After arranging things at school, Hikigaya arrived at Mt. Nikkō around 2 PM that sa day. This was the location of Tōshōgū Shrine, within which lies the Western Heaven Palace that seals the Demon Gate.
Thanks to intel provided by the Committee, Hikigaya learned that the Martial Hero King had visited long ago.
During that ti, the Western Heaven Palace was leveled to the ground, and its seal had nearly been broken.
Given the temperant of a God-Slayer, the fact that the King had waited this long to make another move showed that brute force alone wasn't enough—so specific conditions needed to be fulfilled to break the seal.
That made Hikigaya think back to his last eting with Kuhoutsuka Mikihiko. It seed that the girl from the Mariya family was going to play a crucial role in this matter.
As he expected, the Committee's appointed contact was Touma Amakusa, but ever since the last ti they'd shared a al together, Hikigaya had ntally nicknad the guy "Dynamic Lightwave."
And then, there was Ena—whom he hadn't seen in a long ti. Her retreat into the mountains for training had been a good habit, and so Hikigaya hadn't disturbed her. But now, they were finally face to face again.
"Hachiman," she called.
Perhaps it was the ti apart, but sothing about Ena felt unfamiliar to him.
She seed more ethereal than before—pure and untouched. Not just her aura; even her ki appeared calr and more grounded, a sign that greater strength now lay beneath the surface.
In darkness, the number of martial artists who lean toward action outweigh those who lean toward stillness. Hikigaya knew this kind of ki well.
"Long ti no see, Ena." Hikigaya greeted her with a smile.
"Long ti no see," she responded sweetly, her smile pure and genuine.
From her, Hikigaya could sense a strong emotional connection and happiness— sothing completely different from what he felt with other girls.
Yukinoshita Haruno was too complicated. Liliana was earnest, but even though she had a close bond with Hikigaya, she often clumsily tried to hide it. Kushinada Mikumo—don't even ntion her. She wasn't even really a girl anymore. That one was full of sches and slled of blood.
Hikigaya could sense that stench from across the Pacific. She was the type you'd maybe fight alongside in a battle—but beyond that, no thanks.
Hikigaya had co to Nikkō alone this ti. The Committee arranged a private plane for him.
On the way, he used a phone to contact Liliana, and through her, he got in touch with Voban. (Don't ask how he had signal on the plane.)
Unsurprisingly, the old man Voban couldn't resist jumping into the fray. He imdiately said he'd co and demanded a al on Hikigaya's tab—which Hikigaya, of course, agreed to.
That "Monkey God Lord" was likely a Heretic Deity. And pairing a Heretic Deity with a dual-specialized martial and magical ancient veteran could lead to unpredictable consequences.
The best counterasure? Recruit a veteran of their own—cancel force with force. Even better—Hikigaya figured it was a good opportunity to make Voban owe him a favor.
You could never slay all the gods, but building relationships between god-slayers? Now that was rare and valuable.
Looking at Ena, Hikigaya noticed her figure seed even more graceful than before.
Girls who train in martial arts tend to have amazing figures—unless they're the bulky musclehead type. Martial arts shape the body far more effectively than regular fitness routines.
Feeling Hikigaya's intense gaze, Ena looked slightly surprised, then smiled and walked up close to him, slipping her arm around his. Her expression carried a faint sweetness.
Her innocent look, so easily his for the taking, made Hikigaya feel both guilty and excited.
Truth be told, he'd never clearly responded to Ena's feelings. Maybe they weren't lovers, but Ena had definitely been putting in her own kind of effort.
By this point, her actions had little to do with family or factions— It was a story just between the two of them.
And all of this, of course, stemd from the god-slaying events he'd been pulled into. That made him feel a little awkward.
But with so much ti passed, the discomfort he once felt had faded. Now, after so distance, Hikigaya found he could view the first girl he t in all of this with a new perspective.
"Kuhoutsuka Mikihiko might be compromised," Ena said as Hikigaya was still sizing her up.
"Oh? How so?" Hikigaya placed a hand on her waist, and Ena gently rested her head against his chest, responding with quiet submission.
Now this felt right. He'd known the previous stance was off. (Dynamic Lightwave, get out of the fra! You're ruining the shot!)
"He seems to be under complete control—and not by human magic."
"Was it the Martial Hero King?"
Hikigaya asked, though he didn't even believe it himself. Mikihiko might be capable in administration, but as far as martial skill or magic goes, he was nothing special.
The Martial Hero King had dominated the Eastern world for centuries. She wouldn't bother dealing with such a weakling personally.
Even if her disciples had entered Japan, they were still human. If it wasn't human magic, it wasn't them either.
"It looks like the magic of a witch, but stronger—beyond even that level."
A witch…?
A suspicion flickered in Hikigaya's mind.
Could it be… a Divine Ancestor? Only that group fit that description.
"Let's go inside," he said.
"Mm," Ena nodded obediently.
Then she lifted her head slightly and looked at the still-standing Dynamic Lightwave.
"Mr. Amakusa, I'll take over from here. You can go back."
"Understood." Touma Amakusa glanced at Hikigaya, who was also glaring at him. With a bitter smile, he replied, "I'll disappear imdiately."
And he left with a polite bow.
Instantly, the world felt better to Hikigaya.
He held Ena closely as the two of them walked toward the gate of Tōshōgū Shrine, surrounded by towering cedar trees.
They passed through the torii and stepped into the shrine. In the Hidden World, this place was Japan's powder keg. But to regular people, it was just a great tourist spot.
Hikigaya and Ena walked closely, arm in arm. There were a few other visitors—families with kids, couples, and so singles.
Most passersby took notice of the two. So young single guys looked on with envy: "Damn, I want that too."
"We really do look like we're on a date," Hikigaya remarked.
"Do we?" Ena's voice held a bit of shyness, but more curiosity. "Hachiman, where did you go? You've changed a lot."
"Why do you say that?" Hikigaya leaned in and slled her hair—so fragrant.
That action surprised Ena—an intimacy she'd never experienced from him before. Her cheeks flushed.
"You weren't this nice to before. I thought you hated ," she said. Then she added:
"Actually, I don't like that Italian magician. Or Yukinoshita Haruno either. Even if her family went through all that… it had nothing to do with ."
"I know," Hikigaya nodded. "That's not your burden. You're you. The Seishuuin family is the Seishuuin family."
"Really?" A bright joy spread through Ena's heart.
She'd long forgotten her grandmother's words. Her family was important—but with Hikigaya, she just wanted to be herself.
She had co to terms with her feelings during this ti apart. She liked Hikigaya.
There was nothing to be ashad of. Liking soone was just that—liking them.
Maybe their connection started when Hikigaya beca a God-Slayer, but that wasn't why she fell for him.
She liked his scent, his fearless freedom. And now, this gentle Hikigaya—she liked him even more.
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