"I think so too," Azazel said. "It's going to be a direct clash. It's simpler, which in so ways makes it even more dangerous. But I'm getting off track—the point is, Masaomi Yaegaki will be joining our ranks."
Masaomi closed his eyes for a mont. "I'm sure so of you aren't thrilled to see . I was your enemy, after all. I imagine it's especially complicated for the Angel Irina, the daughter of my old commander."
He walked over to the bed and stood beside Issei. "I was brought back by the Holy Grail. If it wasn't for the Red Dragon Emperor, I would have died a second death that day in Heaven. At the ti, I thought that was what I wanted. But here I am... I survived."
Masaomi had nearly been killed by Rizevim, but Issei had intervened.
"I asked him why he bothered to save . I was a dead man; what did it matter if I died again? But he just looked at and said, 'But you're alive right now, aren't you?'"
Masaomi placed a hand over his heart and offered a small, weary smile. He looked at us with a clear, unwavering gaze. "Even a man like has things he can do while he's among the living. I will fight... No, please, let fight. That town is a place of tragedy for and Cleria. Even now, it hurts to think about. But it's also the place where I have my most precious mories of her. She loved that town. That's why I want to protect it. I won't swing this sword for revenge anymore. I'll swing it to protect what remains."
His eyes were no longer those of a man consud by the past. They were the eyes of soone who had found his resolve—soone looking toward the future.
Irina reached out and took his hand. "Masaomi-san, it's an honor to have you with us. I don't want to lose the place where I have so many mories of Darling, either. Let's protect it together."
"I will," Masaomi replied, nodding firmly.
No one in the room could find a reason to object. Everyone shared a look of grim determination. This wasn't just a battle for the present or the future; it was a battle to protect our history. Every mber of the Occult Research Club had a ho in that town. For , it was the place where Rias had saved —a place filled with mories I refused to let go of.
Masaomi's words were the final spark we needed to solidify our resolve.
"Now that the introductions are out of the way, let's get down to business," Azazel said.
He tapped a magic circle on his finger, projecting an image onto the hospital wall. It showed a corner of a Grigori research facility located in Japan.
"As I said, I've secured a location. Our Japanese branch has zero reported casualties so far, so they can provide full logistical support. The space I've prepared is about half the size of the Tokyo Do. It should be plenty of room for training... provided a certain 'Sword Saint' doesn't go overboard."
"I can't make any promises there," Morris chuckled darkly. "Our enemies are monsters. If these kids don't train like their lives depend on it, they won't stand a chance in three days. Don't worry—I'm going in with the intent to kill. Right, Yuuto?"
I... I am the opposite of 'not worried' right now, I thought, feeling a cold sweat break out. Is there a chance I'll die before the final battle even starts? Beside , Xenovia and Irina had also gone quite pale.
Azazel ignored our existential dread and turned to Miwa and Alice. "And the ritual?"
"It's ready," Miwa confird. "If Alice-san and I combine our power, considering the scale and the density of the barrier, we can manage about two hours out here... which translates to roughly one month inside."
One month. Whether that would be enough for a true breakthrough, I didn't know. But compared to the seventy-two hours we had originally been given, it was a godsend.
"Excellent," Azazel said. "We'll handle the external support. The training space is equipped with living quarters and supplies."
"Top-notch service," Morris noted.
"But be warned: once you're inside that barrier, communication with the outside world is impossible. By the nature of the spell, you cannot leave until Miwa and Alice deactivate it. Well... I suppose you could probably cut your way out, Morris, but..."
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