.
“That falcon……Minagawa-san! That person’s arm, can you remove it?”
To Suzaku’s audacious question, Natsume focused her attention on the
man.
“R-Remove it, but……!”
Natsume timidly spoke such words after gulping.
Suzaku, having immediately made a decision when faced with Natsume’s
resolution, this time inquired of Tobio.
“——Tobio. Can you remove it?”
Tobio, without any delay in his response, issued an order to Jin.
“JIN! SLASH!”
With a sword held in his mouth, Jin rushed towards the man at high
speeds.
“Kuh! Don’t make light of me! I’ll curse even your dog!”
The man oriented his arm towards Jin. ——But, Jin vanished from the
man’s sight, and by hiding under the cover of the trees, he advanced from his
blind spot.
“Wha! So fast!”
Unable to react to Jin’s movements, it the man who weakened the force of
the curses——and the black dog rushed in from behind him.
Mercilessly, Jin lopped off the man’s right arm.
“GAAAAAAAAAAAH! My arm is AAAAAH!”
Having lost his right arm, the man collapsed on the spot, writhing in pain.
With the arm of curses having been contained, it was Tobio who let out a
momentary sigh of relief but——.

The aforementioned stone statues that stole one’s eyesight had shortened
their distance with Sae.
Sae had not realized the stone statue’s approach——.
Tobio immediately rushed in at that very moment! He couldn’t afford to
let his important Sae be struck by that guy’s technique!
The sunglasses man shouted as he showed an ugly smile on his face.
“It’s an openiiIIIING! Since a short time ago, you’ve been seriously
protecting this femaale! So then let’s snatch away her eyesight shall
weeeEEEE!”
Light shone from the stone statue——.
“SAE!”
Tobio stood in front of Sae to serve as her shield.
A dazzling light enveloped the vicinity!
The sunglasses man raised a mighty laugh with an insane voice.
“Ah haaaaaaaaaaaaahahahahahah! It covered you directly! Take that take
thaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaat! Are you no longer able to see!? Can you no see
anything!? Come come come come come, tell your impressions to
meeeEEEEEE! Tell me your impressions about losing the ability to see——
wait! Huh?”
The sunglasses man, who had been dancing for joy, finally collected
himself.
Tobio’s eyesight——hadn’t been weakened. The man on the other hand,
having noticed an abnormality in himself, covered his face with his hands.
He waved his hand before his eyes numerous times.
“Huh? Huh huh huh huh, huuuuUUUUUuuuuuh! WHY!? Why was I the
one who lost the ability to seeeee!? I CAN’T SEE! HOW IS IT THAT I
CANNOT SEE!? You’re fucking kidding meeeeeEEEEEEE!!!”
The man, who possessed the ability to steal one’s eyesight, had conversely
lost to his own light.
The man shouted upon confirming that the sunglasses no longer covered
his eyes.
“Y-YoOOOOOOU! You stole my sunglasses!?”
As the man had said, Tobio was wearing the sunglasses that had been his
opponent’s.
At that instant, Natsume had quickly launched Griffon, who had snatched
the man’s sunglasses. Immediately after they were stolen, Tobio, who had

received the sunglasses from Griffon, covered his own eyes.
Immediately after the previous battle, they’d received a second
explanation from Barakiel about the sunglasses man’s ability, and the
specially darkened glasses he wore over his eyes.
Since the man’s ability could befall even himself, he couldn’t use his
ability unless he wore darkened glasses developed by the Grigori.
Having known that Tobio and Natsume stole the sunglasses from the man
in the instant he took action. It was a coordinated effort without prior
arrangement, but both of them gave each other a thumbs up at how smoothly
it had gone.
It was a result of them having fought together up until now, as well as
Barakiel’s training bearing fruit.
Tobio quickly destroyed the stone statue with the sickle in his hand, after
which he turned upon the man once more.
“Shall I tell you my present thoughts?”
The man who had his eyesight stolen, his body staggering, ended up
slamming his back into a large tree behind him.
“This is bullshiiiiIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIITTT!”
Towards the screaming man, Tobio swung his scythe downwards——
such a thing was unnecessary, and instead he instead thrust the butt end
portion into the opponent’s abdomen like it was a spear.
“……GAH!”
With the impact of being nearly skewered, the man lost consciousness on
the spot, and ended up collapsing on the ground.
With all four Abyss Team members including the sunglasses man having
been defeated, the animosity drifting through the area instantly vanished.
At last Tobio and the others could take a break.
Sae grabbed Tobio’s face with both hands, making a concerned inquiry.
“……Tobio, your eyes……”
“I’m alright. Griffon brought theses sunglasses just in time.”
Tobio was showing a smile while still wearing the sunglasses, and Sae
——perhaps feeling relieved, just burst into tears.
“……Stupid……stupid Tobio……!”
In protecting her, it seemed he had thought he would have his eyesight
stolen. Removing the sunglasses, Tobio clasped Sae’s hand.
“……I’ll protect Sae. No matter what that entails.”

Nonetheless, faced with an opponent with an intention to kill……at the
final moment he hadn’t killed him.
If it was a monster employed by a supernatural ability user——such as
the Utsusemi of the ‘Four Fiends Project, even Tobio would kill without
hesitation.
However, even if it was a supernatural ability user, nevertheless, when it
came to slaying humans……there was still hesitation.
There was seemingly no mistake that his consciousness had been
modified when he had killed Himejima Hanazu……but even so…….
Natsume cleared her throat and spoke.
“……I apologize for breaking up the good atmosphere, but……”
Tobio and Sae, who had been presently holding hands, suddenly realized
and separated their hands.
“”Ah! S-Sorry……””
They both simultaneously apologized to Natsume.
——And, with the Abyss Team members having all been defeated, Tobio
and the others realized their next move.
Natsume spoke to Suzaku.
“Err, Himejima Suzaku……san, thank you. You saved us. Or perhaps I
should say, you practically finished them off……”
“No, it was no problem. I do not believe that even this is more than a
partial compensation for all the trouble the ‘Utsusemi Agency’ put you
through.”
“However, to be able to inflict instant death on such troublesome
opponents, as expected, the next family head of the Five Principal Clans is on
a different level.”
Natsume said this as she passed her gaze over the people of the Abyss
Team that Suzaku had brought down on her own.
While folding her arms, Suzaku smiled bitterly.
“Though I have certainly been training……they were not that
supernaturally powerful. Just now, they told me that they were the low
ranking members within the team. Though they were a threat to ordinary
humans, anyone with a certain degree of experience with supernatural powers
could have dealt with them. Their team composition was of the so called ‘kill
on first sight’ variety. To have attacked with such a number of forces, it can
be easily understood from that they had divided their forces. They were

personnel intended to test our skills and abilities.”
Shizuka spoke with a calm expression.
“……The truly troublesome members are still being kept in reserve. With
this method, the supernatural power users coming to arrest us are of an
unknown level.”
……Indeed, having finished reading the documents, there were several
members of the Abyss Team who Tobio and the others were extremely wary
of.
Their powers——were ones for which the level of danger far exceeded
that of the ones they were presently keeping company.
Consequently, they had resolved themselves to a certain degree on the
way here…….
Noticing something, Natsume was glancing around the nearby area.
“S-Say, weren’t there two stone statues the snatch away eyesight!?
Where’s the other one!?”
——!
At that single statement, Tobio and the others again raised their guards
and turned their attention to the surroundings……. The stone statue did not
appear at all.
With the man having collapsed, could it have disappeared perhaps……?
In that situation, Shigune timidly raised her hand.
“……S-Say. About that stone statue……”
Shigune was pointing towards her own feet.
Down there was Shigune’s Sacred Gear——Poh-kun, who might have
been cruchily eating something.
At a closer glance, what Poh-kun was eating was——the aforementioned
second statue that steals eyesight.
He had already consumed more than half of the stone statue, and yet he
was continuing to munch on it without any cessation in his appetite.
Shigune spoke.
“……This child will eat anything you see. Naturally this includes human
beings, and he can even eat things like techniques or spells used by
opponents such as this. What was it……a form of divination? What the
people of the ‘Utsusemi Agency’ were using, whether they were dolls made
of paper or dolls made of soil, he just ate them entirely.”
He just ate them entirely——.

The reason Shigune had been quiet so far, it seemed it wasn’t just because
Koga was present.
Natsume then asked.
“I had been wondering about it all along but, to have been safe against an
enemy who fights by snatching away one’s eyesight, that was thanks to this
child?”
Tobio had also had doubts. Shigune hadn’t had her eyesight stolen, since
after all she had been aware that the sunglasses man was using two stone
statues.
Shigune spoke.
“……I don’t quite get it, but Poh-kun was somehow able to defend
against the light like a shield. However, based on how it appeared……could
he have been was eating the light entirely……or something?”
Eating the light——. Rather than light itself, it was more like he protected
her by eating the Sacred Gear’s ability…….
This masked creature of a Sacred Gear did all of that…….
There were many more questions about Shigune’s Sacred Gear……
however, Natsume clapped her hands sharply and spoke.
“We’re not pursuing Lavinia!”
Indeed, that had been their original goal.
them
“Get going. I will take custody of the Abyss Team. You mustn’t leave the
Ice Princess and the Witch of the East alone together.”
……Tobio wondered just how the Grigori would respond as a
consequence of handing the defeated members of the Abyss Team over to
someone from the Five Principal Clans……but more important right now
was ensuring the safety of their companion.
Tobio exchanged nods with Natsume, Sae, and Shigune, and temporarily
entrusting the present location to Suzaku, they once again chased after
Lavinia——.
Part 2
Tobio and the others had resumed their pursuit of Lavinia.

Having memorized Lavinia’s scent, Jin was dashing straight towards her
position.

As they advanced, Tobio gradually became aware of a peculiarity in the
outdoor atmosphere. There was alternating, or possibly simultaneous, blasts
of cold air and mild heat waves.
The further they advanced, the stronger it became.
They immediately understood.
Lavinia’s ice and Augusta’s flames were disrupting the atmospheric
temperature on this part of the mountain.
As they ran they could see traces of magic and supernatural power amidst
the many trees, the ground, the boulders, and the like.
——The trees had been felled or gouged out, completely changing the
appearance of the forest.
The trees had been either burned to a crisp, or else had been encased in
ice. The were places where the ground had been frozen over, and places
where it had been gouged out, and there was also smoking vegetation where
the fires could not be completely extinguished.
Even from in front of them the clamorous sounds of battle could be heard.
It seemed that Lavinia was close.
Sprinting, Tobio and the others finally emerged from the forest——and
there was a river of bare rocks.
Lavinia and Augusta were standing confronting one another by the river.
Both of them had several magic circles deployed in front of them and were
glaring at the other.
Next to each of them respectively, there stood a child of nobility crafted
from ice and a giant cultivated from flames. They were their respective
sacred gears——their Longinus.
Lavinia manifested countless spears of ice from the numerous magic
circles and fired them at Augusta. Augusta also fired enormous flames from
her magic circles, which served to offset Lavinia’s ice magic.
The pair’s powerful magics collided with one another, the ice being
melted by the flames, the fire being extinguished by the ice, all leading to a
powerful wind that blew violently.
Beside them, the flame giant which was carrying a cross swung it with
great vigor. From the cross that was swung, purple flames on a fierce scale
sprung forth, which rushed towards Lavinia’s ice princess.
The ice princess crossed its four arms, and multiple layers of ice pillars
grew from out of surface of the bare rocks and orientated on the giant.

The purple flames and ice pillars collided, creating a grand explosion.
A flashy magic battle was unfolding right before the eyes of Tobio and the
others.
Tobio and the other gulped.
Just from the present battle, they understood thatit was a struggle between
two people that had exceeded both their imaginations and abilities.
The magic of those two belonged to a domain far above their own world
——.
If Jin or Griffon were to rush in, they might be burned by those powerful
flames, or if conversely they captured, they would end up being a hiderence
to Lavinia.
They should have come to help, but the situation was such that they
couldn’t rush in carelessly.
——Perhaps, if I were to demonstrate the power from the time I
overthrew Himejima Hanezu…….
Tobio considered this, but the unrestrained power would simultaneously
means that he’d end up killing his companions as well.
In regards to how, just before, Natsume hadn’t removed the arm from the
man who bore the right arm of curses, the cause of this was how, when
Griffon had transformed during the battle with the ‘Utsusemi Agency’, he
had cut off the arm of Doumon Kazuhisa.
Based on appearances, she had ended up developing something like
trauma from that, and now couldn’t bring herself to use showy attacks against
a human opponent.
……Natsume and I are both high school students. We’re fully aware that
our readiness under such circumstances is like that of children.
However, the witch girl before his eyes, who was of the same age, was
continuing to fire off magic with the power to freeze her opponent.
It was a certain kind of readiness——. That was what he perceived within
Lavinia and Vali.
Those two, who had gone through similar environments, had perhaps
reached similar resolutions——.
Lavinia and Augusta were continuing their magical battle with one
another.
From the magic circles the pair of them manifested came, not just fire and
ice, but also squalls, lightning strikes, countless arrows of light, deep black

balls of darkness, and frequent paranormal phenomenon that Tobio hadn’t
seen before were all unfolding before their eyes.
Each and every one of these blows raised columns of water countless
times from the river, destroying the rocky shore.
The boldly smiling Augusta, and Lavinia whose expression never
loosesened.
——And then, the pair took notice of them at roughly the same time.
Augusta spoke.
“Oh my, it seems that Satanael has finished with his business huh.
Moreover, it looks as though his proteges were defeated.”
Natsume yelled.
“Lavinia! We’ve come now, so don’t worry!”
With her companions’ arrival Lavinia finally loosened her cheeks.
Seeing that, Augusta sneered.
“Hey Ojou-chan from just now, if you intrude into a battle between fellow
Longinus, it’ll end with you dying in the aftermath of my and the Ice
Princess’s magic.”
At that statement from the elderly witch, Natsume resentfully said, “What
was that!”
Augusta then directed her gaze at Tobio——and at Shigune who was
holding “Poh-kun”.
“……Well, it would appear that I shouldn’t show that dog or Toutetsu any
openings though.”
——And then, Augusta turned her eyes upon Sae next.
“……The black lion test subject huh. Seems that she were safe then. ……
Oh? You can’t bring it out? That is certainly unexpected. That fallen angel
governor-general, could he have possibly done something?”
…….
……Augusta said something disturbing. Sae, as part of an experiment by
the ‘Utsusemi Agency’, had been forced to bear an artificial Sacred Gear——
an independent avatar type black lion.
Tobio didn’t remember it well, but he’d heard that, as a result of Tobio
reaching Balance Breaker, that it had been torn to pieces——that should be
how it was but…….
Lavinia asked of Augusta.
“……By black lion test subject, you mean that thing from Oz? Governor-

general Azazel is currently in the middle of analyzing it. I would like it if you
didn’t say thing that will cause Toby and Shaae anxiety.”
Somehow of another, Lavinia seemed to know the condition of the lion
that had been dwelling inside of Sae but…….
Augusta displayed an obscene smile.
“That’s the one, though that was something that we provided to Satanael
and the ‘Utsusemi Agency’. Glenda’s research was incredibly useful huh.
See, it’s all because Glenda was looking after the ice princess ojou-chan.”
“So you forcibly snatched information on my Sacred Gear from
Oshishou-sama.”
Hearing this statement, Augusta——let out a meaningful laugh.
“Kukukuh……”
Smiling an extremely ugly smile, Augusta made a statement.
“That’s wrong. That’s completely wrong. It was offered to us by Glenda.
All about the power of your independent avatar type that is.”
——.
……They were offered information on Lavinia’s own abilities by Glenda,
in other words, from Lavinia’s master……?
Even more doubtful of what she was hearing than Tobio and the others,
Lavinia returned a question with a perplexed expression.
“……What are you saying……?”
Augusta, her smile becoming even more detestable, joyfully explained.
This was her devastating confession.
“Oh dear. Unexpectedly, you’re a child who struggles to comprehend.
Well then, allow me to explain it clearly. ——Glenda is a witch on our side.
She has been from the start. Good witch? Bad witch? That is a self-centered
scale from information transmitted by people on our side. At the time, it was
because there was a terrible factional dispute in the world of Oz between
north, south, east, and west. Well, the magicians of ‘The Country of Oz’,
from the beginning, weren’t interested in anything beyond the boosting their
own magic.”
For an instant, Lavinia stiffened as though time had come to a stop.
A brief silence fell over the area but…….
Lavinia squeezed out a shaky voice.
“……………………A lie. THAT’S A LIE!!!”
In response to her empathic tone, Augusta continued while smiling

scornfully.
“It’s not a lie. In that case, how about this?”
The old witch raised her palm, forming a small magic circle.
Augusta addressed what seemed likely to be a communication type magic
circle.
“Can you hear me, Glenda?”
After a beat, the voice of an aged woman was heard through the magic
circle.
‘……For you to suddenly contact me, I wonder if something has
happened, Augusta.’
Hearing that voice, Lavinia’s eyes widened.
From her reaction, it seemed that the voice was familiar to her.
Augusta cheerfully spoke to the person on the other end of the
communication type magic circle.
“Right now, I was just fighting your disciple the Ice Princess. How about
you let her hear your voice. Hasn’t she been desperately searching for you?”
In response to Augusta’s words, the woman, who appeared to be Lavinia’s
master, replied as follows.
‘…………There’s nothing to discuss.’
The tone was one of blunt refusal.
“——!”
Lavinia was left speechless by this response, and her entire body was
trembling.
Completely enjoying Lavinia’s reaction, Augusta let out a laugh.
“Kakakah! How cold! Wasn’t there a time when you more or less loved
this girl as a daughter? And yet your fine saying something like that! How
heartless!”
‘…………’
In response to Augusta’s statement, the magic circle that appeared to be in
communication with Glenda was silent just for a moment.
And then, she addressed her pupil.
‘——Lavinia.”
That was——for her pupil Lavinia who had been searching after her
master’s welfare, a reply that could be said to be regretful.
‘I’ll say it once more. ——What I have to say to you, is nothing.’
Thereupon the communication ended, and the magic circle disappeared.

The excessive events left even Tobio and the others at a loss for words.
As for Lavinia herself——.
“……………………”
Dropping her wand, her arms hung languidly, and with her gaze becoming
unfocussed, her expression was enveloped by an atypical lack of composure.
Even the Ice Princess standing beside her had ceased its offensive posture.
Completely trifling with her ability, the truth that her patron, who when
she had lost her relatives had showed her kindness and offered her hope, had
been one of those conspiring with the enemy she was pursuing, this truth was
surely something she couldn’t come to grips with.
It would not have been strange even if she believed that it wasn’t real.
Somehow opening her shivering lips, Lavinia——.
“……N-No way.”
In a voice that was unimaginable for her normally, from deep within her
body, from the bottom of her heart, she screamed.
“I DO NOT BELIEVE IT!!! I don’t, I don’t believe it……!!”
Lavina staggered. Her legs had no doubt become unsteady from the
considerable shock.
Her heart and body ‘s condition had been completely shaken.
However, they was still a battle in progress.
Tobio and Natsume met each other’s eyes. The pair of them, having
agreed to help Lavinia, nodded to each other in silence.
Tobio and Natsume rushed in at that moment, their aim being Lavinia’s
rescue.
Augusta let loose a dangerous magic circle from her hand, and a black
magic circle with an ominous pattern began to unfold.
“You’ve lost your senses then. Now!”
In an instant, an enormous black magic circle began to develop around the
defenseless Lavinia. Bizarre magical power overflowed from it, and began
covering Lavinia starting from her toes.
Without time to resist, Lavinia was enveloped by deep black magic
power.
Just as her entire body was dyed black, there was also a change that befell
Augusta.
The body of the old witch was shining, having turned into an orb of of
light. this orb of light flew at great speed towards Lavinia who had turned

black, and finally collided with her.
The orb of light went inside of Lavinia who had become jet black.
At which point, the magic circle vanished, and the jet black magic also
died out as Lavinia collapsed to the ground.
What remained was——just Lavinia.
Watching this series of events, Natsume raised a voice of confusion.
“——! What just happened!?”
A short moment later, Lavinia regained her posture, her face lowered, and
let out an ominous laugh.
‘Ahahah!’
For the usual her, a loud laugh of such a volume was unthinkable.
Lavinia turned her face to them. Her pointed gaze was filled with hostility.
She then stated the following.
‘Too bad. I have taken this miss’s body. Now then, how should we do
this?’
‘——!?’
Lavinia expression was so much like Augusta’s that Tobio and the others
were shocked.
The aura drifting from her had also become that of Augusta!
——Could Augusta have hijacked her body!?
The ominous magic from just a moment ago, it was something intended to
hijack Lavinia’s body…….
Though they somehow understood the circumstances, it was nevertheless
surprising that the Lavinia before them had had her consciousness stolen by
the old witch from Oz she’d been at odds with, and Tobio and the others were
racking their brains over how to respond.
Lavinia——Augusta, paying no mind to how much confusion and the like
they were feeling, was issuing instructions to the Ice Princess that was beside
her and——wasn’t that independent avatar type made from ice pointing its
four arms towards them!
Moreover, even the purple flame giant that Augusta had controlled had
started to take a offensive posture towards them!
Augusta, bringing Longinus of ice and flame that were their respective
other selves to their feet, laughed fearlessly.
‘Are you able to oppose two kinds of Longinus? Well black dog and Four
Fiend young ladies?’

The Ice Princess produced a mass of ice in its hand, and the purple flame
giant raised its cross up high.
In this situation, they’d end up sustaining simultaneous attacks from the
Longinus of ice and flame.
Tobio had raised his guard, but then Natsume grabbed his arm.
“——Let’s withdraw temporarily.”
Natsume had just proposed that they abandon Lavinia in this situation.
Tobio’s expression became severe.
“B-But! To leave in this situation——“
He had spoken to that point, but then Tobio noticed how Natsume was
biting her lip.
Even for her, this was a mortifying last minute decision.
In any case, at the moment they couldn’t think of a way to save the
captured Lavinia.
“~~~~!!!”
Tobio made an anguished expression, and couldn’t help but to let out a
sound as he gripped his fist tightly in frustration.
And then, Tobio took Sae’s hand, Natsume grabbed Shigune’s hand, and
they sought refuge from that place.
‘Running away are you! Ahahahah!’
From behind they heard the loud laugh of Augusta who had entered
Lavinia.
It had ended in the worst possible outcome——.

Chapter 7: Distorted Blade Dog God of
Luminous Night Sky -Night Celestial Slash
Dogs-
Part 1
The quartet of Tobio, Natsume, Sae, and Shigune, while putting some
distance between themselves and Lavinia whose body was stolen by Augusta,
met up with the trio of Samejima, Vali, and Koga as they were running along
the mountainside.
It would appear that they had also repelled the assassins.
Having met up, Tobio and the others were reporting on their encounter
with Satanael, as well as the situation with Lavinia——.
His expression doing a complete turnaround, Vali approached Tobio in a
rage.
“And then you just ran away!? Without rescuing Lavinia! Kuh!”
For the boy, who only ever showed a cool expression, to become
emotional just as Lavinia’s situation was conveyed, even Tobio and the
others were surprised.
Vali ran off in the direction that Tobio and the others had just come from.
Natsume restrained him by pulling on his arm.
“Hold it, Vali! Where are you going!?”
“I’ll save Lavinia even if I have to do it alone!”
Shaking off Natsume’s hand, the boy was just about to turn around——.
‘Knock it off, Vali. The opponent has two varieties of of Longinus. That’s
a lot to bear even for the current you.’
Albion’s voice emerged from the dragon puppet placed on Vali’s
shoulder.
Vali shouted at Albion.
“If it gets to that point, the armor will be sufficient!”

‘That is not yet in its completed form. Above all else, for that small body
that cannot bear my power as the Hakuryuukou, it would put your life in
danger.’
At this statement from the dragon residing within his body, Vali, his
hands trembling in frustration, spat out his next words.
“……In any case, it’s a life that was already abandoned once!”
At that point, the voice of a third party emerged.
‘Now now, don’t be saying that, Vali.’
This time the voice heard from the dragon doll that was placed on his
shoulder was that of Azazel.
“——Azazel!”
“Governor-General!”
Vali and Natsume looked at the doll.
Azazel spoke.
‘I wasn’t late making contact, right. I received a rough report from
Barakiel. ——Well then, what’s the present situation?’
Tobio and the others described Lavinia’s situation in detail.
Azazel fell quiet for a moment to ponder and…….
‘……I see, those troublesome Oz. Their aim from the start was Lavinia
herself huh. From the beginning, it was just about cornering that girl’s spirit
so they could control her. However, to use Lavinia’s own master like
that……’
Tobio voiced his frustration.
“……It was our fault. Even though we had assumed it was a trap……”
Tobio and everyone had considered that it might be a trap. Despite that
they had been attacked during a momentary opening.
It wasn’t just Tobio, Natsume was also showing a distraught expression
due to feeling responsible.
Tobio gave voice to her regrets.
Samejima was also folding his arms with a bitter expression.
Everyone there was bitterly coming to grips with their own respective
responsibility.
Azazel gave a snort of laughter.
‘……Geez, even though not much time has passed since you guys all met,
you have feelings of companionship. Surely it was because of this that the
plans of the “Utsusemi Agency” were demolished but……. In any case, if

Augusta were to get serious, at present there’s no one capable of dealing with
her other than Lavinia. Besides, it can be assumed that those guys had
countermeasures for several tactics. ——You guys are still inexperienced
after all.’
Nobody had a reply to that statement.
Natsume inquired of Azazel.
“Governor-General, is there a way to save Lavinia?”
Even Vali inquired at this point.
“Azazel! How do we do it!”
‘Calm down, Vali.’
Azazel warned the impatient Vali by speaking so.
And then, Azazel spoke.
‘It isn’t impossible. It should be possible with the tactics you’ve been
rehearsing and practicing.’
‘——!’
Everyone, with the exception of Koga, was hanging on Azazel’s every
word.
Azazel continued.
‘If it’s Tobio’s power, it should be possible to sever that Oz hag from
Lavinia. That is the characteristic of your sacred gear after all.’
Tobio gulped as he spoke.
“……I can’t just cut her with my……with Jin’s sword. If I cut her like
that I’ll end up killing both Lavinia and Augusta.”
‘Not at all, your blade isn’t just a technique for cutting every object. It’s a
special blade capable of cutting down even concepts, like techniques or
magic. At any rate, it is a sacred gear that professes to cut down even gods.’
——Cutting down even concepts, like techniques or magic.
Azazel continued speaking.
‘Think, pray, the sacred gear is a superpower that draws power from the
owner’s thoughts and desires. Naturally, this case is a befitting situation. You
must also agree to have suitable resolution.’
“……Resolution?”
Azazel spoke clearly.
‘——Balance Breaker. You must temporarily unleash the prohibited
move you have carried since you were born. You should have been given the
necessary item just in case.’

Tobio took a piece of equipment out of his breast pocket where he’d been
carrying it since coming here.
——It was five strings of prayer beads.
Those were something that Azazel and the other Grigori had
manufactured based on the prayer beads Tobio’s grandmother had refined
using Juhou[?] in order to seal her grandchild’s Balance Breaker.
Azazel spoke.
‘Those prayer beads are something that suppress your grandmother’s
technique. Each one will allow you to retain your sanity for a maximum of
ten second. ——But, do remember that they’re only at the experimental
level. There may be unexpected occurrences, or there may be side effects that
emerge after using Balance Breaker. ——Will you use them?’
To Azazel’s query, Tobio——.
“I’ll use them. I’ll save Lavinia-san while using my Balance Breaker. And
then at last we can safely return.”
It was a prompt decision. There was no hesitation.
Azazel spoke to Sae.
‘Toujou Sae, most likely, the one who holds the key to success is you. If
your childhood friend loses his senses, keep calling out to him.’
“W-Will that be good enough?”
To the reserved Sae’s question, Azazel laughed.
‘Yeah, that’s something that’s surprisingly important.’
Azazel then spoke to Vali.
‘……Vali, will you do it? With how unstable Tobio’s power is, the
likelihood of failure is high. Your power will also be necessary.’
“Albion tells me that my power is also unstable. You do remember that as
well don’t you?”
‘Nevertheless, will you try?’
“——Just don’t be regretting it. I’ll show you how I use it.”
Vali’s expression embodied the strength of his determination.
Azazel then spoke to each of the Four Fiends.
‘For Minagawa Natsume and Samejima Kouki, it seems that it goes
without saying but……for the newly arrived Nanadaru Shigune and Koga
Hyousuke, what will you guys do?’
In this situation, since they still couldn’t have the assistance of the entire
organization, it was an inquiry as to whether the duo of Shigune and Koga

would try to save a girl they’d only just met.
As for Shigune——.
“……Though I don’t really get it, if it’s the friend of a classmate, I’ll help
to save her!”
While her shivering body was embracing “Poh-kun”, she replied as such.
Koga spoke while crossing his arms.
“Well, I have boarded the ship. Might as well ride it all the way.”
In response to his brief reply, Azazel gave him a warning.
“……It seems that you received something from Satanael, but it isn’t
good to use that power too much. Most likely, it will result in nothing good,
right?”
It seemed that Azazel had been told about that transformation of Koga’s.
Koga shrugged.
“Except for guys who are hostile to me, I don’t use that power all that
power. However, since it’s power obtained at great cost, I don’t know to what
extent I can use it. It is mainly for ‘The Four Divine Beasts and the
Ouryouu
Huánglóng‘ for which my curiosity overflows.”

At Koga’s statement, Azazel said, “This is quite troublesome,” in a
surprised voice.
Tobio……could not surmise Koga’s true intentions, but given the degree
to which he had slaughtered the those people from the remnants of the

‘Utsusemi Agency’, he had been carrying a sense of vigilance towards him.
Azazel had inquired about the intentions of everyone there.
A sudden chill then drifted up to them. Everyone’s gaze gathered in one
direction.
……It seemed that the Augusta hijacked Lavinia was approaching.
Sae held out her palm, and what alighted upon it was white——snow. She
gazed up at the sky suspiciously.
“……Snow?”
It gradually gained strength until finally——it turned into an out of season
snowfall.
Azazel spoke.
‘……Snow huh. If Lavinia’s sacred gear were to raise its ability, it’s
possible to generate snowstorms by means of abnormal weather……and can
even create blizzards.’
To be able to even rewrite the weather, Tobio and the others were once
again reminded of the menace posed by the special characteristic of Lavinia’s
sacred gear——of a Longinus.
Thereafter, Tobio and the others listened to a detailed coping strategy
from Azazel.
Azazel then stated this in conclussion.
‘After I’ve gotten in touch with Barakiel, we’ll coordinate to get their as
soon as we can. Geez, for the Governor-General himself to make an
appearance is quite risky though huh. It’s in front Mephisto even. At any rate,
you guys!’
Azazel spoke to everyone.
‘Don’t die okay? There’s still so much more to teach you after all. Bring
back Lavinia!’
‘YEAH!’
Everyone yelled with only a single thought in mind.
The Lavinia rescue operation had commenced——.
Part 2
The snowstorm, being completely out of season, was steadily increasing,

and in the process snow was accumulating throughout the area.
The snow had already accumulated to the point that their feet were leaving

footprints as they walked.
Tobio and the others, so as to prevent Lavinia who’d been hijacked by
Augusta going as far as the village, had been lying in wait for her on the side
of the mountain near the village——on the bank of a large pond.
It was precisely halfway between the place where Lavinia had just been
fighting and the place where the companions had joined up.
It was easy to see why they’d agreed upon the vicinity of the pond as a
battlefield.
On the bank of the pond——the situation in all directions could be spied
upon while remaining hidden behind cover. They were waiting for Lavinia to
appear.
However, even as they remained there the temperature was steadily
dropping, such that their breath was white and their bodies wouldn’t stop
shivering.
It was only natural, but at the time they came here from their base at the
the mansion, they hadn’t given the slightest thought to preparing cold
weather contingencies.
A short while later, from the midst of the snow, they caught sight of a
figure on the opposite bank of the pond. It was a girl in a white robe——
Lavinia.
For the start of the first part of their strategy, the trio of Natsume,
Samejima, and Koga would concentrate their attentions on Lavinia——on
Augusta.
Natsume and company jumped out from behind cover.
Their opponent had also confirmed their movements, but as she took a
single step forward……. Having reached the bank of the pond, she continued
to set foot towards the pond without stopping her advance. Just like that she
took another step——.
However, her feet did not sink into the pond. It was because the pond had
turned to ice. Augusta slowly advanced across the frozen pond step by step.
‘Oh dear, three of the Four Fiends children.’
Augusta looked around in apparent amusement.
‘So the dog and white dragon aren’t here then. Could they be laying some
kind of hidden trap?’
Augusta was showing a fearless smile.
An aura of ice was gathered behind her, which formed into something.

It was forming arms, a head, and a dress.
When they saw what manifested behind Augusta, everyone’s breath
caught.
——Because a giant princess of ice that was some ten-odd meters tall had
appeared!
What Lavinia had employed had only been three meters in height. They
couldn’t help but to be shocked by what was about four times the size of the
ice sacred gear.
Could the size really change this much just by having someone else
wielding it? Or else had the normal Lavinia been suppressing its power?
She had said that she couldn’t control the Longinus’s power but…….
Augusta held her staff forward and numerous magic circles expanded in
front of her.
‘Now then, who will be my first opponent?’
The witch’s magic power swelled and magic of various attributes was
fired from the magic circles!
“Griffon!”
“Let’s go, you shithead!!”
Natsume launched Griffon into the sky as Samejima wound Byakusa’s
lance-like tail around his arm.
Countless ice arrows and fireballs made from magic rushed towards
Griffon who was flying through the sky. Griffon avoided them all.
Being assailed by a magical lightning barrage, Samejima was offsetting it
using Byakusa’s tail lance that had been enveloped in electricity, but the
force of the magic was tremendous, to the point that each shot he took ended
up driving him backwards.
Koga, quickly manipulating the gauntlet equipped on his right arm,
activated the previous state together with his own sacred gear——Blitz.
“——Balance break.”
‘Si-xiong HúnDùn Over Booster!!!!’
A deep black aura spread together with that voice, transforming his
appearance into that of a powered suit.
——But, Tobio did not overlook how, just as Koga took this form, he
staggered ever so slightly for just a moment. ……Could that be a negative
tendency that arises due to the transformation?
As he was worrying about such things, Koga, who had immediately

recovered his posture, stood in front of Natsume and, using the hardened
elongated hair growing from his head, struck down any magic that
approached her.
Koga spoke.
“Minagawa, I’ll go in front. Since you’re flesh and blood, you’d turn to
ash if you were hit with a single attack, right?”
“Thanks! However, it can’t be helped! My Griffon still cannot be
transformed easily after all!”
Natsume replied as such to Koga’s frank advice.
In the battle with the ‘Utsusemi Agency’, Natsume’s Griffon and
Samejima’s Byakusa had transformed into the forms of monsters, but there
was no sign of that under the circumstances.
The hardened hair growing from Koga’s head bunched up on its own
accord, producing things similar to whips. With those, he was sweeping aside
both the magic Augusta fired and the ice attacks of the giant Ice Princess that
was standing behind the witch.
Koga spoke while smashing the opponent’s attacks.
“I see. Well then, how about this?”
The head whip-like things that Koga had produced quickly stretched
towards Griffon who was in flight and Byakusa who was on Samejima’s
shoulder.
The whips wrapped around Griffon and Byakusa.
The instant everyone wondered ‘what’, Koga’s powered suit glowed,
some kind of energy gathered in the head which then traveled along the
whips and flowed into Griffon and Byakusa who’d been entwined by them.
Griffon and Byakusa began to glow in the same manner as Koga——.
Simultaneously, Natsume and Samejima’s bodies seemed to visibly pulse.
In an instant, the luminescence of Griffon and Byakusa swelled further,
casting a bright flash through the surrounding area.
……When the brilliance stopped, a giant four legged beast resembling the
monster griffon with two pairs of wings growing from its back was flying in
the air. Next to Samejima as well, possessing multiple long tails, there stood
a giant white beast possessing protruding tusks like those of a saber tooth
tiger.
——Griffon and Byakusa had transformed into giant beasts.
At this Augusta groaned.

‘Oho, they’ve turned into the original forms of the Four Fiends. It seems
that the power of the artificial Balance Breaker bestowed by Satanael
compelled them to assume those forms.’
Koga separated his whip-like hair from Griffon and Byakusa and
shrugged.
“I shared the excess power I cannot control with them. Well, this should
improve things for at least a little while.”
As he spoke, he fired the hair that had taken the form of whips towards
Augusta.
……Excessive power that he cannot control…….
Tobio couldn’t help but to feel increasingly frightened over the dangerous
sense he was getting from Koga’s current state.
However, Natsume and Samejima, even if it was with Koga’s help, had
again obtained the transformed power from their previous fight with the
‘Utsusemi Agency’, so their offensive force had increased.
Kyuuki
“Griffon……no wait! Qióngqí! Form a squall!”

Toukotsu
“Aight then, Táowù!! Smash her with electricity!!!”
Their partners——the Four Fiends, having heard Natsume and
Samejima’s orders, fired a gale and an enormous blast of of electricity, the
likes of which was incomparable to just before, directly at Augusta.
Expanding numerous layers of magic circles, Augusta fired ice pillars in
addition to the ice spears from the Ice Princess, her expression having lost its
earlier composure as she launched an offensive that was true to her nature.
With the attacks from Natsume, Samejima, and Koga, they were able to
pin Augusta down.
And then, before their eyes they were able to verify one of the things
Azazel had said.
It was as Azazel had told them.
‘Probably, the Oz hag won’t use her own magic and the two Longinus all
at the same time. I’d estimate that it’d be better to use magic and a single
Longinus. When it comes to using simultaneous Longinus, she won’t do it
unless it’s quite the situation.’
To this Natsume had asked, “Why?”
At that time, Azazel had replied as follows.
‘For Sacred gears, unless it’s quite the situation, or perhaps unless it’s

quite the individual, using two varieties simultaneously is quite tough.
Particularly for the Longinus that are such outrageous sacred gears, to use
two types simultaneously is……a considerable burden. In the best case it
would completely exhaust stamina and magic power. ——It’s possible it
might even shave away one’s lifeforce. In the even she were to fire off magic
in addition to that, who knows to what extent she’ll end up paying for it.
Naturally the witch has raised her guard since she’s hoping to use two
Longinus, but on the contrary an opponent can make use of that to drive her
into a corner.’
Azazel then said one final thing.
‘In any case, capturing an opponent using a Longinus will require
appropriate effort. If the battle is allowed to drag on for an extended period, I
think that a chance for you all to win will present itself. Don’t use showy
attacks that utilize excessive stamina. With just the power you need to to
counter her, delay her as long as you are able. I think she’ll start to struggle
without warning.’
With the ongoing attacks upon Natsume and Samejima’s transformed
sacred gears, Augusta had begun fighting while shrouded with power.
Sooner or later, if this continued——.
However, even if they waited it’d all be meaningless if she escaped at the
last moment.
Even as the Natsume trio drew Augusta in, their next strategy was in the
works.
A white flash swooped down upon the battlefield——.
It was Vali flapping his wings of light. The aura swelling from Vali’s
body had accumulated to a mass previously unseen.
Having positioned himself at a short distance, he had been making
preparations to temporarily raise his aura that was unified with his spirit.
For him to be showing himself here, he must have finished his
preparations.
Augusta spoke to Vali who was floating up in the sky.
‘So you finally appeared, Hakuryuukou pipsqueak.’
Vali spoke with an extremely displeased facial expression.
“……How careless that was. If it’s on the level of the aged witch of Oz, I
had successfully evaluated that she alone should have been sufficient to serve
as opposition. Truly, with her benefactor being on their side……that must

have had some negative influence on her sacred gear.”
Having heard those words, Augusta, displaying a smile dripping with
unpleasantness, made use, of all things, of Lavinia’s tone of voice.
‘Vah-kun, I wish you wouldn’t get so angry about this. Do you not want
to be the cool Vah-kun just like you always are?’
That——most likely, was taboo. That was a line that mustn’t be crossed.
The aura enveloping Vali’s body——was ejected at an extraordinary
level. The youth’s expression had become one of rage.
“……With that face and voice, you dare call my name……? Stepping
into my territory……with such filthy feet……”
Trembling, Vali shouted.
“I’ll continuously slaughter you in just half a minute!!! Balance Break!!!”
‘Vanishing Dragon Balance Breaker!!!!!!!!’
With the voice resounding, Vali’s body released a dazzling white flash
——.
After the light faded, what was revealed was a pure white plate armor
flapping wings of light.
Divine Dividing Scalemail
It was Vali’s Balance Breaker——‘Armor of the White Dragon Emperor‘.
It was manifesting armor that suited the short-statured Vali.
Albion shouted.
‘Vali! You can only assume the armor form for a short time!’
“Even ten seconds will be sufficient!!”
Vali, having invoked the ability, used high speed to touch Augusta just
once before taking up some distance. Aiming towards the evacuating Vali,
Augusta Augusta began expanding countless magic circles.
‘My how terrifying!! So you can use Balance Breaker even with that
small body! Isn’t just so wonderful! However! How’s this!”
From the countless magic circles, she was firing off magic repeated at a
scale that was incomparable with everything up until then.
Flames, ice, gusts, lightning strikes, darkness, light, it was a full burst of
every attribute. ——However, Vali didn’t flinch at all, and approaching at
high speed, raising the aura his body was clad in to the maximum, he held his
right hand forward.
“——Halve!!”
‘Divide Divide Divide Divide Divide Divide Divide Divide!!!!’

Together with the voice signalling his ability, which resounded multiple
times, a change arose in the mass and scale of the numerous spells aimed at
Vali. The magical attacks decreased by half, then by half again, and again by
half as they appeared to undergo repeated reductions.
At last the full burst of magical attacks had been decreased in scale to the
point of nearly not existing. Vali easily negated them with a brush of his
hand. He hadn’t been able to reduce the power of Augusta herself by half, but
it had been possible for the witch’s magic.
Augusta was shocked.
‘——The White Dragon Emperor’s reduction by half! Where Balance
Breaker is concerned, its power is even to this extent!’
Vali gathered tremendous aura in his hand and fired it towards Augusta!
Augusta expanded a defensive-type magic circle but——.
Due to the aura bombardment of Vali who’d assumed the armored form
having exceeded Augusta’s expectations in both power and density, the witch
immediately assumed a weighed-down posture.
‘…………!!! For such a child to have this much power……!! This is the
Two Heavenly Dragons……!!! So this is Lucifer!’
Due to the force of the aura bombardment, cracks formed in the frozen
surface of the lake that had been serving as her footing, which then began to
spread.
Having noticed that Augusta had fallen to her knees on the spot, Vali
turned his sights upon the Ice Princess behind her.
“I’ll negate that!”
Holding his hand out, Vali unleashed an aura bombardment upon the Ice
Princess!
Sensing this, the Ice Princess also held its four arms out and produced
countless ice spears of enormous power.
The Ice Princess then fired these at Vali who was floating in the air. Even
as Vali shot them down with aura, he drew closer, quickly touched the Ice
Princess once, then once again distanced himself. He then turned his halving
power upon the Ice Princess.
“Be halved!”
Even the scenery surrounding the Ice Princess was distorted. It seemed
that Vali’s ability could even affect space.
Vali’s halving aura enveloped the Ice Princess, which appeared to be

reducing it——but the Ice Princess also released a bluish-white aura, and was
able to resist it.
Vali’s halving aura and the Ice Princess’s ice aura were competing——
no, the Ice Princess’s aura was pushing back, with even the distorted
surroundings gradually returning to their original state.
Could the Ice Princess’s aura exceed Vali’s current power?
No, compared to when he first transformed, the aura Vali was clad in had
diminished. Based on this……it would seem there’s a time limit on how long
he can remain in this form.
They’d heard that as yet he could only enter Balance Breaker for a short
time.
Vali’s talent was a certainty. He had achieved the Balance Breaker that
was a sacred gear’s evolution at such a young age.
However, his talent did not come packaged with his own quantity of aura.
In other words, even if he could enter Balance Breaker, he was now
running out of gas.
Nevertheless, Vali……fought back with his remaining aura without
dissolving the transformation.
“Halve, halve! Halve halve halve halve halve halve halve……!!!”
Like a screaming child, in which he lost himself, Vali somehow unleashed
his aura to the limits of his power upon the Ice Princess.
Vali screamed from the sky——.
“If I cannot bear even this, then even hitting that man——hitting Rizevim
will be impossible!!! Now, to watch a kind person getting injured before my
eyes is something unacceptablllle!!!
He shed tears as he screamed at a frantic volume——.
Vali releashed what appeared to be the last of his power from his body!
An enormous amount of aura was released from his tiny body.
“Therefore, be haaAAAaaaaaAAAAlved!!!”
——It was at that instant.
A dry shattering sound resounded throughout the entire area. The next
they could see, the Ice Princess’s arm had been blown off. Not limited to just
that phenomenon, the Ice Princess’s entire body was distorted both vertically
and horizontally as its size seemed to gradually shrink!
Another arm went flying, the dress collapsed, and finally even the head
broke off.

Seeing the Ice Princess crumble and disappear, Albion shouted.
‘——It’s done! It’s done, Vali!’
The armor disappeared as Vali returned to normal.
His breathing was heavy and painful, but his expression showed his usual
innocence.
“……Naturally. I am……the descendent of the Devil King, Vali
Lucifer……”
At that, Vali lost consciousness and dropped from the sky.
Natsume and Samejima caught him before he hit the ground.
Samejima spoke while carrying Vali.
“……You’re a man, Lucidra-sensei. Geez, always trying too hard!”
Tobio, confirming Vali’s splendid accomplishment, was already rushing
forward, approaching Augusta step by step. The five sets of prayer beads
were on his arm.
The black dog Jin was beside him——.
Shedding tears, Natsume bellowed at Tobio and Jin.
“Vali showed his cool side!! Ikuse-kun!!! Tobio!! Cut her
doooOOOOOWN!!!”
“——Yeah, I got it.”
He had already made his resolve.
As he walked, Tobio spoke the forbidden incantation he had been
informed of by Azazel.
<<——Behowlest the slaying of one thousand mortals>>
Darkness——gathered in his surroundings. The darkness of this world,
the darkness of eternity, all that was dark wrapped itself around one man and
one animal.
His form being remade by the everlasting darkness, Tobio recalled the
words Lavinia had said.
|
——For myself from that time, compared to how I have been since then,
due to losing Papa and Mama I was deeply depressed——and I was
enveloped by hatred of for ‘Ice Goblin’.
|
<<——Besingest the slaying of ten thousand goblins>>
Lavinia-san, when I had lost Sae, I too was overcome by deep sadness and
hatred. Therefore, even if it’s not entirely, I do have an idea of what you were

talking about.
This was what Tobio was feeling.
|
——To that end, since this is my situation, I would like for every one of
you to fulfil your own objective. I don’t want to be a hindrance. Even if it is
just me by myself, I will pursue them.
|
<<——Mine name, which tis immersed in deepest darkness, tis the
Imitation God traversing the Polar Night>>
Lavinia had saved them. She had supported them until the very end.
Whether it was supernatural power, whether it was monsters, together with
them who had set foot into a truly unknown world, she fought the ‘Utsusemi
Agency’ until the very end.
|
——……Natsume, Shark, Shyaae, Tobi……thank you.
|
<<——O ye, perishest by mine own black blade>>
I want to tell her his thanks. We all do.
Because of you, Sae was able to come back, and I too was able to return
from Balance Breaker——.
|
——With the independent avatar types, even if you should investigate the
power sleeping within it, the moment you approach the truth there is a
possibility of being consumed by that power. Your other self is a part of
yourself, another version of yourself. If you show an opening at any point,
that other version of yourself can change places with you.
|
I also understand that. I understand quite well that the thing lying dormant
within me is incredibly dangerous.
Day by day the fear that my awareness may be stolen away by that grows
stronger.
However, to truly approach it, to probe the power lying dormant within,
Tobio was feeling that this was secondary.
I——with Sae, with everyone, in order to bring you to safety, precisely
because we’re being attacked by the unreasonable, it is that for which we
obtain power.

Tobio called out the final verse of the incantation. His body, which was
already enveloped by darkness, took the form of a beast with six tails.
<<——Fools ye art, deformed Creator Gods>>
OOOOOOooooooOOOOOOOOOON…….
Beside him Jin let out a splendid howl——. The roar was visibly
resounding throughout the entire area.
Azazel had taught him the name of this Balance Breaker——.
Night Celestial Slash Dogs
——Distorted Blade Dog God of Luminous Night Sky.

Perhaps due to the aura of darkness Tobio and Jin were releasing, the
snowfall that had been caused by the Ice Princess ceased, and moonlight
peeked through the snow-laden clouds.
……Compared to last time, his consciousness wasn’t dominated by the
thing dwelling within him. With the prayer beads attached to his arm, Tobio
was maintaining his true personality……. But cracks were already forming
on one of the sets of prayer beads. ……He couldn’t stay transformed for
long.
The pair of beasts, while being illuminated by the light of the moon, were
producing their specialized weapons from the shadows.
Tobio clutched his scythe. On the other hand, the sword that Jin held in
his mouth had been inscribed with a forbidden pattern——an incantation.
A strange phenomenon was occuring in the surrounding scenery as well,
with enormous deformed swords being successively spawned from the
earth’s surface. It was a side effect of Night Celestial Slash Dogs, an
aftereffect of the aura of darkness.
In the midst of the completely altered scenery, the pair each prepared their
weapons, approaching Augusta who had fallen to her knees.
Augusta’s gaze fell upon them.
‘——So the black dog succeeds the Vanishing Dragon. Good grief, it’s
both white and black Balance Breakers. Could something be happening with
this world’s Longinus……’
Although she muttered like that, Augusta began to rise, forming a magic
circle in front of her hand.
‘Even if the Ice Princess doll has been broken, it’s too hasty to think that
everything has been decided! Bear witness to the magic of Oz!’
To a degree unlike before, a seemingly endless number of magic circles

formed on a scale that completely filled the entire area!
From those, magic of every sort of the various attributes was fired not just
upon Tobio, but upon every person in the vicinity!
The extent of the magical attack was to such an extent that it seemed that,
not just them, but that the level of damage would be great even to the entire
area——to the mountain itself. It was possible that it could even affect the
village.
As that large scale magic rushed down on Tobio, Azazel’s words passed
through his mind.
——Your blade isn’t just a technique for cutting every object. It’s a
special blade capable of cutting down even concepts, like techniques or
magic.
Tobio prepared to use his scythe——. The suspicious pattern on the blade
held in Jin’s mouth released a brilliance.
——At any rate, it is a sacred gear that professes to cut down even gods.
Kill Kill Kill
‘——Slay. ……Sever. ……Let’s mow down. ……Kill. ——Watch me

slay!!’[?]
Tobio made a huge swing with the scythe! Jin also rushed forward,
sweeping the sword from side to side!
A powerful shock greatly shook the air, spreading throughout the vicinity!
Simultaneously, one of the sets of prayer beads on his arm broke.
A pair of rips, as though space itself had been torn apart, were produced
directly ahead. Similarly, a trail of tears appeared in the countless magical
attacks that had been fired their way.
And then——. Having been sliced through by Tobio and Jin’s slashing
attacks, the magic burst in a large scale explosion.
Not only were Tobio and the others not injured, with her magic having
been sliced apart before her eyes, Augusta’s eyes widened in horror as she
shuddered.
‘Well then, in that case how about this!! Be brought to peace by the Holy
Cross, oh High Priest of the Purple Flame!!!’
Violet flames arose from Augusta’s entire body, which then formed into a
giant of purple flames beside her.
The giant immediately swung the cross it was holding down at Tobio and
Jin, releasing enormous purple flames.

Tobio and Jin immediately ran from that spot, closing the distance at high
speeds that Augusta’s eyes couldn’t follow.
Drawing near to the purple flame giant in an instant, he swung the sickle
at close range. The giant also responded immediately, using its cross to
defend against Tobio’s sickle——but Jin, who circled around behind it,
proceeded to slash at the giant from behind.
At the moment the sword in Jin’s mouth, which had the prohibited
incantation engraved on it, slashed the giant, the sensation of being slashed
appeared to be transmitted to its owner Augusta——.
‘GAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHH!’
A loud, wordless scream was raised.
Naturally, they had been regulating it so as not to damage Lavinia’s body.
In the end, only Augusta who was possessing her suffered damage.
The giant also had its movements slowed, and yet it was continuing to
swing the cross. Tobio dodged the giant’s attacks with the smallest of
movements. Sometimes, the aftereffects of the purple flames would go flying,
but even those were being quickly evaded by Tobio.
In his current condition, the giant’s movements were much too slow for
Tobio. It was slow and heavy. In the time that the opponent made a single
move, Tobio and Jin could execute ten slashes.
Relentlessly, they chopped up the purple flame giant, Tobio with his
scythe and Jin with his sword. As they were doing this, another set of prayer
beads broke.
Having cut through the giant, Tobio closed the distance with Augusta and
raised his sickle.
All that was left was to cut Augusta clear from Lavinia’s body.
——But, perhaps sensing that, Augusta was once more clad herself in
purple flames, enveloping Lavinia’s body in flames.
‘How about it? Shall I use flames to turn this girl’s body to ash!?’
The witch from Oz attempted to threaten them at the last minute. Tobio
couldn’t help but to lift his hand at Augusta’s words. Cracks were already
forming in his third set of prayer beads. Perhaps due to an upsurge in his use
of the Balance Breaker power compared to before, the rate at which the
prayer beads were breaking had increased. He couldn’t waste even a minute.
That was when it happened. Above Augusta’s head——something flew
by up in the sky.

Kyuuki Kyuuki
It was Griffon who turned back into his original form as Qióngqí. Qióngqí
was dropping something.
Kyuuki
——Upon examination, it was Shigune’s sacred gear, “Poh-kun”. Qióngqí
had lifted him up into the air.
As the masked beast dropped, its master Shigune issues a command.
“Boh-kun! Consume those flaaaames!!
“Booh!”[?]
Toutetsu
Hearing its master’s decree, “Poh-kun”, Tāotiè, opened his mouth wide
and assumed an inhaling posture!
And then, the purple flames enveloping Lavinia were sucked into the
mouth of “Poh-kun”!
With “Poh-kun” consuming, Augusta was at the end of her wits as at last
all of the flames were completely sucked up.
Having fallen onto the frozen lake, “Poh-kun” let out a belch of “Gefuh.”
Even Augusta’s eyes were twitching at the actions of Shigune’s sacred
gear.
‘——Absurd! My purple flames!! The flames of a Longinus were eaten!?’
Azazel had said this.
‘There are differences in the capabilities of the Four Fiends and Four
Divine Beasts at various points in history depending on the person wielding
Toutetsu
them, but Tāotiè alone is different. No matter who is making use of that one,
it’s simply a nuisance. ——It eats everything. Anything and everything.’
Toutetsu
As the Governor-General had said, “Poh-kun”, Tāotiè‘s power was
simple. ——He ate everything. Even if he was up against the flames of a
Longinus.
Augusta had been rendered completely defenseless.
Tobio judged that this was the deciding moment between victory and
defeat, and tightly clasped his scythe.
Samejima shouted.
“Do it now, IKUSEE!”
Sae who was in a posture of prayer alsos shouted.
“——Tobio. Please! Help Lavinia-san!!!”
Cutting Augusta away from Lavinia’s body——.

Desire, wishes, a sacred gear is a supernatural power that responds to the
strong thoughts of its master.
If I myself pray for it strongly, it will surely come true. I’ll surely achieve
it!
The voice of the thing nesting within Tobio, the one from the dream of the
other day, was revived within his mind. No, once again, it was urging Tobio.
<<Your blade it reaches just about anything.>>
Yeah, if it’s that it can surely reach! No matter the place, no matter the
obstacle——.
<<However, your blade, it wounds everything.>>
No, my Jin doesn’t wound my companions!![?]
<<After all, you have already ceased being human.>>
Even so that’s fine. If I can save someone by ceasing to be human——.
Imitation God
Hey you Something that’s nesting inside me! If you want to eat so much,
then eat my humanity!
<<You’re a foolish host. Even without doing such a thing, it can be easily
ended by slaying Lavinia Reni together with the Oz witch.>>
Don’t joke around!! Like hell I’d choose something like that! Even if
you’re a blade that slashes through everything, the one who chooses the thing
that get slashed is me!!
That desire will merely taint you with darkness. After all, whether you
like it or not, you have put yourself into the chain of combat.>>
Nevertheless, right now I will have you grant only this!!
Rescue my companion, Lavinia Reni!! Bring out that saving power!!
‘Therefore, make it reach heeeeEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEER!!!’
Aiming at Augusta——at Lavinia, Tobio had performed a large
downwards swing with his scythe. Tobio’s slashing attack produced a
shockwave which, passing clear through her body, headed behind her,
through the trees straight ahead for a long distance, all the way to the
mountain itself, producing an enormous straight line of track where it passed.
…….
……After a single beat, a darkish aura leaked out of Lavinia’s body.
The aura gathered beside her, where it built up into a shape. Having
separated from Lavinia, it had formed into the figure of Augusta.
In a commendable act, Tobio’s attack had detached Augusta from Lavinia.

A vertical stripe had been produced on Augusta’s body, from which
purple flames were being emitted.
Augusta was being burned by her own flames. The elderly witch spoke
with an expression of disbelief.
“……Ridiculous, only I was slashed……? ……T-This situation is……
Glenda, Oz……I’m, I’m——“
Leaving that statement unfinished, Augusta was reduced to ashes by the
purple flames——.
As for Tobio who had just cut down the old witch, a person…….
The thing within Tobio left him with a warning.
<<You prioritized saving Lavinia Reni above all else. Saving that witch
was not one of the choices you provided. Therefore, she was quietly slayed.
If you wish to choose what to slay, you should expand your awareness of the
blade further. You must be aware, or your blade will just indiscriminately
chop up everything.>>
……Tobio had no words for the inner voice. Although she was an
opponent, he had ended up murdering another person…….
He gazed at the blade edge of the scythe. No, he glared at it.
If he wasn’t conscious of it, his own blade would become one that
mercilessly chops up everything——.
Perhaps because the fighting spirit from both themselves and their
opponent had gone away, Tobio’s Balance Breaker came undone, and he
returned to his usual state.
As for the prayer beads……the fifth set had been cracked. It seemed he
had been just about at his limit.
To to the indications that the frozen lake was on the brink, Tobio
hurriedly picked up Lavinia and turned back.
He placed Lavinia down in front of their companions, and Natsume
embraced her, calling out her name while weeping.
“Lavinia! LAVINIA!”
At which point——.
“……Uun……”
Lavinia had responded.
With her being safe, Natsume showed a smile as she lightly shed more
tears.
“——!! Geez, don’t make me worry so much!!”

Having rescued Lavinia and having brought down Augusta, Samejima,
perhaps being exhausted, sat down right where he was.
“Case closed. Good grief, nothing but a tiresome battle.”
——Then, Azazel’s voice came from the doll on the shoulder of Vali who
had fainted.
‘Respond. What became of the operation?’
It seemed that he was making contact out of concern.
They informed him of their safety and success, and Azazel then
immediately spoke.
‘Lavinia’s alright then. Alright, somebody, quickly secure Augusta’s
purple flames. Those——are a sacred gear that wanders from one master to
another. Don’t overlook it.’
“It wanders from one to another?”
As everyone’s eyebrows were raising in response to information they had
heard for the first time——. On the opposite shore of the pond, a girl wearing
familiar gothic-style clothes made an appearance.
It was Augusta’s disciple Walburga.
In her hand——a violet fire was burning.
‘——!!’
At that spectacle, everyone’s breath got caught as they couldn’t help being
shocked.
Walburga spoke while displaying a mischievous smile.
“Mfufu This flame won’t be bestowed upon you! I’m retrieve-retrieving
it!”
Following through on her words, Walburga quickly moved to leave.
Having heard her speech, Azazel spoke in an annoyed sounding voice.
‘Tch, she has a sly hand. No helping it. After you’ve met up with
Barakiel, withdraw immediately. We’ll assess it with you afterwards.
Because a single dispute with the Five Principal Clans is causing trouble.’
Receiving Azazel’s orders, Tobio and the others established contact with
Barakiel via cell phone.
At the time of their withdrawal, there was one person who had already left
the scene.
——It was Koga.
The direction he was heading was entirely different with the one Tobio
and the others had their eyes on.

Samejima spoke.
“Koga. You come too, since even if it’s that black winged ossan, wouldn’t
your livelihood be guaranteed for the time being?”
Shrugging his shoulders, this was how Koga replied.
“——Well, just let me be by myself for the moment. Well, since it’s said
that the Four Fiends will naturally meet, we’ll meet again soon.”
Having said that, he disappeared into the deep woods together with his
sacred gear Blitz.
“Oi, Kogaaa!!”
Samejima had shouted his name but——.
“Seeya, Same-chan, everyone.”
Leaving just those words behind, he left at a quick pace——.
Part 3
At the entrance to the woods——.

After the battle had ended, Himejima Suzaku and Kushihashi Seiryuu
watched from undercover at a distance as Tobio and company plus Barakiel
looked to be leaving the area by car.
Suzaku spoke.
“Though it seems that Satanael got away, the rendezvous itself seems to
have occurred one way or another.”
Seiryuu sighed as he spoke.
“It seems that the ‘Utsusemi Agency’ has been cast aside by them. Those
guys from agency who had been tempted were also helping, but Satanael and
the Witches of Oz are beyond help for having involved our five houses.”
“……Well then, in terms of the heads from each house, just what kind of
orders will they dump on us from now on I wonder.”
Seiryuu gave a word of advice to Suzaku.
“However, Suzaku, with the Houses having been silent thus far, I don’t
know what they’ll tell us going forward. Do you have the readiness for that?
——is what I should be asking myself as well, huh.”
As he had said, at the time Tobio and the others were fighting Augusta,
Oz’s Witch of the East, the reason that injuries were kept to a minimum was
that the practitioners of the Five Principal Clans had been tasked with
employing a large scale people clearing technique.

Moreover, so as not to allow any hindrance to them, they had also
obstructed the ‘Utsusemi Agency’ remnants and the magicians of Oz.
As a result of that, Tobio and company’s fight with Augusta was a
gathering of them alone.
Suzaku spoke.
“You explain your part. I……have no choice but to forcibly convince the
family head against his will.”
Then, it was time to consider just what sort of explanation to give.
“——Well then, perhaps you could tell me a reason that will make me
agree.”
Together with those words from a third person, they came to perceive a
powerful spirit close by. When Suzaku and Seiryuu turned to face the
individual, there stood a tall male wearing a military uniform. With an
appearance like one in his early twenties, he was a good-looking man with
sharp eyes.
It wasn’t a military uniform of the Self-Defence Forces, but rather it was a
special formal attire of that house’s practitioners.
Until she had been greeted by him, Suzaku hadn’t sensed any hint ofhis
presence. For this man to render his presence unperceivable was itself a
magnificent feat.
Suzaku spoke.
“……So you’ve come then. ——Current head of the Nakiri house, Nakiri
Nakagami Ouryuu.”
Indeed, the male in the military uniform was a chief of the Five Principal
Clans——the Nakiri house’s current head, Nakiri Nakiri Nakagami
Ouryuu[?], that was this person.
Ouryuu
The person contracted to the strongest Sacred Beast, Huánglóng——.
Ouryuu spoke to Suzaku and Seiryuu.
“Soon, I would like to question those who took part in the incident
involving the ‘Utsusemi Agency’, starting with Ikuse Tobio, at the ‘Inner
Sanctuary’ and I intend to propose as much to the other heads of household
as well. I wonder if, perhaps, it’ll come to pass.”
Seiryuu smiled bitterly in response to that statement.
“……The ‘Inner Sanctuary’, you seem serious Ouryuu.
Suzaku squinted at him and asked a question.

“……What are you planning for them?”
Ouryuu replied briefly.
“That——depends on their answers.”
That Ouryuu was directing his gaze in the direction the car Barakiel was
driving had left in.
“……Dog huh. Well then, how will this turn out?”

Convictor/Sword Enthusiast Teacher
and Student
As Tobio and company were battling the ‘Utsusemi Agency’ remnants as
well as the magicians of Oz, there were two people watching from the peak
of a mountain a short distance away.
They were agents from the Vatican——David Cerro and his pupil Freed
Sellzen.
Without participating in the recent fight, they, having decided to watch
patiently——to wait and see, had personally used a telescope to observed the
battle between the mutually antagonistic organizations.
The Ice Princess——Lavinia Reini, who had rampaged, had seemingly
been stopped by the abilities of the Longinus, the power of the Hakuryuukou
together with the Dog God.
As he looked away from the telescope, David muttered.
Absolute Demise
“……’Eternal Ice Princess‘, ‘
Incinerate Anthem
Crucifixion Stand by High Priest of Purple Flames‘, ‘

Divine Dividing Canis Lycaon
White Dragon Emperor’s Light Wings‘, ‘Dog God of the Black Blade‘……
ice and flames, white and black, so those four Longinus gathered at a single
spot huh. Is it the god of miracles, or possibly the god of mischief. ——I
have comprehended the situation. We will retire now, Freed.”
David said this to the pupil who was taking notes behind him.
Surrounding his pupil, a the atrocious figures of several corpses were
laying.
They were ‘Utsusemi Agency’ remnants and magicians of Oz who had
attacked David and Freed.
Having been on the lookout for church officials showing up at this place,
they had rushed them, but they were on the contrary beaten at their own game
and met with a gruesome end.
David spoke to Freed who was unsheathing a sword of light from the

corpse of a female magician.
“Even if we get rid of this many underling heretics and witches, it
shouldn’t be a problem for the present investigation.”
Displaying an insane smile, Freed responded.
“Hey hey, boss. I mean, that earlier aura were from Longinus right…….
Weeell, if that’s the honest truth, they probably won’t get killed all that
easily.”
David spoke.
“Those were things created by our God……but due to the humans they
dwell within being random, if they lack piety, it will lead to these sorts of
consequences. As expected, the Longinus ought to be similarly controlled by
us believers.”
While smiling pleasantly, Freed asked his master.
“What should we do about it in the event they cannot control them? Also,
will we chomp them, huh?”
As he said this, he put his hands on his head.
David looked to the heavens as he clasped the cross on his chest.
“Naturally. There’s nothing but to convict them.
——The meeting between them and Ikuse Tobio and company was
nearing.

Final Chapter: Companions/Strength in
Unity
Ten days had passed since they’d returned from the mountain forest.
As a result of effect due to his Balance Breaker, Tobio was more or less
hospitalized for examination, and was staying at a Grigori medical care
facility.
As a result of having exhausted his stamina to the extreme, it was
something that could also be called resting.
Tobio, who had looked forward to finally leaving the hospital, had was
returning to his hospital room after his daily exam. In response to seeing the
figure of Jin curled up in a corner of the room asleep, Tobio let a smile leak
out.
——And, there was a visitor who had entered the hospital room ahead of
his.
“How is it, your condition that is?”
The one seated in the hospital room’s chair was Azazel.
Previously, after the fight with the ‘Utsusemi Agency’, Tobio recalled
experiencing something similar.
Tobio replied while sitting down on the bed.
“Yes, somehow, it’s like I’m noticing various things compared to
before……it’s a bit scary.”
Perhaps as an effect of using Balance Break, compared to before the
recent events, the sensitivity of his sense of hearing and the like had
sharpened.
He would inevitably pick up on distant footsteps and sounds.
Azazel spoke.
“……You’ve advanced your alignment with your sacred gear. For those
types of sacred gears with evil spirits and the like sealed within them, just by
wishing for the ability, one grows closer with the things that are sealed. In no
way is it that they lost their will, and it seems that are not at all of the mind to

obey you who is the owner.”
……When those prayer beads were all broken, I wonder just what would
have happened?
At that time, Vali and Lavinia were far from perfect condition, and Azazel
hadn’t been anywhere nearby. Compared to when they changed him back
before, since the circumstances had deteriorated, if the prayer beads had been
lost…….
With Tobio still pondering, Azazel continued.
“It is a highly dangerous article for you in particular. As a result of
obtaining power just by wishing for it, it seems that those which are within
you are demanding something important as compensation.”
Sooner or later, it seemed that he would have no choice but to confront the
things dwelling within him.
……Lycaon and Ama no Ohabari……. Going forward, I will have to
consider how I should approach them.
His fight was still continuing. For the sake of what was still to come……
in order to spend his time going forward in safety, Tobio would have to better
understand his ‘power’.
After a beat, Azazel explained the following to Tobio.
“What the traitor to the Grigori Satanael is trying to do……is to
artificially produce incarnations that can overthrow even a god, Longinus.”
——!
……Artificially produce Longinus? Something as atrociously strong as
what Tobio, Lavinia, Vali, and Augusta wielded made artificially…….
Azazel continued.
“As we were finally coming to the brink of artificially producing ordinary
sacred gears, that bastard is trying to skip several steps……no, skip tens of
steps. It’s an extremely dangerous idea. It would be wrong for us Grigori not
to prevent it beforehand. Be that as it may, if I or my staff and colleagues
were to appear on the front lines, the hostile powers will not remain silent.
Whether it’s the supernatural power users of this country, or whether it’s the
Vatican, or even to the extent of the angels from the heavens.”
At the time he had met him, Satanael had gotten in contact with him in
whom he had a great interest. Azazel’s words had made it possible to explain
plenty about Satanael’s attitude at the time.
Most of all, he couldn’t help but to feel afraid regarding the thing that had

been given to Koga. ……He was exceedingly worried about his classmate’s
safety.
——That fallen angel seems as though he’d bring chaos to every power in
the world for the sake of his research.
Azazel spoke.
“……Without making things public, I’d like to settle things behind the
scenes. For that reason, the power of you Four Fiends and Longinus bearers
will be necessary. Will you lend me your power?”
At that moment Tobio was unsure of how to respond to Azazel’s query.
Two girls burst into the hospital room. They were Natsume and Sae.
“Ikuse-kun, have you returned from your examination!?”
“Tobio!”
The pair were both in a considerably hurried state.
Natsume’s gaze fell upon Azazel as she drew close.
“Ah, you were also here Governor-General. This is serious!”
Natsume spoke to Tobio and Azazel.
“Lavinia has come to her senses.”
This was good news.
|
Since being brought back from the mountain forest, Lavinia had been
brought into to the Grigori medical facilities, and while being observed by
authorized members of ‘Grau Zebaurer’, she had been undergoing various
examinations and treatments.
Befittingly exhausted from having her mind and body hijacked by
Augusta, she had been ordered to undergo complete bed rest.
During that time, she repeatedly received measures to remove the effects
of Augusta’s magic, which were continuing even now.
Reaching her personal hospital room, where she had been sleeping
continuously for ten days……however, she had finally awakened.
Her companions assembled surrounding Lavinia. Of course, their new
companions consisting of Nanadaru Shigune and “Poh-kun” were also
together with them.
Tobio inquired of Lavinia, who was only raising the upper half of her
body.
“Lavinia-san, is your body fine already?”
In response to Tobio’s inquiry, Lavinia displayed her usual smile.

“It is thanks to you that I am so healthy.”
Seemingly pleased, Natsume spoke while pointing a finger at Vali.
“Sheesh, we’ve been worrying about you! Even Vah-kun was crying you
know?”
The silver haired youth, who was leaning his back against the wall in the
corner of the room, retorted with half opened eyes.
“Who was crying. I was just assisting since it was difficult to say if she’d
die or wake up.”
However, Vali’s ears had turned bright red.
Seemingly understanding everything, Lavinia gave Vali a smile.
“Ufufu, Vah-kun now you understand why I say that Vali is such a tender
boy.”
Vali turned his face away……he apparently didn’t want to show everyone
his embarrassed expression.
After surveying everyone’s face, Lavinia made an announcement with a
determined expression.
“……I, I have decided. ——I shall meet with honored master directly.
When we meet, I shall ask for the truth once again.”
‘——!!’
Everyone was surprised by Lavinia’s admission……immediately
understanding her feelings, they nodded strongly to one another.
Natsume spoke.
“Understood. Well then, we will assist with that.”
“Natsume……”
Samejima spoke with a wry smile.
“At this point we might as well get it done already.”
Tobio was also in agreement with this opinion.
“Yeah, we’re comrades. One way or another, it appears that Oz will be
appearing before us from now on as well, and their aim remain unchanged. In
that case, let’s cooperate from now on, Lavinia-san.”
Tobio extended his hand. Though Lavinia was astonished at the accepting
attitudes of her comrades, she gave them a happy smile.
She exchanged a handshake with Tobio offered hand.
“Thank you so much, everyone.”
Lavinia spoke these words while enfolding Tobio’s hand in both of her
own.

“……Even so, ‘san’ is unacceptable. If we are companions, then I would
like for that to truly be the case.”
He couldn’t help but to feel that she……had opened up her heart far more
than she had up until that point.
Tobio nodded and replied.
“Understood. ——Lavinia.”
When Tobio called her by her first name, Lavinia, her face dyed redder
than it had been up until then, ended up averting her eyes from his…….
——And, Natsume added her on hand on top of Tobio and Lavinia’s
hands, and spoke to them.
“Well then, I shall be Natsume! I’ll also call you Tobio!”
At this Samejima piled on his hand as well.
“Ah, well then, I’ll also call you Tobio I guess. Therefore you should call
me by my first name.”
“Understood, Natsume, Kouki.”
At this, even Shigune piled on her hand.
“I-I’ve also become a companion! Therefore I should be Shigune!”
“Sure, Natsume, Kouki, Shigune. I’ll be in your care from now on.”
Lastly, Sae piled on her own hand.
“I’m also your companion to the end after all.”
With one person’s hand having not been added to the pile, everyone’s
gaze gathered on Vali who was leaning his back against the wall.
Vali spoke with half-opened eyes.
“……I’m able to do such a thing then.”
However, Lavinia spoke while unintentionally letting out a small laugh.
“Vah-kun. If you add your hand to the pile, you’ll get to eat delicious
meals you know, right? If you don’t you might go without any meals.”

That was the sort of thing she said. Vali’s expression became idiotic
but……as he sighed, perhaps out of resignation, scratching the back of his
head in reluctant acceptance, he finally piled his hand onto the pile in spite of
his shyness.

They all nodded to one another. Forcing their way through the current
situation, it seemed that they had strengthened and deepened something
important.
It was a still a serious state of affairs, with nothing but confusion
occuring, and they were adjoined with mortal peril……but nevertheless they
wanted to be strong together, they desired to become stronger.
Grigori
Azazel, Governor General of the ‘Watchers of God’s Children‘, cheerfully
watched over the children whose unity had been strengthened——.

Vanishing Dragon/Beyond the
Balance Breaker
Having slipped out of Lavinia’s hospital room slightly early, Vali, with an
expression that was true to his nature, spoke to the dragon that dwelled within
him.
“Albion, I understood it quite well from this recent affair. I am in need of
more power.”
‘Balance breaker huh. At present there’s no particular change in
objective.’
Even for the current Vali, it was possible to manifest the ‘
Divine Dividing Scale Mail
White Dragon Emperor’s Armor‘ that was the Balance Breaker to ‘
Divine Dividing
White Dragon Emperor’s Light Wings‘.
——But, because there were still uneasy aspects with his physique and
the like, a perfect Balance Break was as of yet unreasonable.
“No, that doesn’t pass the checkpoint. Further beyond that.”
Abion was astonished by Vali’s words.
Juggernaut Drive
‘——By no means, Vali. ……Supreme Dragon?’

“……You finally got it. In order to acquire a degree of strength that
deviates from that of the other Longinus, I shall master the blood dwelling
within this body, and that simply must be accompanied by the power of the
Heavenly Dragon.”
Unless I do so, I……will end up losing to that ‘graceful person’ again.
No, if I can become strong, I should be able to wound that ‘graceful
person’. When the blood flowing in my body and the sacred gear dwelling
within my body awaken for real, then I shall have to make a decision without
fail.
This and more, so as not to lose to that ‘graceful person’, by being
separated from that person’s vicinity——.
If it’s the accursed blood of Lucifer after all, I understand more about it

than anyone.
Although, at least when the time comes to approach him, I want to be
strong. I want to be an existence that con protect.
Therefore——.
“Albion, I do not intent to tolerate Oz. The Witch of the West? The Witch
of the East? The same even if they’re North or South. ——I’ll bring down all
Oz
their members, and I’ll drag out that Great Wizard who’s in that rumored
Emerald City.”
At the impactful sound of Vali’s voice, Albion stammered hopefully.
Sekiryuutei
‘……The current age’s Red Dragon Emperor will have a difficult fight
against you Vali. To the point I cannot determine whether it will end in
victory or defeat.’
Vali displayed a fearless smile in response to Albion’s statement.
“Hmph, unexpectedly, they may have talent exceeding that of my own?”
‘That doesn’t seem to be the case, Vali. You are the strongest
Hakuryuukou
White Dragon Emperor in any generation thus far. If a Sekiryuutei that

exceeds you exists, it would be the product of even greater miracles.’
If such a thing was possible, when they should encounter each other for
their fated battle, Vali truest hope was that it would be an existence as special
as himself.

Origin of Calamity/To Infinity
Having finished their recent experiment Satanael and the Wizards of Oz
organization returned to the research institution that served as their base.
The location of the institution was a large space prepared in advance
which had been established in the underground beneath one of Japan’s urban
areas.
The place hadn’t even been reported to the people from the ‘Utsusemi
Agency’. Those able to come and go at present were only personnel
authorized by Satanael as well as the Wizards of Oz.
From the outset, the people of the Agency had been intended as sacrificial
pawns.
With the data from the time they’d been manipulating the ‘Utsusemi
Agency’, together with Augusta’s cooperation, they’d achieved the outcome
they had been aiming for without a hitch.
Having returned to his own personal laboratory within the institution,
Satanael opened the cap on a bottle of cognac that had been placed on a
board, from which he poured some into a glass.
At the moment he swallowed a mouthful, several witches entered the lab.
They were witches from the Oz side’s leadership.
“So you’ve returned, Satanael.”
Having received a greeting from one of the witches, Satanael spoke.
“I assume you are aware of the matter concerning Augusta.”
Even knowing that the ‘Witch of the East’, who was a member of the
leadership, had perished, the witches were not overly concerned.
“There is still the ‘Witch of the East’ candidate. It is quite delightful that it
was possible to recover the purple flames.”
The Longinus of flames, which had been lodged within Augusta’s body,
had been recovered by her disciple Walburga, and had been safely brought
back to this institution.
Walburga herself, having entered the room together with the leadership,
had been peerly at the experimental equipment in the room with intense

curiosity.
In terms of the death of Augusta her master, her state was one of complete
lack of concern.
Satanael spoke.
“Were you able to get in contact with that side?”
“Indeed. It seems that the ‘Emerald City’ has been roused considerably.
After all, it’s possible we’ll be able to achieve our goal of once again utilizing
the ‘Three Demonic Beasts.”
The ‘Three Demonic Beasts’ of Oz——they were the
Cowardly Leo Dead Lumberjack
Lion That Lost its Courage, the Steel Man Seeking a Soul, and the
Rampage Scarecrow
Scarecrow Without a Brain.

To once again utilize them had been made the single publicized objective
by the people of Oz.
One of the witches shifted her gaze to a corner of the room.
Over there was a single sheathed long sword sleeping in exclusive use
pod.
“Could that be a demonic sword?”
In response to the witch’s inquiry, Satanael stood before the pod that was
under adjustment.
“It would seem that among our opponents there are several who carry
troublesome ‘blades’. Therefore, when I snuck out of the Grigori, I simply
thought of something I could take with me that would be useful.
While tapping lightly on the pod with his finger, he spoke.
“——Arondight. The sole legendary sword to fall from a holy sword to a
demonic sword. With this, whether it’s the Longinus’s blade or whether it’s
the pursuing holy sword messenger, it should be able to exchange blows with
them. Above all, it is suitable for an angel who’s fallen like myself.”
Even as they directed their gazes upon the holy sword that had fallen, the
witches inquired of Satanael.
“And, what of the earlier objective?”
“To invoke disturbing elements, power is necessary. If it’s a human, it’s
fine so long as they’ve been bestowed with a sacred gear, but where
fantastical beings are concerned it’s a different story. When it comes to
drawing out fantastical beings, ‘power’ as an explicit offering is necessary.”
“——Then, would that be your aim?”

In regards to the witch’s question, Satanael directed his gaze towards the
wall of the room.
That spot——was decorated with a painting of a long black dragon that
was like a snake. The dragon was holding its own tail in its mouth.
Satanael spoke.
The longest living creatures in this world——dragons. Among them, said
to be a Dragon God, is one endowed with the power of infinity……”
The witches understood.
“——Uroboros huh. The power of the ‘Snake’ of Uroboros……”
“Indeed, find Ophis.”
A legendary dragon. The Dragon God considered to be the strongest in the
world——.
The being that was the personification of infinity. Satanael had decided
upon that strongest dragon to be his objective.
Walburga raised an inquiry while reaching her hand towards a fresco that
was in the corner of the room.
“Incidentally, what is the name we’re giving to this gathering of forces?”
“For a name, just call it whatever you like.”
One of the leadership witches curtly rejected the statement of the young
Walburga, but paying it no mind, she asked a question in great interest.
“But but, isn’t something like that of considerable importance? Shouldn’t
we give it a name like those of the opposing powers?”
To this Satanael replied.
“If it’s a name, I’ve more or less thought of one.”
After a moment’s pause, he said that name.
“——‘Chaos Brigade’, I think that is what we should name our
gathering.”
Everything started from here——.
|
The Fallen Dog God -SLASHDØG- Highschool DxD Universe
First Part ‘Slashdog Manifestation —The Black Dog and the Four
Fiends—‘ Arc Complete
Second Part ‘Walpurgis Night —The Four Divine Beasts and the
Yellow Dragon and the Wizards of Oz—‘ Arc Commencing

Afterword
Long time no see. It’s Ishibumi Ichiei.
I present SLASHDØG volume two. In regards to the volume one segment,
it was serialized in Fantasia Beyond starting in 2014 and which finished in
early 2015, and now over three years later is the sequel volume two. For
those fans who have been following this since the time it was serialized, I
would like to sincerely apologize for having kept you waiting for so long.
Since I expect that there will be a regular publication from now on, please
support it as much as you are able to. And with that, the opening arc that had
been ongoing since volume one has been brought to a close with this story in
volume two.
As I wrote in the volume one afterword, as a foundation, I plan for this to
be a roughly six volume series. At this time I plan to do two volume per arc
for a total of three arcs.
For the upcoming second arc, the plan is to really get involved with the
Five Principal Clans, and at the same time to move away from magician
associations. With this, next time will be Suzaku’s turn! Beginning with the
Himejima household, I plan to get to the core of the founding of the Five
Principal clans. The remaining Four Divine Beasts, Genbu and Byakko, will
be introduced in the next section.
Now for thanks.
Kikurage-sama, chief editor T-sama, I am greatly indebted to you both. If
you would please accompany me in the simultaneous dual publication of two
serializations based on the original DxD story, I would be most appreciative.
……As expected, it’s been hard! However, thanks to that I was able to
provide something good to my various fans.
|
In truth, with the original Highschool DxD having its 25th volume being
sold simultaneously with this volume, it has reached its conclusion. However,
starting around summer time, the sequel series “True Highschool DxD” will
start with a new volume 1, so put your minds at ease. This will be a sequel to

the final arc. If you still haven’t picked up DxD, please take this opportunity
to do so.
And then, there’s one more thing. Launching next month will be the TV
anime series adaptation of Highschool DxD, ‘Highschool DxD HERO’ which
begins broadcasting in April.
It would be an honor if you made the effort to watch it. ……If the DxD
anime can continue a bit more, then Tobio will make an appearance! Of
course, it would be the best if SLASHDØG was made into its own anime! To
all my supporters, my deepest thanks!
As for the upcoming volume three, it’s planned to be released sometime
during the summer. Please continue supporting me going forward!

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Table of Contents

Page 1 Goldenagato | https://mp4directs.com

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That place——was darkness.

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That day’s breakfast was something unpleasant.

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[1]Utsusemi means cast-off cicada shell

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——’The Ones Who Have Fallen‘, half a month had passed.

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Having finished Lavinia’s coordinated outfit, for lunch everyone

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