soul

Prologue

Hinomori Ryuuga’s “Story of Supernatural Battles” is finally reaching its climax.

The army of peculiarities, the “Apostles of Hell,” have been threatening the human world
since ancient times. Controlling them at the top are the final bosses, the four fiends.
Hundun, Taotie, , and Tao.

Among the four dreadful leaders, only the conflict against the “Evil Spirit” Qiongqi remains
unresolved.

His defeat will mark the end of the tale. The world will then regain peace, and Ryuuga’s team
will be freed from their fate of battle.

(Though, it would have been so great if things went as planned…)

This was originally supposed to be a four-part series.

Each of the four fiends should’ve been the final boss for each part.

That ended up failing once Qiongqi and Tao made a double booking. Moreover, Tao
immediately surrendered.

Now that Tao’s arc isn’t happening, this is going to end up being a three-part story.

I, Kobayashi Ichirou, find it extremely disappointing that the situation has come to this. As
the protagonist’s friend, and as the story planner, I’d like to apologize to everyone.

(Could it be that the story’s being rushed? Could it be that God is saying ‘I’m tired of this
already, so let’s just end this,’ to us? Though, this decision could be from the sponsors or
the editor, the ‘Higher Gods’…)

No, that can’t be right. The story should’ve been fairly exciting. Haven’t the main characters
been doing their best as well?

If God really is displeased, then surely that’s my fault. After all, a plain friend character like
me has been needlessly standing out.

(No! I didn’t choose to stand out! I didn’t choose to live with two of the ‘Evil Spirits,’ raise
flags with the main characters, be a father, and have a serious battle with Qiongqi’s vessel!)

…It’s no use. Considering all of the problems, I can’t help but feel like something went
wrong on my end.

I probably wouldn’t even get a stay of execution. “The defendant has exhibited self-
centered and immoral behavior. There is no room for excuses…” is likely what the judge
would say.
Now that the story has rushed itself to the final chapter, I can’t afford to make any more
mistakes.

I will not get involved with the main story anymore. I will not tout my presence.

(The friend character shouldn’t have a role in the crux of the story’s climax. It’s already odd
that I’m appearing so frequently.)

Normally, I’m supposed to be phased out by now, and if I’m really unlucky, never to appear
again. After that, I should only be in one scene of the ending, at best.

That is the fate of a friend character…even now, this is the hill that I choose to die on. I know
my place.

(That said, there are still some issues that need to be addressed…)

──First, Renie needs to be rescued from Qiongqi’s apostle amalgamation, Shiyuu.

Yukimiya’s butler, Sebastian, is currently fused with Shiyuu. If we don’t save him, we won’t
truly reach a happy ending.

──Furthermore, we need to introduce the “Evil Spirit” Tao to Ryuuga and the others.

Due to all of the overlapping events, Tao’s character ended up being revealed prematurely.
There’s no point trying to make her the “neutral ‘Evil Spirit’ who could either be a friend or a
foe” anymore.

(Though, Tao isn’t really fit for being the final boss, so perhaps this is better than dragging
the plot on. This way, I can focus on livening up Qiongqi’s arc in the best way possible…so
perhaps this is a silver lining.)

I’d like Ryuuga, and of course the heroines from the Heavenly Gods, to face the final chapter
with all of their might.

I’d like to have a scene that highlights each of them as they unleash their secret techniques,
and perhaps some fan service with their clothes getting torn too. Of course, they shouldn’t
overshadow the protagonist Ryuuga. I’m talking to you, Kurogame.

…It was Monday, the day after the school festival, that I was thinking about such matters.

I left home in the morning and took a train towards “a certain location.”

There’s no school today. So, I decided to use this day to investigate Tenryouin Agito’s
situation.

(Agito’s likely going to transfer schools again. Well, he had no choice since Ryuuga’s team
found about him being ‘Qiongqi’s vessel.’)
I need to know his whereabouts in order to adjust the script. Of course, this reconnaissance
will be kept secret from the main characters. As a story planner, this is a top secret
investigation.

(It’s unlikely that he’s already moved out. That high-class mansion is Agito’s property, after
all. That reminds me, there were 150 apostles living there…I wonder if they already became
Shiyuu’s food.)

I couldn’t enter the apartments due to an automatic locking system, so I loitered.

“…Kobayashi, what are you doing?”

Unexpectedly, the man himself stood in front of me.

“Oh, Agito!”

Sure enough, it was Tenryouin Agito. The good-looking, perverted gentleman who had a
one-sided admiration for Ryuuga.

Unlike me, the roaming transfer student had the same poker face as always. As usual, he
wore the white school uniform for his previous school, Hakubou Private High School.

“Kobayashi, you hindered my session with Hinomori yesterday. What a sour taste you left
behind.”

He was referring to “the musical performance by Ryuuga’s team” at the end of the school
festival. I firmly intercepted Agito as he tried to forcefully crash the performance.

That was the obvious course of action to take. In a band, someone affiliated with the final
boss shouldn’t be standing next to the main characters. Though, the heron apostle also
joined.

“So, what business do you have, Kobayashi? I thought I had nothing else to speak with you
about.”

“Oh, um…what school are planning on transferring to this time?”

Since I happened to come across him, I wanted to know.

Right now, Ryuuga and the others are searching for his whereabouts…he’s a wanted
criminal, so to speak. It’s likely that the final battle will begin once they find him.

“I’m transferring back to Hakubou Private.”

Surprisingly, Agito quickly answered. To think he would be going back.

“From the start, I planned on going back after mingling with Hinomori. That’s why I never
changed my school uniform. I still have some business with Hakubou Private.”
“Business? Come to think of it, there was an incident in the past where a group of Hakubou
Private students were sent to the hospital…was that your doing?”

If I recall correctly, Aogasaki was the one who mentioned that. Around ten students
affiliated with the “Occult Research Society” fell ill for unknown reasons.

I glared at Agito…convinced that he and Qiongqi were responsible.

“Oh, so you knew about that incident? That has no connection with your ‘Tale of Hinomori
Ryuuga’ though. For now, at least.”

Confessing to his involvement, Agito spoke in an ominous manner.

“What do you meaning by that?”

“I have no obligation to answer. Not to someone who hindered my session with Hinomori.”

Refusing to answer my question, Agito began to walk. He headed towards his residence,
the “Hell House.”

“Leaving that aside, there’s something else you should be focusing your attention on.
Remain so carefree and you may just be swept off your feet.”

“W, what does that mean?”

“I have no obligation to answer. Not to someone who hindered my session with Hinomori.”

With those parting words, Agito left. It seems that he was really peeved about not being able
to have a bass duet with Ryuuga.

(Oh right, there’s one other issue to deal with. Now that Shima has defected from Qiongqi,
we have to find her before she ends up becoming food for Shiyuu, causing even more
trouble.)

Shiyuu, the apostle amalgamation and Qiongqi’s trump card.

Qiongqi has been gathering the souls of generals in order to strengthen that monster.

(He said that once Shiyuu absorbs the top eight and three princesses, it will become the
fifth ‘Evil Spirit,’ right? If that occurs, I’ll definitely be dragged into the battle…and I can’t let
that happen.)

According to Qiongqi, this story is about “the battle between Kobayashi Ichirou and
Tenryouin Agito.”

How would that even work? As if I’d let it come to that.

I will definitely foil his scheme. I will limit my appearances and reduce my presence until
people say “Come to think of it, happened to Kobayashi?” “He suddenly disappeared,” and
“Did he transfer?”

That is Kobayashi Ichirou’s proper position. A true friend character.

As I renewed my resolution──

“Hey you, what business do you have at our hotel? You’ve been staring this whole time.”

An old man, who seemed to be an administrator, drove me away.

I recall hearing that he’s Zamosu, a swordfish apostle.

Zamosu, you’re working as an administrator? If you don’t flee, you’ll become food for
Shiyuu, you know?
 1. Kobayashi, Head to the Spirit World

It happened after finishing my banter with Agito.

I took the train once more, heading over to Yukimiya’s mansion. I was expected to be there
at noon.

I wasn’t doing this as the story planner for the sake of reconnaissance, but instead as a
friend character appearing onstage. Not only myself, but Ryuuga, the four heroines, and
even the ‘Three Abyssal Princesses’ were all meeting up. It was a scene where all the main
characters gather together.

The purpose was to settle a necessary matter before the decisive battle against Qiongqi.

That is, to reintroduce the “Evil Spirit” Tao to Ryuuga’s side and have them accept her as an
ally.

(Though initially, I planned on having Ryuga and the others fight Tao at least once.)

If they did fight, perhaps Yukimiya would “convert” Tao after Tao exhausted all of her power.
That might also put an end to Tao taking over Yukimiya’s consciousness and body to act in
an unrefined manner.

However, I eventually realized that such a plan was a bad idea.

If an “Evil Spirit” loses a large amount of power, they’ll suck up the life force of their host. In
the past, Ryuuga’s little sister, Kyouka, almost died due to that.

(Come to think of it, that’s also the reason why I took in Uncle Hundun. The futility of this
plan is also a big reason why the Tao arc didn’t work out…)

I reflected on my carelessness as a story planner while heading towards the Yukimiya

residence.

After arriving in her room, I found that everyone had already gathered.

“Oh, Ichirou. Where were you? I wanted us to come here together.”

Of course, the first one to speak was the protagonist, Hinomori Ryuuga.

Wearing a school uniform, despite it being a holiday, and a refreshing smile, she raised her
hand. For some reason, she was lying on the carpet. Furthermore, she had her head on
Mion’s lap while getting her ears cleaned.

“Don’t move, Hinomori, or you’ll make me lose the balance of my right hand.”
The heron girl spoke in an unfriendly manner despite carefully cleaning Ryuuga’s ear. Hey,
stop being so friendly with each other. The protagonist and an apostle general shouldn’t be
flirting.

“Hey, Kobayashi, ngh…you’re late, ahh.”

Aogasaki spoke next.

She spoke with her usual cool attitude, but gasped strangely every so often. As for why, Jyuri
was giving the “Swordswoman of the Beheading Dance” a shoulder massage for some
reason.
“You’re quite stiff. I wonder if it’s because of your chest…you must be a G cup, right?”

In face of the king snake nurse’s skill, Aogasaki inadvertently let out a questionable voice.
Hey, didn’t I say not to be so friendly? Why did this turn into the three princesses offering
their services?

“Kobayashi Ichirou, can you offer some assistance? I’m having trouble moving.”

The last person to speak was Elmira.

When looked over at her, I found that Kurogame and Kiki were sleeping, leaning against both
sides of her body. They clung to her arms, rendering the “Blood-kin of Eternal Darkness”
unable to move.

“Chaha~…I can’t eat this much grilled meat…”

“Don’t eat that…that’s Berberon’s shoulder roast…”

The “Star-Wall Guardian” and Hokkaido wolf girl were sleep-talking. Hey, are you two so
close that you’re sharing dreams now? What happened to Berberon, the underground
monster?

(And to think that their relationship took a turn for the worst just earlier…you’re not
supposed to be friends, but just working under aligning interests, you know?)

At one point, Ryuuga and the three princesses got into a conflict over Tao, eventually turning
into a fight…I mean, them being at war with each other is bad, but being buddy-buddy isn’t
that much better either. I’d like for them to know their positions.

(We should get down to business now. However…)

Unfortunately, the topic of conversation, Tao, was nowhere in the room.

I sat there wondering where the main star of the day went. After some time, I heard a knock
from the door behind, and Yukimiya entered the room.

In an instant, Ryuuga, Aogasaki, and Elmira sat up and straightened their postures.

Mion and Jyuri kneeled down while bowing their heads.

Kurogame and Kiki immediately woke up, wiping the drool off their faces.

“S-Sorry for the wait…”

Ryuuga and the four heroines seemed bewildered over the “Shrine Maiden of Life” greeting
them in a weak voice. Their mouths seemed partially agape.

As for why──it was Tao, rather than Yukimiya, who appeared.

First of all, she put on some make-up, but did it really badly. She had some extremely long
fake eyelashes that flapped each time she blinked. Her cheeks were so red she looked she
had a case of mumps.

Furthermore, she wore a dress meant for a social party. That would’ve been fine, except
that she unnaturally stuffed her chest as well. It seems like she stuck two rice bowls in
there.

In addition, she wore a sash that read “today’s leading actress.” And like that, the “Evil
Spirit” displayed zero dignity. She got really carried away.

“N-Nice to meet y’all…I’m the ‘Evil Spirit’ Tao.”

After gaining everyone’s attention, Tao bashfully bowed.

“Thank you for time out of your busy day to gather here for this debut ceremony. First of all,
allow me to pick up a glass, and with your permission, offer a toast to…”

Ryuuga reluctantly spoke to the “Evil Spirit,” who was making a speech while glancing at
the cue cards made for her.

“Um…first of all, could you remove those rice bowls from your chest, Tao?”

Some time had passed. Once Ryuuga and the others finally calmed down, Tao introduced
herself once more.

“Sorry for the mess. The name’s Tao. My specialty is Dojosukui.”1

Seeing that Tao was about to break into a dance, Mion quickly put an end to that.
Unfortunately, the make-up and clothes stayed. Furthermore, she had a tricorne hat on her
head.

Aogasaki, Elmira, and Kurogame stared at Yukimiya, who looked miserable and completely
different from her normal self. It was too much for them to process.

“She looks exactly like Shiori, but she seems so unrefined…”

“She’s more like an ‘Agriculture God’ than an ‘Evil Spirit’…”

“I feel like I can hear cows and chickens in the distance…”

The three princesses immediately retorted to those statements.

“You’re being rude. You’re speaking to a ruler of the apostles.”

“Tao is the most skillful of the ‘Evil Spirits,’ to the point of being called ‘Taowu of
Technique’“.
“She can move her hair around and even use it to catch flies. She’s very capable.”

Thereupon, Ryuuga suddenly coughed and looked quietly at Tao.

As expected, the protagonist tried to tighten the relaxed mood. Let’s not forget, this is a
negotiation for reconciliation with an “Evil Spirit.” This is an important scene for the story.

“So Tao, there’s something I’d like to confirm first…you really don’t plan on threatening
humanity anymore?”

“I ain’t gonna. I’m done with that.”

“You’ll also let Shiori ‘convert’ you too at some point?”

“Yep. That too.”

Tao nodded with each question Ryuuga asked. The tricorne hat shook along with her head.

“I’ll help Shiori rescue Renie. He’s a pesky lil’ apostle, but an important friend. And, he’s
Shiori’s important family.”

…Rikushou Renie, who pledged allegiance only to Tao, perished after protecting her from
Qiongqi’s attack. After losing his life, he was absorbed into Shiyuu.

To be precise, he didn’t just try to protect Tao. He was also protecting Yukimiya. As
Sebastian the butler, he cared for Yukimiya Shiori.

(That’s why he wanted to separate Tao from Yukimiya, dispose of Qiongqi, and have Agito
be her new vessel. If peace returned to the world, Yukimiya could lead a normal life again.)

However, Qiongqi was not that naive of an opponent. He predicted Renie’s intentions and
as a result, turned the spider butler into food for the apostle amalgamation. I…couldn’t stop
it from happening.

However, there’s still a way to save him.

When one of Shiyuu’s arms are forcibly pulled out, an apostle returns to its original
form…that’s something we’ve seen for ourselves.

Rescuing Renie is an essential mission in the battle against Qiongqi. Of course, Ryuuga and
the four heroines were being told about this. I feel a bit guilty for giving them another hurdle
to cross.

…While I was thinking about such matters, other things were happening.

“Say, I heard that my ancestor, Hinomori Ryuuzan, fought you three hundred years ago.”
“Yep. He was a fella whose handsomeness would give ya a run for your money, Ryuuga. He
sent Renie flyin’ with just a single blow.”

“If you’d like, how about we visit his grave together? It can also serve as a sign of our
reconciliation.”

“Ya, let’s visit. I’ll offer some daifuku mochi in front of the grave. Ryuuzan really liked
daifuku──”2
The reconciliation negotiations were already going off track again. Ryuuga and Tao were
enjoying a chat while snacking on potato chips.

I began to worry about how things were going…

Thereupon, a comical, tiny dragon appeared on Ryuuga’s shoulder. It was her guardian
deity, the “Yellow Dragon” who transcends the Heavenly Gods.

“Ah, Ron! It’s been a while! Ya got smaller while I was away.”

Ryuuga spoke with shock after seeing Tao smile at Ron’s face.

“D, did you just say Ron…?”

“That’s what I’ve always been callin’ him. Though we’re enemies, we’ve known each other
for long.”

Seeing that Tao gave him the same nickname that she did, Ryuuga grinned. She seemed to
feel a sense of affinity.

“I, is that so? Yeah, I think it’s a good nickname. I think I’ll call him that too.”

Ryuuga poured Tao a glass of juice while shamelessly saying that. It seems that she planned
on using this to openly call the “Yellow Dragon” Ron from now on.

“By the way, Tao. Sorry for what happened when we first met. I attacked you without asking
any questions…”

“Sorry, Tao. Did we hurt you?”

Ryuuga and Kurogame bowed their heads. At the graveyard, the two chased Tao into a
corner with the superb teamwork of childhood friends.

“Don’t worry your heads about it. Still, y’all were really strong. Game’s punch was
especially nasty. I want ya to teach me how to do that.”3
“Sure! I’ll teach you!”

Saying that, Kurogame pulled Tao by the hand and forced her to stand up. Bewildering
everyone else in the room, she began to immediately teach her technique.
“First, lower your back! Tighten your sides! Then pull back your left hand while thrusting
your right hand straight forward! Hiyah!”

“Hiyah!”

Tao struck her fist, mimicking Kurogame. Hey, don’t stand bowlegged with Yukimiya’s
appearance. She’s still the idol of the school.

“Once more! Hiyah!”

“Hiyah!”

“Alright! You’re doing well! Hiyah!”

“Hiyah…! Oh, I have to switch with Shiori soon.”

With that, Tao suddenly withdrew.

Yukimiya’s face suddenly went blank. She look around, and then at herself, before blinking
her eyes. Her fake eyelashes fell loose.

“W, what is this pose I’m in?! What’s with this tricorne hat?! What’s with this ‘today’s
leading actress’ sash?!”

Yukimiya ran out of the room with a bright red face. We watched her with looks of sympathy.

──Thus, the “Evil Spirit” Tao reconciled with Ryuuga’s team.

In the end, we had to desperately stop her after she declared “I’m gonna enroll in the
Kurogame School of Archelon Fist!”

Anyhow, I managed to establish Tao as an ally, taking care of a necessary matter before the
decisive battle.

We also need to rescue Renie and find Shima, but without Shiyuu making an appearance,
we can’t do anything about Renie. Qiongqi and Agito will probably be busy with transferring
schools.

(So for the time being, we should focus on finding Shima.)

Making that judgement, I decided to devote my free time to searching for the cheetah
apostle.

If that kuro gyaru ends up as feed, Shiyuu will grow even more powerful, perhaps to the point
where Taotie is no match for it. Even more so for Hundun, who hasn’t recovered yet.
(Though, Qiongqi said that he could make up to two Shiyuus. The other one is likely weaker,
but still far stronger than any of Shiyuus we’ve beaten so far…the final ‘Evil Spirit’ really isn’t
any ordinary foe.)

Up until now, Qiongqi has been quite strategic. Agito’s smarter than me as well, making him
a tough final boss.

“He’s as sly as his foxy appearance suggests, isn’t he…?”

“Qiongqi has been called ‘Qiongqi of Wisdom’ before. No one’s better than him at tricks.”

It was Thursday, three days after Tao’s reveal.

Taotie had replied to my complaint about Qiongqi.

It was seven in the evening. I went searching for Shima around the castle after school, but
came home with no leads. Since she’s a kuro gyaru, I even checked the tanning salons, but
she wasn’t there.

“Hmm, ‘Qiongqi of Wisdom,’ you say…? Come to think of it, Tao was called ‘Taowu of
Technique’ too, right? To think that ‘Evil Spirits’ also had aliases.”

“Of course. Even the generals have them…oh! It’s a shoot!”

Taotie spoke while invested in his video game. He’s recently been addicted to a soccer
game.

…Another name, an alias, a second name. An important aspect of battle stories.

Just having one makes a character stand out. They’re often based on a character’s
attributes, abilities, and personality, which makes it easy to remember them.

(Mion’s is ‘Ranshou,’ likely since she’s attributed with the sky and wind. Jyuri’s is
‘Genshou,’ certainly because of her abilities. Is Kiki’s ‘Boushou’ because of her
personality? She does get into a fit of rage if you forcibly wake her up.)

Come to think of it, Ryuuga and the others also have aliases. The “Successor of the Dragon
King,” the “Shrine Maiden of Life,” and other similar names.

In any case, aliases are good. Of course, I don’t need one.

“So if Tao and Qiongqi have aliases, do you and Hundun have them too?”

“Yeah. Hundun’s is ‘Hundun of Power.’ Though, I wouldn’t lose to him in a contest of

power.”

“So, what are you called?”

“Mine is ‘My Neighbor Taotie.’“

“Yours is the only outlier! Are you Totoro or something?!”

“Well, I am a soothing guy…anyways, it’s about time to go, Boss.”

Taotie then turned off the game and stood up.

Looking at the time, it was about to become seven o’clock. Normally, it would be time for
dinner, but…Taotie had an important job before that.

Today’s the weekly day to make contact with Shizuma in the spirit world. It’s the day we
confirm both the present state and safety of our beloved boy.

This goes without saying, but he’s a descendant of a vampire and an apostle. A toddler who
was under Elmira’s care. Having kept him in this house, I’m a proud father of the boy. Kiki is
his proud sister.

Shizuma’s now doing his best to restore order in the spirit world, which no longer has a
leader.

Because of our worries, we send Taotie and Hundun there once a week. An ‘Evil Spirit’ can
transfer to the spirit world for around ten minutes.

That’s why Elmira, his proud mother, also comes to my house. Currently, she’s helping
prepare dinner in the kitchen.

“Please, Tie. You have everyone’s letters, right? You’re carrying Shizuma’s favorite
chocolate, right? There’s enough space in the video camera’s memory, right?”

“It’s all good. Now then, I’m off!”

Once the clock struck seven, Taotie immediately vanished into thin air.

After seeing him off, I decided to leave the room and head towards the kitchen. Taotie
should be back when dinner’s served.

(Oh, hey. We should give Shizuma an alias as well. A really cool one, at that.)

What if I took a character from his birth mother’s name, Reida, to make him “Reisho
Shizuma”? He does have a pretty face. Or maybe “Renshou Shizuma, or “Hashou
Shizuma”…2
While I was cheerfully pondering such things──a storm was brewing, unbeknownst to me.

Ten minutes later, a bit of trouble would spring up to ruin my mood.

A problem that would snowball into something larger.

“Boss, what should we do…? We’ve got some trouble.”

Exactly ten minutes had passed. Taotie returned to the living room, where Elmira, the three
princesses, and I were.

However, his expression was clearly grim. I felt a bad premonition.

“W, what happened, Tie? Did Shizuma miss me so much that he cried?”

“Or maybe I’m the one he was crying over?”

“Was he crying because I was the one he wanted to see?”

Taotie was hesitant to speak to the father, mother, and sister. The anticipation furthered
our anxiety.

“No, Shizuma…didn’t show up. Not at our usual meeting place.”

Shizuma didn’t show up? That’s strange. That’s never happened before.

He would always come fifteen minutes prior and wait for the “Evil Spirit” to arrive.

If he just overslept, that would be fine. However, the thought of something happening to
Shizuma…made me uneasy. I felt an eerie sensation from below.

“Could he in his rebellious phase already…?”

Similarly confused like I was, Elmira muttered that out loud.

Fearing the worst, Kiki’s facial expression changed as she shouted.

“Shizuma has gone bad! It’s definitely Zelva’s fault! That hoodlum must have given him
alcohol and cigarettes!”

“W, wait! He wouldn’t do that to him…! Probably.”

“Then it’s Gaigo! That pervert must have tied up Shizuma! He must have been stuck in
ropes!”

“W, wait a minute, Kiki! An extreme masochist like Gaigo wouldn’t tie someone up! If
anything, he would be the one tied up!”

Mion and Jyuri refuted Kiki’s claims. Their answers agitated our anxiety.

“Then could it be Yagujya’s fault?! Did that effeminate man use his words to lead Shizuma
down that path?! No, Shizuma! You’re too young!”

This time, Kiki refuted Elmira’s worries.

“Yagujya wouldn’t do that! He’s a sensible effeminate man!”

──The falcon apostle Zelva is a commanding officer under Mion.

──The giraffe apostle Gaigo is a commanding officer under Jyuri.

──The hornet apostle Yagujya is a commanding officer under Kiki.

The trio of commanding officers are apostles in the spirit world who became Shizuma’s
companions. We’ve seen them in video messages as well.

They’re certainly quite unique, but they wouldn’t lead a two-year-old child astray. I don’t
think they would. If they did, they’d be dead meat.

The living room no longer became a place for supper, but instead a room holding a giant
clamor.

“Good grief, you’re all so noisy…you woke me up.”

From my back emerged a large, middle-aged man.

Needless to say, it was Hundun. The second “Evil Spirit” dwelling inside me.

“Oh, is it grub time already? I got up at just the right time, then.”

Hundun spoke in a carefree manner. Only one “Evil Spirit” can fully manifest at a time.
Furthermore, Hundun can only be around three meters away from me whenever he
appears.

“Now’s not the time for food! Hey Uncle Hundun, you have to head to the spirit world now!
Find Shizuma!”

Seeing Hundun raise an eyebrow, I briefly explained the situation to him.

The “Evil Spirits” can only transfer to the spirit world for around ten minutes. Moreover, after
a single round trip, it takes around four hours before they can travel again.

In other words, Taotie can’t go there for the time being. This “Lolicon Evil Spirit” is our only
hope.

“Oh, Shizuma…well in that case, I could go there, but I think I have a better idea. Why don’t
we all go there?”

Hundun’s words surprised everyone.

Everyone going to the spirit world? What did that mean?

“Actually, after receiving Sonny’s life force, I’ve already recovered half of my power. As of
now, I can probably keep the gate open for thirty minutes.”

Opening gates to the spirit world──that is the “Evil Spirit” Hundun’s unique ability.

It’s because of him that Shizuma could enter the spirit world. At that time, he could only
keep it open for ten seconds. To think that he would recover that much!

“It’s quite the feat for you to remain fine after draining this much life force from you, Sonny.
You really are a monster. What do you usually eat?”

“I eat the same thing as you! Or rather, now’s not the time for that! Alright, open the door
now! Let’s all head to the spirit world!”

The three princesses and Elmira agreed with me. Like that, we quickly formed the “Shizuma
Search Party.”

Who would’ve guessed that we’d not only need to search for Shima, but now Shizuma as
well…?

To think that a friend character would make a debut in a parallel world…

Though it’s for the sake of my son, I’ve still committed a crime.

Beyond the gate was a large space about the size of a gym.

The floor, walls, and ceiling were all made of stone. There was not a single window, leaving
the air stagnant. Shelves filled with books stood inside the room, making the place smell
like a bookstore.

“W, what is this? A library…?”

“Oops, did I make a miscalculation? This is indeed a library.”

While scratching his head, Hundun pulled out a book from a shelf.

For whatever reason, it was a manga of mine. Upon closer inspection, there were also game
strategy guides and directories of pro baseball players. I knew that I was missing things, but
to think that they’d end up in the spirit world.

“This is a room in the ‘Hell Castle’ for an ‘Evil Spirit.’ Ordinary soldiers cannot enter the
castle without permission. The only exception is the cleaning crew.”

“There’s no electricity, but did you notice that the walls and ceiling emit a faint light? This
castle’s made of a stone that reacts to our ill will. I don’t know how it works.”

Hundun and Taotie explained as such while reading the manga together.
I’ve heard of houses with lights that turn on as you walk in front of them…are they similar to
this?

(So in the spirit world, these guys lived in a palace that could rival the Yukimiya family’s
home…though, the name ‘Hell Castle’ kind of bugs me.)

…I already heard that the spirit world isn’t like a damp cavern. I heard that there were
mountains, trees, a sky, rivers, lakes, and even a city.

This “Hell Castle” is the center of the city and the castle of the “Evil Spirits” …or in other
words, the nucleus of the spirit world. There are supposedly several in the castle, but most
apostles live in the city.

(It’s hard to believe there’s only one town…though, there are only around six thousand
apostles.)

To be precise, there are two thousand apostles living here now. The rest entered the human
world, and it seems that three thousands of them were defeated and are waiting for
resurrection in a place called “Konminden.”

In other words, there are around a thousand apostles in the human world. Considering that
Qiongqi has been collecting souls, perhaps that number is even smaller.

(I’d like to go sightseeing, but now’s not the time for that. Hundun can only keep the gate
open for thirty minutes…we need to find Shizuma during that time!)

Shizuma said that this “Hell Castle” would be his base for the time being. So, it’s likely that
he’s somewhere in this castle.

Since we had a time limit, I suggested that we divide and conquer our search through the
castle…or rather, I was about to suggest that.

“Alright, Sonny. Go look for Shizuma now. I’ll be here reading manga.”

“Same. I want to know what happens in this manga now.”

The two “Evil Spirits” sat down and started to gluing their eyes to the manga. They looked
just like those rude customers you’d see at convenience stores.

“You guys! Put in at least a little work! Shizuma’s safety is at stake, you know?!”

“Stop screaming, ‘Vermilion Bird.’ There’s you, Sonny, and the three princesses…five
people should be enough for a search party. If Shizuma notices the gate, he might go to the
human world. It would be bad for him to be stranded there by mistake.”

“I’ll help out after I find a good place to stop reading!”

These guys were fooling around at such a critical moment.

Do you care more about a manga than Shizuma?! Is it that interesting to you?! Let me see!

“Leaving Tie aside, you can’t stay here, Hundun! You can’t separate from me, so you’ll have
to come along!”

Moving independently of the host is Taotie’s exclusive ability.

In other words, Hundun can’t leave me. He would have no choice but to come along.
However…

“That’s only in the human world. As long as we’re in the spirit world, “Evil Spirits” don’t need
a vessel. We can exist without a host.”

“Huh?”

That’s when I noticed it. He and Taotie had both completely manifested.

“That’s right. This is our world, after all. That’s why I can leave your body and transfer to the
spirit world, Sonny.”

Is that so? So “Evil Spirits” can be here without any conditions?

This story has gotten quite complex. If this story was published in pocket-sized books, I feel
that it would take up around seven volumes. I would’ve like to have known about this kind
of plot detail much earlier.

“While I’m here, I can act freely. That also means Tie’s ability is useless in the spirit world.”

“You jerk! Don’t bring up sensitive topics! It’s fine! ‘Evil Spirits’ rarely come back to the spirit
world!”

In any case, now’s not the time to loaf around.

The more we chat, the less time we have. I can criticize the “Evil Spirits” for their negligence
once we get home.

It seemed that Mion made that decision as well. She quickly gave out some instructions.

“Anyways, let’s find Shizuma. Ichirou and Elmira, try looking in rooms near the library. Us
three princesses will traverse the distant rooms.”

While saying that, the heron girl handed a flashlight to Elmira and me.

Did she anticipate this situation and prepare them in advance? After all, these walls don’t
illuminate for those who aren’t apostles. As always, she’s the thoughtful one among the
daughters. She’s really turning out to be the perfect wife.
With that, Mion and I walked towards the exit. Jyuri, Kiki, and Elmira followed.

“Ichirou, let’s gather in the library again five minutes before the time limit is up.”

“I will definitely protect Shizuma! Leave it to commanding officer Kiki!”

“By the way, what would happen if we miss the time limit?”

While sitting cross-legged, Hundun answered Elmira’s question.

“We’ll have to stay here for two days. In my current condition, I can open a gate once every
two days at best.”

We rushed out of the library in a hurry.

I left the second floor, which is where the library was, to Elmira and headed towards the first
floor.

It wouldn’t be smart to have two people search the same floor. Since time was of the
essence, I figured that looking around in as many places as possible, even if only briskly,
would be best.

(Still, this is a needlessly long staircase…like something straight out of a Cinderella picture
book.)

After descending the large staircase, there was a large entrance hall. In other words, it was
the entrance to the castle.

The place was an atrium with a ceiling so high that I couldn’t see the top of it with my
flashlight. The huge iron door at the front was so tightly closed that I couldn’t tell what was
outside.

(Is this castle built on a small hill? There’s apparently a town around here…I’d like to see
the townscape if possible.)

Well, I’ll save that for later. It would take a lot effort to open that door. In video games,
places unrelated to the story are left inaccessible.

With that in mind, I went towards the first door to my right. In the silent darkness, I could
hear only the loud sound of my footsteps.

(Is Shizuma staying in a place like this…? Without a TV or internet, it would be boring here.
How pitiful.)

Maybe this is why the “Evil Spirits” brought manga with them here. I suppose that’s them
being kind. If it’s to let Shizuma read, then I won’t mind.

I soon stood before a door and reached for the knob.

What kind of room is this? Since it’s near the entrance, it can’t be an important one, can it?
In a game, this is where a save point would be.

I thought about the possibility of a zombie attack lying behind the door…until something
occurred.

“!”

I suddenly felt bloodthirst from above and jumped away immediately.

Immediately following, objects pierced through the door multiple times. They were needles
about thirty centimeters long, like chopsticks.

“Whoa, you dodged a sniper’s attack?!”

An astonished voice came from the darkness of the ceiling. Unfortunately, I couldn’t
determine where exactly.

(A, an enemy attack?! Furthermore, a sniper?!)

I quickly ran to the door in front of me to avoid a second attack. My evasion was unbefitting
for a friend character, but I’ll worry about that later.

There’s no place to hide in the hall. Staying there would make me an easy target. For now, I
have to hide in the room! I need to secure safety while there’s still a chance!

However, there’s an obstacle to that.

The door opened from the inside and a giant figure leapt out towards me.

“Aaaah! Is it actually a zombie?!”

“Who are you calling a zombie?! What are you doing in this castle?!”

The second assailant screamed while charging towards me. His neck was unusually long.
He was like a giraffe…hmm? A giraffe apostle?

“Hey, wait! Are you guys──”

I tried to start a conversation, but the other party continued his head-butt attack without
responding.

I leapt to the side and rolled. A second later, I head the sound of the stone floor shattering.
What a hard-headed guy.

“Wait, I said! Hey giraffe, are you the commanding officer Gai──”
When I jumped back onto my feet and shouted, I felt a third person’s bloodlust from behind.

The figure of a bird soared in at an alarming speed, trying to knock me down. Dodging by a
paper-thin margin, I once again rolled to the side.

“Oh, you dodged that? Some nice reaction times you’ve got there, intruder.”

“You won’t slip away this time~. Get ready~.”

“Hands off! He’s my prey!”

The three apostles didn’t stop attacking me while talking to each other.

Each attack carried the intent to kill. Forced to dodge them all, I eventually ended up in the
entrance hall.

“Cut it out, everyone! I’m just a friend character! Stop putting me outside of my comfort
zone!”

The falcon apostle landed on a stair handrail and scoffed.

“Friend character? An idiot like you would never be my companion.”

Next, the giraffe apostle pointed at me with a finger.

“Judging from your plain human form, you’re probably a pill bug, inchworm, or floral egg
crab apostle soldier.”

Finally, the hornet apostle swooped down.

“How pitiful, your luck ran out when you came here alone~. Now, be an obedient hedgehog
apostle~. This won’t hurt a bit~.”

…Not good. The three commanding officers weren’t listening at all.

They’re convinced that I’m an intruder and a weird apostle. Who are you calling a floral egg
crab?

(Now what? Do I beat them up? Is it okay for a father to beat his son’s friends?)

No, that should be a last resort. If possible, I don’t want to injure them.

These three should know where Shizuma is. If I show them who I am, they should
understand. They’ve seen my face in the video messages.

Thinking so, I quickly lit my face with the flashlight. Since I held the light below my face, I
looked like I was about to tell a ghost story.
“Zelva, Gaigo, Yagujya! It’s me, Kobayashi Ichirou!”

While giving my name, I stepped sideways to create some distance. Kind of like how a floral
egg crab would.

“Huh? A Kobayashi Ichirou apostle?”

“I’m not an apostle! Just Kobayashi Ichirou!”

The falcon Zelva…seemed to be the dunce of the group.

“Then how do you explain that side stepping? How do you explain that smooth skin?”

“Those are just coincidences! Both my walking and my skin!”

The giraffe Gaigo…also seemed to be a dunce.

“Wait a minute. I’ve heard about people who tell scary stories while having a light from
below them. Inagawa Junji, I think…so this guy’s an Inagawa Junji apostle, right~?”1
“Again with that! Junji Inagawa is Junji Inagawa! Nothing more, nothing less!”

The hornet Yagujya…is also a dunce. They’re all idiots, aren’t they?

I’m not getting through to them. I considered actually beating them up…before I heard a
voice.

“Ichirou! Wait right there!”

“Halt, you three! Don’t lay a hand on Ichirou!”

“Stay back!”

Fortunately, the three princesses arrived. It seemed that they heard the commotion.

“Oh, Miss?!”

“My queen?!”

“Kiki?!”

The commanding officers were taken aback by the appearance of their superiors. Despite
their confusion, they kneeled down and showed their manners.

“Zelva, this is Kobayashi Ichirou. He’s the one who ‘converted’ Taotie and Hundun, and he’s
more than he looks. Now that you know, apologize.”

“To think I’d receive a scolding after our first meeting in a long time…I shall reflect on this.”
“Gaigo, I thought I told you to do something about your quick temper. Do you want to get
fired? Perhaps I won’t let you use my high heels as a glass anymore.”

“A, anything but that!”

“Yagujya, say sorry to Baron Ichirou. You tried to stab him in the butt with a stinger.”

“I understand~. My bad~.”

…I was wondering what would happen to me, but it seems that things have been cleared
up.

Now they’ll know that I’m not a floral egg crab, nor am I Junji Inagawa.

“F-Father? Mother? And you all are here too…!”

Shortly thereafter, the trio of commanding officers led us and a belated Elmira to Shizuma.

We arrived at an audience room meant for meeting a king. A large golden throne stood at
the end of a long red carpet. It seemed that it was meant for an “Evil Spirit” to sit on. How
ostentatious.

Behind the throne, in a small room that seemed like a waiting room, was Shizuma.

I was relieved that my beloved son was safe, but that relief soon dissipated.

As for the reason why…Shizuma was lying on a blanket. He looked exhausted and pale. His
eyes were devoid of vigor, his lips were dry, and he seemed worn out.

Even so, the two-year old boy managed to raise his upper body and sit up straight. Actually,
he seemed to have visibly grown again. He looks to be around three years old now.
“S…Shizuma! What happened?!”

“Oh, good lord…!”

“Shizuma is…Shizuma’s in danger!”

I immediately rushed over to embrace his tiny body, followed shortly by Elmira and Kiki.

Mion and Jyuri also showed looks of concern. Beside us, the trio of commanding officers
once again kneeled down.

“Father…were you perhaps worried after I didn’t show up at the arranged time and
place…?”

“Of course. More importantly, what in the world happened to you? For you to be in this
state…did the food of this world upset your stomach?”

“No, actually…I used too much of my flames in combat. I ended up exhausting a lot of my
energy…”

So he ran out of fuel?

Shizuma, a “Blood-kin of Eternal Darkness” like Elmira, has the supernatural ability to
operate flames. That ability uses up blood, and overuse can lead to anemia.

“Kobayashi Ichirou! Let Shizuma suck your blood right now!”

“Give him all you have!”

The vampire girl and Hokkaido wolf girl forcibly took off my jacket, unbuttoned my shirt, and
exposed my upper body.

They restrained my arms, grabbed my head, and pushed my neck towards Shizuma. It
looked like I was about to be beheaded, but there’s no point in complaining.

“Shizuma, you can suck my blood for the time being. You need to replenish your energy.”

“I, is that okay, Father?”

We convinced him that it was fine. According to Elmira, my blood tastes pretty good. If it
means that Shizuma will get better, I’ll offer all I have.

…Some time had passed. After reluctantly sinking his teeth into the nape of my neck,
Shizuma’s complexion miraculously got better.

The vigor in his eyes returned and his skin became glossy for some reason. It’s a good thing
we decided to cross into the spirit world…
However, now I’m the one who’s deathly pale. Taking advantage of the opportunity, Elmira
also sunk her teeth into my neck. It was a bad idea to bring her along.

“Father, thank you. Thanks to you, I feel completely energized.”

“Y-Yeah…that’s great…”

Seeing that Shizuma was able to stand up now, I made a fatherly smile. Unable to stand up,
I swapped places with him and rested on the blanket.

“Mother, Sister, I wanted to see you.”

“As did I, Shizuma. Come now, how about another hug?”

“And I wanted to see you too, Shizuma. Videos and letters aren’t enough.”

Shizuma happily reunited with his mother and sister. Seeing that it was the right moment
to, Mion and Jyuri finally approached Shizuma and stroked his head.

“Shizuma, you’ve gotten bigger. You’re already taller than Kiki now, aren’t you?”

“Heh, as I thought, you really are growing to my liking. Once you grow a bit more, I can teach
you a few things…”

“Mion, Jyuri, I haven’t heard from you two in a while. Sorry for leaving without telling
you…Also, Zelva, Gaigo, and Yagujya, sorry for making you worry. Everything’s alright now.”

The commander trio responded with smiles. It seemed that at some point, they
transformed into their human forms.

“It’s alright, boy. After all, we’re your subordinates now.”

Zelva, a college student-like guy with his hair tied up in a bandana, replied. When he tried
to light a pipe in his mouth, Mion took the match away.

“If we had more power, you wouldn’t have had to go through this…”

Gaigo, a middle-aged man with many scars on his face, spoke with regret. The armor he
wore over his giant body made him look like the kind of heavyweight soldier you’d see in a
game.

“It’s great that you recovered, Shizu~. Shizuma’s papa, thank you for the blood donation~.”

Yagujya, who wore excessive eyeshadow and had pronounced lips, turned towards me and
winked. Though he wore heavy makeup, I think he pulled it off better than Tao.

“So Shizuma, did something happen? You mentioned that you were in combat, but…are
there apostles in here that can give you trouble?”
Shizuma’s face suddenly became gloomy upon Elmira’s question.

The words he responded with shocked us. It was a worst-case scenario.

“The one I fought against──was Qiongqi. It seems that he found out I was in the spirit world
and appeared in front of me. That was just two days ago.”

“Q, Qiongqi appeared in the spirit world?!”

“Yes. He said ‘Let’s work together,’ and ‘Shiyuu is waiting for you,’ to me…”

What the hell. The nerve that “Shota Evil Spirit” has to go after Shizuma!

I didn’t think he would figure out Shizuma’s spot this quickly. Of course, since Qiongqi’s an
“Evil Spirit,” he can travel to the spirit world. Did he use that ability to to search for Shizuma?

“I refused, which led to a battle. Since the ‘Evil Spirit’ could only stay for ten minutes, I tried
to focus on defending and managed to somehow survive, but…as a result, I couldn’t move.”

That’s quite a feat. To hold out against an “Evil Spirit” for ten minutes is something only the
most talented can do. If he wasn’t my son, I would’ve wanted to become his friend
character.

“I don’t know why, but Qiongqi definitely wasn’t giving it his all. Fortunately, he hasn’t
attacked a second time yet, but…there’s another troubling matter.”

“W-What’s wrong?”

The older sister sat on her brother’s lap while frowning.

“Most apostles in the spirit world have now sworn allegiance to Qiongqi. Even those who
had been with me before have switched sides, with the exception of these three here.”

That’s certainly a problem.

Despite Shizuma’s best efforts to unify the spirit world…it seems that the authority of an
“Evil Spirit” is too strong.

“Unfortunately, the spirit world in under Qiongqi’s control now…and in fact, we’ve been
cornered into hiding within the ‘Hell Castle.’ I’m sorry…”

The words Agito said to me the other day flashed into my mind.

──Leaving that aside, there’s something else you should be focusing your attention on.
Remain so carefree and you may just be swept off your feet.──

Is this what he meant? Did he have a part in this?

With a concerning look, Mion leaned forwards towards a dejected Shizuma.

“Wait, Shizuma. A majority of the two thousand apostles in the spirit world are supposed
be our subordinates, right? Did you tell them that you’re backed by the ‘Three Abyssal
Princesses’?”

Upon hearing the heron general’s words, the king snake general and Hokkaido wolf general
chimed in as well.

“Right, We have armies of five hundred…so that means there should be a thousand five
hundred on our side. Though, around three hundred people from those armies went to the
human world to launch an unauthorized attack.”

“That’s still one thousand two hundred. How come my subordinates aren’t supporting
you?”

…Originally, the three princesses were the ones tasked to “maintain order in the spirit
world.” So, of course, their subordinates were tasked to be on standby in the spirit world.

That’s not all though. Renie’s subordinates, who were defeated three hundred years ago,
should have revived in the spirit world by now. Did those people also defect to Qiongqi’s
faction?

The commander trio answered that question for me.

“Miss, that’s not the problem. They all have no reason to go against an ‘Evil Spirit’ who
orders them to obey, you see. A ruler’s orders preempts a general’s orders.”

“Of course, they know that other ‘Evil Spirits’ have awakened. However, allying with Qiongqi
lets them revive one more time without any cooldown…”

“Furthermore, Qiongqi is forming a new unit named ‘Hell’s Ten Spears,’ it seems~. He’s
accepting everyone and anyone into it~.”

As expected of “Qiongqi of Wisdom.” He’s good at luring in apostles.

It seems that apostles won’t band together under a call for freedom. It also seems that
they’re easily swayed by temptations. He set up quite the effective campaign.

“Those guys…definitely need to be taught a painful lesson.”

“That’s quite a shame. Only one member of each army remains.”

“Why?! Should I not have made my five hundred people play a game of cards?!”

Shizuma turned towards the Three Abyssal Princesses and further reported.
“Apostle troops are currently surrounding this ‘Hell Castle’ under Qiongqi’s orders. The
leading them is Soushou Shakuhou…I believe you three know him well, right?”

Soushou Shakuhou.

I believe that’s the name of someone in “Hell’s Top Eight,” a mandrill apostle general.

It seems he lost to Ryuuga’s ancestors and fell asleep for a long time, but has recently
revived. What unfortunate timing.

Hearing that name, the three princesses folded their arms and eventually clapped their
hands at once. Apparently, it took some time for them to remember him.

“Shakuhou…I almost forgot about him. That guy made a love confession to me once.”

“That guy stole my panties. I think he wanted to wear them as a nightcap.”

“He accidentally stole my panties once. He said ‘This doesn’t fit me,’ and returned them.”

…Is Renie the only decent person in the top eight?

As an aside, since Shakuhou was defeated three hundred years ago, he seems to have
overslept an extra hundred years.

Persimmons are his favorite food, and his hobby is visiting hot springs in the human world.
Why can’t we get any useful information on him?

At any rate, we successfully found Shizuma and got a rough idea of the current situation.

Before I knew it, there were five minutes until the time limit. We needed to return to the
library before Hundun’s door closes. Otherwise, we’d have to stay in the spirit world for two
days.

(At any rate, this has turned into a more troubling situation than I thought…this story is
growing harsher and harsher towards a friend character.)

Qiongqi was the one who launched an attack on Shizuma. Attempting to suppress the spirit
world failed. Furthermore, Soushou Shakuhou has revived.

That’s all bad news, but at least Shizuma is alive. We should have our son under our
protection before Qiongqi launches a second attack.

(Now that it’s come to this, perhaps we should bring Shizuma back to the human world for
now. We could give Shizuma and the commander trio a break, have them request for
Ryuga’s help, and plan countermeasures.)

Shizuma did well on his own this whole time. As a father, I’m proud of him.
The commander trio also supported Shizuma to the point of gaining everyone else’s
hostility. They aren’t easily swayed by temptations.

While thinking about the next course of action to take, I suppressed my anemia and got up.
In front of me, Shizuma kneeled down while listening to his mother.

“I see…Qiongqi wanted me so that he could feed me to an apostle amalgamation called

Shiyuu. So Qiongqi has that kind of power now…”

“That’s right. Four of the top eight, Balon, Higaia, Saihiru, and Renie, have already been
absorbed into it. Among them, Renie was Shiori’s butler──”

Hearing the general facts explained, Shizuma made a concerned expression. His hair
glowed with a burning crimson color, as did Elmira’s. They really do look like mother and
child.

“Hey Ichirou, we don’t have any time left.”

“Ichirou, let’s return to the library. If we run, it shouldn’t take longer than a minute.”

Urged by Mion and Jyuri, I got up while making a proposition to Shizuma.

“Say, Shizuma, let’s return to the human world for now. We can carefully plan out our──”

“No Father, we can’t do that.”

However, Shizuma shook his head. He rejected the option of a tactical retreat.

“W, why Shizuma?! Qiongqi’s after your soul, right? He knows you’re in the spirit world…”

“Even so, I must protect this castle.”

“Why?! Are you in your rebellious phase?! Are you at that age now?”

“N-No, Father. If Qiongqi is collecting the souls of apostles, then abandoning the ‘Hell
Castle’ is the last thing we should do.”

Upon Shizuma’s words, the three princess held grim faces while seeming to agree with him.

Okay, but why? Someone, explain so that dad and mom here can understand!

“You don’t know, Ichirou? The basement of this castle is where ‘Konminden’ is.”

“It’s the shrine where apostles killed by humans go to. It’s where we sleep for roughly two
hundred years before we revive.”

“There are people like Shakuhou who oversleep though.”

Konminden. The place where apostles who turn into souls regain their bodies. It’s where
three thousand apostles are currently sleeping.

…I see. I understand what Shizuma means now.

Qiongqi’s ability lets him instantly revive apostles who have turned into souls. In other
words, if Qiongqi takes over this castle, he will have access to Konminden.

“So, he wants to revive all three thousand apostles that are sleeping?”

If that happened, they’d all likely ally with Qiongqi. That itself would still be okay. However,
if he uses those three thousand apostles as material for Shiyuu, that’s a different matter…

Understanding the situation, Elmira bit her lip while grumbling.

“Indeed, it would be a problem if Qiongqi took control over the ‘Hell Castle.’ It could easily
lead to Shiyuu growing rapidly stronger.”

“That’s right, Mother. Besides, I said that I was going to bring order to the spirit world. If I run
home from just this much, then I will never accomplish what I had set out to do.”

Shizuma made a firm assertion. For a three-year old who’s actually only four months old,
he has a surprisingly strong sense of duty. The “Evil Spirits” should follow his example.

“…I understand, Shizuma. In that case, I will stay. That is a parent’s responsibility.”

“I will stay too! That’s an older sister’s responsibility!”

Elmira made a firm assertion as well, and Kiki raised her hand too.

“You know how dangerous this is, yet you choose not to leave. I will stay. I’ll stay here with
you.”

“If we didn’t stay, we wouldn’t be a family that shared blood! We would be wild animals!”

I didn’t have the time to retort that they didn’t actually share blood.

For some reason, Mion and Jyuri also raised their hands and declared that they would stay.

“It looks like we don’t have a choice. If you’re going to say that, then I have to stay too.”

“We’re also part of the family, Shizuma. Let’s protect this castle as the Kobayashi family.”

…Perhaps some kind of touching background music would play right about now.

Before I knew it, everyone except me had raised their hands. Shizuma, Elmira, and the
commander trio all raised their hands too, showing their ties with the Kobayashi household.
It seems that I have more family members now.
Elmira and the three princesses all stared at me.

Their silent glares said it all. “Now, Kobayashi Ichirou, you too,” “Ichirou, hop onboard too,”
“Ichirou, what are you waiting for?” “Come on, Baron Ichirou!”

It seems that I have no choice on the matter. That’s fine. There’s no way the head of the
household can leave when everyone else is staying.

The Kobayashi household will take care of the “Hell Castle.” Let’s think of this as a trip to a
vacation home. Two days isn’t that long anyways. It’s not every day that you get the chance
to become the lord of a castle.

“Alright. I’ll stay. I should raise my hand, right?”

The moment I raised my hand, everyone else immediately lowered their hands.

“There you have it. Let’s leave it to Kobayashi Ichirou.”

“Now Shizuma, let’s go home.”

“I’ll have to reheat dinner.”

“Everyone, hurry. There’s only three minutes left.”

Everyone immediately began to exit the room while leaving me behind.

It seems I was set up. What a nefarious trap. The burden is forced onto the one who raises
their hand last!

“Oh, hell no! This is not some kind of gag! Why do I have to defend an entire castle by
myself?!”

“I have school.”

“So do I!”

“I want to watch Spectacle Man.”

“So do I!”

“I have a reservation at a beauty salon.”

“So do I!”

“Wait, you do?”

Mion reached towards me from behind.

Next, she placed her hands on my back in reassurance and spoke.

“Don’t worry, I’m staying. If it’s just two days, I can manage.”

Though Mion stated once more that she would stay, Shizuma hesitated.

“Mion, thank you for your sympathy. However, to trouble you this much because of my
mistake…”

“It’s fine. I know this castle better than you do. You should return to the human world and
take a break.”

“W, what? I’m already fine. I’ve finished resupplying my energy.”

The heron apostle once more stroked Shizuma’s head as he tried to decline her offer. The
look of affection in her eyes was like those of a true older sister’s.

“You should be a bit more self-aware, Shizuma. You’re still a child, you know? You don’t
need to put on such a bold front. It’s fine to rely on your family.”

“……”

“Besides, it’s only two days relative to the human world, right? In the spirit world, that
wouldn’t even be a single day.”

…What does that mean? Does time flow differently in the spirit world compared to the
human world?

After asking the three princesses about it, it seemed that was indeed the case. Time flows
about twice as slow in the spirit world than in the human world. I would’ve liked to have
known that sooner.

(This reminds of the Ryugu Castle. Thirty minutes in here is one hour in the human world…)1
If that’s the case, then perhaps we can leave it to Mion. It’s just one day.

If Taotie and Hundun take turns to check the state of affairs, then even if Qiongqi appears,
we can likely find a way to manage. Having “Evil Spirits” on my side is an advantage.

An “Evil Spirit” can only transfer in four-hour intervals, but if they alternate, we can check
the situation every two hours. Over on this side, that would translate to Taotie and Hundun
coming every hour.

“Of course, you’ll stay here too, Zelva. We’ll guard the castle together.”

“Seriously? I want visit the human world just once though…”

Zelva begrudgingly decided to stay behind upon orders from his boss. Though, not without
grumbling “Maybe I should have switched over to Qiongqi’s side too.” Will it be okay having
this guy here?

Thereupon, Jyuri also ordered her subordinate to stay.

“Gaigo, could you stay as well? I won’t take no for answer. Okay, you worthless filth?”

“O, okay! Thank you for your graceful words!”

Those words were definitely not graceful, but Gaigo kneeled down while his eyes were
gleaming. Will it be okay having this guy here, too?

Kiki also gave similar orders.

“Yagujya, help Mion. You can be like a junior mama.”

“Understood~. Well then, let’s put on some makeup at once, Mion~.”

“I, I don’t need it!”

Yagujya brought out a set of makeup tools from thin air was about to apply foundation to
Mion. Will it be okay having this guy here, as well?

──Mion and the commander trio saw us off as we left the room and dashed towards the
library.

I felt a little bad leaving Mion behind, but there’s no other choice. If we’re taking Shizuma,
then we need someone else to lead the trio.

If I recall correctly, “Evil Spirits” can’t transfer into the “Hell Castle.” It seems that only
Hundun’s door can enter the castle directly.

That’s why we usually meet with Shizuma outside the castle during our routine
communication. In other words, Qiongqi cannot transfer directly into Konminden.

As long as we don’t lose the castle, Konminden will be safe…at least, I hope it will be.

“…Oh? You sure took your time, Sonny. The door’s about to collapse.”

Seeing us rush into the library, Hundun placed his manga back onto a shelf and stood up.

“Wait! Just a bit longer! There’s only five pages left in this volume!”

Not knowing understanding that it’s time to quit, Taotie frantically turned the pages of his
manga. He didn’t even glance at Shizuma.

Elmira stared daggers at the insanely rude “Evil Spirit” and scolded him.
“How worthless of an ‘Evil Spirit’ are you going to be?! We finally brought Shizuma here, so
at least say hello to him! You’re supposed to be an uncle to him, right?!”

“Unlike you all, I meet Shizuma on a regular basis… huh? No way! The plot in this manga
just got serious!”

“And our circumstances also got serious! To think you’d be reading manga under this
situation…hand over your title of ‘Evil Spirit’ to Shizuma and start over from the bottom
ranks, third class soldier Taotie!”

“You’re exaggerating, vampire! How about I whack you with a log?!”

“Why a log?!”

While Taotie and Elmira were arguing…

The door was slowly beginning to close. On the other side, I could see the familiar living
room. I could see tonight’s dinner, sweet and sour pork, on the dining table.

Once the door completely shuts, it will disappear. There may not even be ten seconds left!

Leading Shizuma by the hand, Elmira and Kiki jumped through the door. Jyuri, Hundun, and
I followed suit. The only one left was the third class soldier.

“Hey, Tie! Hurry! Dive in head-first!”

“Just one page left! There’s a bonus gag strip at the end of the book!”

“Stop reading! How addicted are you to that manga?!”

“Alright, I’m done! Ooooh! Taotie Meteor Dive!”

Taotie sprinted and gracefully leapt. However…

The door closed before he could get through. Taotie’s Meteor Dive failed.

With the sound of a crash and a yelp from Taotie, the door soon disappeared. We stood still
in the living room, and before we knew it, we put our hands together in prayer.

…By the way, in order for an “Evil Spirit” to use their transportation ability, they have to stand
in the human world as a starting point.

In other words, transferring to the human world from the spirit world is impossible. So,
Taotie will have to spend the next two days there.

“Baron Taotie didn’t make it in time…”

“It seems we’ve pushed another burden onto Mion.”

The youngest and eldest daughters worried about the second daughter’s well-being.

“Well, it’ll be fine. With Taotie there, Qiongqi can’t easily lay a hand on the castle.”

“What? Qiongqi appeared in the spirit world?”

Elmira explained the situation to Hundun.

Meanwhile, Shizuma suddenly looked up at me and spoke.

“Um, Father?”

“What’s up?”

“If Uncle Taotie wanted to read that badly…he could’ve just brought the manga with him
here…”

Oh, he’s got a point. Embarrassingly, I didn’t even realize that.

This kid really is wise.

It was the early morning of the next day. It was just past six o’clock.

I decided to visit the Hinomori residence with Shizuma. Last night, I immediately called
Ryuuga to talk about the situation and to arrange a meeting before school.

“Shizuma, you’re not sleepy? Elmira and Kiki were talking with you until late at night
yesterday, right? It’s alright if you rest at home, you know?”

“No, I’m fine. It’s better if I’m there to explain the circumstances.”

Shizuma and I held hands while walking through a empty street.

Since he could survive, even if just for a short while, on his own against an “Evil Spirit,” I
didn’t actually need to hold his hand…I just secretly wanted bond with my son.

──Qiongqi appeared in the spirit world.

──The apostles in there defected to Qiongqi’s faction.

──Mion (and Taotie) are in the “Hell Castle” to protect it.

──We’re planning on checking back on the spirit world tomorrow.

I have only bad news to report to Ryuuga, but at least I can reintroduce Shizuma to her.

I don’t want this boy to end up being only a guest character. I’d like him to be in the spotlight
on the protagonist’s side.
(For that reason, I always thought that he should be more involved with Ryuga. I guess that’s
one small benefit to rushing the final chapter.)

While thinking about how Shizuma seemed quite fond of Ryuuga…I heard a noise from my
stomach.

Thereupon, Shizuma’s stomach also let out a noise. The embarrassed smile and “Eh heh
heh,” he gave was so cute that it almost made hug him on the spot.

“Sorry, Shizuma. We didn’t have breakfast yet, but…it seems Ryuga’s making something.”

“I feel a little bad. We’re burdening Ryuuga, aren’t we?”

There’s also another reason why we didn’t eat breakfast. We ran out of toast and I forgot to
cook the rice.

Furthermore, there’s a lot of laundry to be done and dishes to wash…which, of course, was
because of Mion’s absence. The mother of the house was in the spirit world.

(It’s only now that I realize how important Mion is…the Kobayashi house can’t function
without her.)

I hope Mion comes back to protecting the Kobayashi household instead of the “Hell
Castle.”

We’ll have no choice but to order takeout for dinner. While thinking about a way to have
third class soldier Taotie remain in the spirit world, we arrived at the Hinomori residence.

“Ichirou, Shizuma. Welcome~.”

“……”

An oiran appeared from the house entrance.1

Hinomori Ryuuga greeted us wearing a skimpy kimono while tying the back of her hair up
with a hairpin and wearing red lipstick.

“Oh, Shizuma. You grew up so fast while you were gone. You must be in your growth
period~.”

The sophisticated protagonist giggled while we were left bewildered.

…Needless to say, this was cosplay. A pretty drastic cosplay.

I was hoping that she would hold back for today, but it seems I was too naive. In fact, it
seems that she upped the ante.

Why an oiran?! Shizuma’s not even sure how to respond to that! With all that makeup, what
are you going to do once school starts?!
“Breakfast is ready, so please come in~.”

“Ryuga, I thought I warned you already. Recently, you’ve been bolder with your cosplay.
Why aren’t you toning it down?”

“Cosplay is what I live for. I’m feeling particular motivated today, okay?”

“Please save that motivation for the final chapter!”

While I reprimanded Ryuuga with teary eyes, Shizuma stared at the fake oira in amazement.

His mouth was slightly agape and his cheeks were a bit red. He seemed to mutter
something while forgetting to breathe.

“Ryuuga, you’re beautiful…”

“Aw, that makes me glad. But please keep my true gender a secret from Elle, Shiori, and
Tao~.”

Ryuuga pressed her index finger against Shizuma’s lips.

Flustered, Shizuma saluted while saying “Y, yes! I understand!”

…Hey, protagonist. Don’t do anything strange with my kid.

At least the commander trio knows when to back off.

Afterwards, Shizuma and I walked to the reception room and had breakfast.

We had a typical Japanese meal with white rice, cooked salmon, miso soup, and eggs. It
was surprisingly good, and the both us finished everything in an instant.

“T, thank you for the meal. It was really tasty.”

Putting his hands together in a courteous manner, Shizuma silently bowed his head.

It seemed that he was still a little nervous. He’s probably not used to being a guest in
someone else’s home. Or perhaps it’s because Ryuuga’s still an oiran?

“No no, don’t mention it. Allow me to introduce myself again. I’m Hinomori Ryuuga’s sister,
Kyouka.”

Kyouka cheerfully smiled while making tea for Shizuma. She chose not to wear cosplay. She
has a good head on her shoulders.

“Yes, I know. Hundun spoke a lot about you.”

“Oh, how so?”

“He said something about, ‘sprouting, ‘daughter-in-law,’ ‘justice’…and ‘cute.’“

Hearing that, Kyouka sighed.

Kyouka, you don’t need to hold back. The “Lolicon Evil Spirit” living inside me is asleep right
now.

Next, Shizuma straightened his posture and introduced himself to the Hinomori sisters.

“Now then…my name is Kobayashi Shizuma. I’m a zebra apostle.”

“Z-Zebra apostle?”

His words surprised Ryuuga, Kyouka, and even me.

I didn’t know that. Shizuma’s a zebra apostle? Zebra Shizuma?

(Now that I think about it, it’s only natural that he takes after a living animal. I didn’t check
my son’s basic characteristics despite being his father…)

While I was feeling downhearted, Shizuma explained his circumstances and activities.

He talked about Qiongqi’s invasion, Konminden, Soushou Shakuhou, the commander trio,
and finished by talking about Taotie’s Meteor Dive.

“Oh…Tie’s as clueless as ever.”

“T, that’s not it, Ryuuga. It was inevitable. Taotie was really interested in that manga.”

I shrugged my shoulders in response to Shizuma’s reply.

Ryuuga’s expression suddenly tightened as she folded her arms.

It seems that she has entered her protagonist mode. That normally would’ve looked cool,
but it was ruined by her oiran cosplay. She’s quite clueless herself.

“Ichirou, you’re going to the spirit world tomorrow evening, right?”

“Yeah, at seven o’clock. Two whole days will have passed by then, allowing Hundun to open
a gate.”

Of course, in the meantime, Hundun will transfer to the spirit world several times.

In fact, he apparently transferred to the spirit world at 1 am and 5 am in the morning, That’s
why he’s sound asleep right now.

“It seems that there’s nothing strange so far, but keep in mind that we’re dealing with
‘Qiongqi of Wisdom.’ Mion will be in trouble if we keep pushing everything onto her.”

Actually, the Kobayashi household is the one who’ll be in trouble without the heron apostle,
but…I decided to keep that to myself in front of Ryuuga. I made sure that Shizuma wouldn’t
reveal that I was living with the three princesses.

“Though, Tie’s over there, right? The apostles wouldn’t dare to invade a castle that has an
‘Evil Spirit’ inside it, would they?”

“Don’t expect too much from ‘My Neighbor Taotie.’ He’s been demoted from ‘Evil Spirit’ to
third class soldier.”

In a panic, Shizuma chimed in with “He wasn’t demoted, he wasn’t demoted.”

“That’s not true. Uncle Taotie was worried about Sister Mion and chose to stay. It’s a little
embarrassing to say this out loud, but him not making it in time was just an act, right?”
His desire to protect Taotie is commendable, but unfortunately, nobody agreed with him.

That’s enough, my son. You know the truth, don’t you?

Moving back to the main topic, Ryuuga spoke.

“Ichirou, can I accompany you next time?”

“Huh?”

“I’ll also head to the spirit world. If Qiongqi has control over the spirit world, then there’s an
enemy base that needs to be taken care of. What do you think?”

This might be the first time in history that someone in the Hinomori family raids the spirit
world.

“If the apostles there learn that I have reconciled with all of the ‘Evil Spirits’ other than
Qiongqi, they may come back to our side. Then if we regain control over the spirit world,
Shizuma can remain here in the human world.”

…It seems like a good idea.

In any case, there’s no harm in having her deal with the troops surrounding the “Hell
Castle.” I can’t tell when Qiongqi will appear, but he can only be in the spirit world for ten
minutes anyways. Furthermore, he can’t bring his troublesome vessel, Agito, along.

We should capitalize on this advantage. Above all, it would be very nice to have Shizuma be
free from his duties and come back home.

“Alright, I understand, Ryuga. I’ll come here at seven o’clock tomorrow night. Let’s have
Hundun open a gate in the garden or somewhere like that.”

“Actually, we should do this at your house instead. I’ll even make dinner and bring it over.”

“No thanks, it’s fine! My house is a mess right now! It’s not in any presentable state!”

“It’s still a mess? You’ve been saying that for the whole summer, you know?”

Oh, right. The three princesses have been staying over at my home since summer break.
For a period of time, Elmira and Yukimiya were there too. In fact, that vampire is sleeping in
the living room right now.

…At any rate, I desperately convinced Ryuuga that we should meet up at the Hinomori
residence.

In fact, that also means I’ll be eating dinner here. With Jyuri and Kiki, that is. I feel a bit guilty
about that.
(I’d also appreciate it if she didn’t wear cosplay again tomorrow…)

Unaware of my inner dialogue, Ryuuga returned to chatting with Shizuma.

The three-year-old kneeled on the floor while answering the fake oiran’s questions. What a
surreal sight.

“Shizuma, you’re an apostle general, right? That’s impressive for someone so small.”

“N, no. I’m still a novice compared to my father.”

“Do you have a second name? I heard that generals have one.”

“Second name? It’s too early for me to have something that important. I’m not officially a
general…”

Those words made me twitch.

Come to think of it, I was planning on coming up with a cool second name for Shizuma. I
have to join this conversation. Both as a father and a story planner.

“In that case, what about ‘Reishou Shizuma’ for a──”

“Then, how about ‘Kikkashou Shizuma’? It sounds suitable for a horse.”

Ryuuga’s proposal interrupted mine. She gave an absurd name.

Hey, protagonist! What kind of name is that?! Don’t tell me you actually came up with that!

“Thank you. I’ll consider it.”

Hey, my son! Don’t consider it! Zebras are not horses!

This isn’t good. At this rate, Shizuma will become a joke character. Please spare this boy!
Don’t turn him into the comic relief character!

Noticing my pleas, the protagonist turned towards me.

That’s right, Ryuuga. I knew you could sense my plight. The bonds between us are deeper
than anyone else’s. Of course we can communicate with just eye contact!

“Ichiroum right…what if yours was ‘Zannenshou’?”

“I’m not a general! I am not a Kobayashi Ichirou apostle!”

That completely failed. She thought I was telling her “I want you to give me a funny name
too.”
This is the final chapter, and you’re disappointing me, Ryuuga! I’m supposed to be your
semi-boyfriend!

As I felt my shoulders tremble, Kyouka spoke softly from beside me.

“It’s alright, Kobayashi. I’m sure that my sister’s just joking.”

“Is that so…?”

“Don’t worry about it. Shizuma and I will come up with a proper name for you. So, cheer
up.”

It seems that the sister thought I was disappointed with the name “Zannenshou.”

I don’t even want a second name…

That’s not something a friend character should have, you know?

 2. Finding a Crevasse
“Kyouka! I missed you so much!”

It was the evening. Two days had finally passed since our previous visit to the spirit world.
As discussed, I went over to the Hinomori residence. Jyuri, Kiki, Shizuma, and Hundun
joined me.

Meeting his former host for the first time in a while, the “Middle-Aged Evil Spirit” rushed
forwards while spreading his arms out. Kyouka ran around the entrance to escape his evil
hands. He didn’t make it very far since he couldn’t leave my vicinity.

After arriving, we headed to the reception room. Thereupon…

There was sushi. Rather expensive sushi, even.

Sea urchin, salmon roe, fatty tuna…and even sushi I’ve never seen before were all neatly
arranged on a plate. Beside me, I heard Kiki mutter “I’ve never seen this sushi before.”

(I feel bad bringing this many people. I’m really glad that we left Tie in the spirit world.)

Ryuuga smiled cheerfully while telling us to take a seat.

“At first I thought about cooking something myself, but I decided go with something grand
as a symbol of my friendship with the three princesses and Shizuma. I also left some for
Mion. She’ll be back today, after all.”

“You didn’t have to go this far, you know? You could’ve just served some cucumber rolls.”
Despite my reluctance, I checked for the closest fatty tuna to me. I made sure not to make
my intentions too obvious.

“Kiki, Shizuma, do you two prefer no wasabi? I wanted to bring the Heavenly Gods along as
well, but I suppose we’re only here to investigate the enemy’s movements. Let’s hope for
the best.”

I’ve already gotten the heroines’ compliance. That’s why Elmira isn’t here.

If we all entered the spirit world, the human world would be empty, which is a risky situation.
It’s possible that Qiongqi could make a move here in the human world.

Therefore, only Ryuuga, Jyuri, and I would enter. Shizuma would stay in the Hinomori
residence to rest. Kiki declared “I’m staying with Shizuma,” and decided to remain as well.

“Sorry Sonny, but I’ll be waiting in front of the gate again this time. Spending time with
Kyouka is more important than the spirit world.”

“I don’t have to enter the spirit world, right? We can just talk across the gate, right?”
“Of course, Kyouka! Over there, I can move independently from Sonny! I’ll be right next to
the gate! You won’t need to come in!”

While the second-year middle schooler and the middle-aged man had a chat, we feasted
on the first class sushi.

In the blink of an eye, the clock struck seven, and it was finally time for us to depart.

“Okay, it’s open. Time to move now.”

“Sis, good luck.”

“I really think I should go too…”

“No! You have to rest, Shizuma!”

Hearing the encouragement of the people staying behind, we passed through the gate and
entered a small, familiar room.

It was the waiting room behind the audience chamber where we reunited with Shizuma.
Unfortunately, neither Mion, the commander trio, nor Taotie were there.

“First thing’s first, we need to meet with the others. Alright Ryuga, let’s look around the
castle for a bit.”

Bringing along Ryuuga, who was looking around, we headed towards the small room’s exit.
This was where we parted with Hundun.

“Amazing, it’s really a castle…whoa, is that a throne? There’s even a soft red carpet.”

Ryuuga voiced her amazement while using a flashlight to light our surroundings.

“Ichirou, please wait.”

Walking behind us, Jyuri suddenly called out to me.

Turning around, I found that the king snake woman had stopped. She brushed her blonde
hair aside to reveal an ear, listening closely for something.

“What’s wrong, Jyuri? Do you hear something?”

“I do. Numerous footsteps, angry roars, and sounds of clashing…it seems that a battle has
begun.”

Hearing that, Ryuuga and I immediately exchanged glances.

A battle has begun? In other words, we’re right in the midst of a castle attack? Is that why
Mion and the others aren’t here?
“We need to help! Where is it happening?!”

Jyuri was quite calm while I was panicking. She was as calm as a yokozuna. As expected, a
general is used to these types of situations. Or perhaps she has absolute faith in Mion and
the commander trio.

“Before that, please listen to what I have to say. The ‘Hell Castle’ has two gates, one in the
front and one in the back. There are also invisible barriers and a deep moat to protect
against invasions.”

“Front and back…so, which one is under attack?”

“Both of them. I can faintly sense the ill will of Mion at the front gate and the ill wills of the
commander trio at the back. On the attacking side…I also sense Shakuhou’s presence.”

That underwear thief general is here too?

“Fortunately, I don’t sense any trace of Qiongqi. Well, that means we have a chance to beat
the enemy. I’ll take care of the back, so you two take care of the front, okay?”

In other words, Ryuuga and I would help Mion. Alright.

“Hey, Jyuri. What about Tie?”

The king snake apostle hesitated to answer Ryuuga’s question. Her calmness wavered,
dropping her down to a makishita’s level.

“Hey, Jyuri. Is he in the front or back?”

“…I sense Taotie in the library. He might still be reading manga.”

He really is a good-for-nothing. I’ll have Ryuuga scold him later.

At any rate, we split up to offer our assistance to both sides.

I didn’t expect to enter a battle scene, but it seems I have no choice. Since this is a skirmish
taking place in the final chapter, let’s have the protagonist take an active role.

(Ryuga didn’t participate in the battle against Shiyuu at the abandoned factory the other
day. To make up for that, let’s have Hinomori Ryuuga show off here.)

I feel bad for doing this after she treated me to sushi, but I will only be here to cheer her on.
I’ll make it seem like I have no presence.

Ryuuga and I rushed out of the audience chamber, heading towards the large staircase.
Arriving at the first floor, we found ourselves at the entrance hall of the castle. Unlike last
time, the giant entrance door was open. That means we can traverse outside the scripted
scenario.

“Ryuga, this is your debut in the spirit world. Now make a scene!”

Nodding in response to my encouragement, Ryuuga gave a thumbs up. I then expected her
to reply with “Alright, you can count on me!” in a courageous manner.

“Anything for you~.”

However, she went back to speaking like an oiran. Rather than sounding courageous, she
sounded posh. She was wearing her boys’ school uniform though.

“Stop that! Know the difference between what’s appropriate in public and in private! This is
an important scene right now!”

“I suppose I’ve gotten a little too accustomed to yesterday. Do you hate this side of
Ryuuga~?”

Oh dear, the protagonist has fallen.

“All of you who’ve been in my army, come out now! You all are first on the list!”

As we left the castle, we heard an angry voice reach our ears.

Some stone paving stretched out in front of the large iron door. On the other side of the iron
bars ahead, I could see a bridge spanning across a moat that might as well have been a
ravine. It looked strong enough that it wouldn’t break any time soon.
(The bridge’s about fifty meters in length and four meters in width…the only way to enter the
castle directly is through here.)

The action was happening at the center of the bridge.

As I thought, the heron apostle flew around, scattering the swarming enemies.

Mion alone overwhelmed the mob of peculiarities. Furthermore, the fallen troops became
obstacles, blocking the bridge. It was a splendid use of a locational advantage.

“Don’t falter! She’s only one person! Once we break through the bridge, the castle is as
good as conquered!”

“In that case, you go! Us members of Mion’s army know how cruel she can be!”

“That’s right! All of you only know the Mion that dances at concerts! That’s all just an
illusion! If you’ve seen the other side of her, you’ve seen hell!”

“Yikes! Someone fell into the moat again!”

“It’s fine, that’s commander Zamosu! He’s a swordfish apostle, so he can swim like──gah!”

The people at the bridge fell into a panic. One by one, apostles started dropping into the
moat. The unruly heron girl hurled them all away.

“Did you think that you could win against me with large numbers?! Don’t underestimate
Ranshou Mion! Also, whoever made that comment about seeing the other side of me, get
over here!”

This tough situation made me feel a bit irate.

As for why I’m irate, it’s because Mion is likely going to win by herself at this rate. That’s a
problem. I mean, we spent all this effort to bring the protagonist here!

“Ichirou, I’m heading in. I’ll give Mion a hand.”

With those short words, Ryuuga increased the pace she ran at. She instantly left me behind,
charging into the bridge like a gust of wind. Perhaps she’s worried that she wouldn’t get
some screentime?

“That’s as far as you’ll go, ‘Apostles of Hell’!”

With a heroic yell, she leapt into the midst of the enemies, soon mowing down a number of
apostles in front of her. A pitiful victim who flew into air fell down the moat and splashed
into the water.

“Huh? Hinomori Ryuuga? You came all the way here?”

Both the enemies and Mion were surprised by the sudden intruder.

“Yeah, I’ll help out with protecting this castle. Jyuri’s helping out with the back gate.”

“W, why do I have to team up with you?”

“Because we’re friends, of course. And friends look out for each other.”

“So be it…but don’t expect any thanks! Maybe I’ll clean your ears again!”

Showing her tsundere nature, Mion reluctantly stood alongside Ryuuga.

After judging that I didn’t even need to participate…I hid behind a stone pillar near the foot
of the bridge.

“Listen well, apostles! I am the ‘Successor of the Dragon King,’ Hinomori Ryuuga! I have
reconciled with Taotie, Hundun, and Taowu, and we now have a friendly relationship!”

The apostles were noticeably upset by Ryuuga’s yell. The effects were immediate.
If their old enemy, the “Yellow Dragon” made allies with three of the four Evil Spirits…then
what chance at winning did Qiongqi have? Were the benefits worth it? They seemed
hesitant on the matter.

“It’s not too late now! Let’s leave this meaningless fight aside and find a path to
coexistence! Withdrawing is an easy task, right?!”

Hey, Ryuuga! Your oiran side is showing!

“If you surrender now, I’ll forgive you. That doesn’t go for the one who said that seeing my
other side meant seeing hell though! Whoever that was, tell me what you saw!”

Hey Mion, aren’t you taking your grudge too far?!

As the two walked forward, the apostles lowered themselves. Enemy morale hit rock
bottom. About a third of the apostles on the bridge had been suppressed.

(At this rate, the battle scene will end without much action from Ryuga…don’t give up,
apostles! Isn’t someone there to break this deadlock?!)

While I was rooting for the enemy…

I saw someone leap out from the other side of the bridge.

(Hmm? Who’s that?)

Immediately following, the figure leaped through the many apostles at a great speed,
approaching our side. With one last, particularly large jump, a figure instantly appeared
before us.

“Ooh ooh ah ah!”

With a monkey-like roar, the figure descended while swinging a rod-like weapon. That
weapon was aiming for Ryuuga’s head.

“Die, Hinomori!”

“Too slow.”

However, Ryuuga dodged it in an instant. She avoided the attack with minimal movement.

She countered with a lightning kick, but the enemy dodged with a leap. With a spin, he
landed on a spot a few meters away from Ryuuga.

(This agility and monkey-like character…could this be Soushou Shakuhou?)

One of “Hell’s Top Eight” who’s leading the army. The mandrill apostle who overslept for a
hundred years, got rejected by Mion, and loves persimmons.

It seems like it’s him. He’s even holding what seems to be the Monkey King’s stick.

“Ooh ooh ah ah! To think that this Hinomori is a woman! Furthermore, a beauty to my
liking!”

“Hate to burst your bubble, but I’m a guy.”

Mion responded to Ryuuga’s insistence by muttering “You don’t really pass off as a man…”
and soon raised her voice.

“Shakuhou! Not just Hinomori Ryuuga, but Taotie, Hundun, and even Taowu are on our
side! Even so, do you intend on turning against us?!”

“Ooh ooh ah ah! Even if you’re the one asking it, I won’t reconcile with humans! I’ve decided
to follow Qiongqi!”

Rejecting the heron apostle’s words, the mandrill apostle rushed towards Ryuuga once
again.

Ryuuga gave Mion a glare that said “don’t interfere,” and intercepted the incoming attack.
Instantly switching to melee combat, the two engaged in a one-on-one fight.

(This is good. If Ryuga defeats Shakuhou here, it’ll be a great scene for the protagonist. If
things go well, the army will collapse too. It’ll be two birds with one stone!)

I secretly gloated.

Surprisingly, the two were taking turns on attacking and defending. I thought that Ryuuga
would finish him off quickly, but it seems they’re evenly matched.

I did not see that coming. Could it be that Shakuhou’s actually quite powerful? This is the
guy who wears panties as a nightcap, right?

(No, wait. Rather than Shakuhou being strong…Ryuga’s movements seem a bit off.)

It’s something I can tell after seeing her fight many times. Right now, Ryuuga is clearly
limiting her power. The power of her punches and kicks are roughly half of what they
normally are.

What are you doing, Ryuuga?! Did you eat too much sushi?!

“Hey, Hinomori! There’s no reason that you should have a hard time with that monkey! Your
attacks were sharper when you sparred with Kiki and me at the graveyard!”
It seems that Mion felt the same. She harshly scolded the protagonist’s substandard
performance.

“Are you trying to make us look weak?! Finish this at once! Then, hurry up and go home! Did
you even finish your homework?!”

In response to the heron apostle’s complaints, which started sounding like those of a
nagging mother’s, Ryuuga turned towards her and said “Well, but…” with a troubled face.

“If I get serious, I might end up killing him.”

“So what?! You’ve gone all out before, haven’t you?!”

“I mean, yeah, but…you said it before, right? If an apostle dies in the spirit world, there is no
second chance for them.”

…That’s right. If an apostle loses their life here, they can’t revive. They are truly dead.

So that’s the reason why Ryuuga’s movements are worse? Is she holding back because
she’s worried about Shakuhou?

“It doesn’t matter if you kill him! He’s an underwear thief!”

“The circumstances have changed. Right now, we’re supposed to build friendly relations
between humans and apostles. If we kill a general, that’ll only create animosity, wouldn’t
it?”

“That’s why you’re holding back?!”

“Yeah. I could probably beat him in one blow…”

“So this is happening because Shakuhou is weak?!”

“He seems to be trying his best too.”

“Ooh ooh ah ah! Why are you underestimating me?! I don’t want to hear any of that from
you!”

Shakuhou went into a blind rage, swinging his magic staff with reckless abandon…all while
on the verge of tears.

However, he couldn’t touch Ryuuga. She quickly dodged all of the lightning quick attacks.
All while she was holding a conversation with Mion.

“Then just push him off the bridge!”

“Oh, right.”
“Ooh ooh ah ah! Pay attention to me!”

“There’s only water below, so he won’t die! It’ll take a few hours before he can get back up!”

“Let’s go with that. We only have thirty minutes to act, anyways. We can’t waste much
time.”

“Ooh ooh ah ah! I’m begging you! Pay attention to me!”

“By the way, how much time do we have left?”

“Err…give me a moment.”

“Ooh ooh ah ah! Don’t take out your deviceeee! Stop checking the time!’

“Oh, Hinomori. You have a grain of rice near your mouth.”

“R…Really? Ugh.”

“Ooh ooh ah ah! Don’t take a hand mirror! Stop tidying your hair in-”

The mandrill apostle seemed so pitiful.

Ryuuga sent a kick that moved even faster than he could swing his staff.

“Gah!”

Receiving a blow to his stomach, the mandrill apostle flew away. He was fervently doing a
breaststroke, but he was still suspended in mid-air, past the handrails of the bridge. It was
only a matter of time before he would fall into the moat.

“Ooh ooh ah ah! You’ll regret this, Hinomori! I’ll definitely kill you one day! And Mion! Please
go out with-”

“No.”

Shakuhou plummeted without hearing the cold heron apostle’s response. Hearing the
sound of a splash, it seemed that he safely landed into the water.

It happened in a somewhat comedic way, but with this, the enemy general is no longer a
threat.

Now the apostles have no choice but to retreat. Thinking that they would soon flee…I
decided that it was finally time to appear from the stone pillar.

“──My, that was quite the spectacle, Hinomori Ryuuga. Quite nice for a supporting role
character.”
The sound of clapping accompanied a child-like, high-pitched voice.

It was I voice I knew very well. There’s no mistaking it. That irritating, condescending voice.

…Before I knew it, the crowd of apostles moved aside to clear a path on the bridge.

Some of the apostles quickly carried up their teammates who were lying on the ground.
They stepped away to avoid obstructing their ruler.

Paying only a passing glance towards them, he calmly walked forward. His pure white hair
fluttered, his nine tails swayed, and his beast-like feet moved smoothly.

(This was only supposed to be a warm-up fight scene…why can’t that guy ever read the
mood…?)

Before long, the “Evil Spirit” arrived in front of Ryuuga and took a look at this surroundings.
His fox mask was decorated with patterns on the forehead and cheeks.

“Oh, Shizuma isn’t present? I was here for him.”

Needless to say, it was Qiongqi.

The final “Evil Spirit” that Hinomori Ryuuga needed to defeat. The final boss of the series.

I watched as Qiongqi suddenly appeared and then charged outside.

Its appearance at this moment was not one to leisurely marvel at.
Although this wasn’t my original intention, it seems I am the only one who can deal with this
situation here.

It’s still too early to start the Final Battle, and I haven’t yet completed all the thorough
preparations I need!

Ryuga and Qiongqi locked eyes, both exuding a dangerous aura.

“Haha, nice to meet you, Hinomori Ryuga. I am Qiongqi, the strongest of the Evil Spirits.”

“So, you’re Qiongqi...”

“This won’t do. Right now, you’re not an important character in the story I’ve set up. I hope
you don’t jump out too quickly and ruin the development, okay? Can a crazy girl like you
even get married?”

“You’ve heard things about me just like I’ve heard about you. You’re quite the talkative Evil
Spirit, aren’t you? I hope you don’t underestimate this generation’s Hinomori — Divine
Might, unleash!”
Accompanying a loud understanding shout, Ryuga’s entire body emitted golden spiritual
energy.

Although previously, a 2-meter Yellow Dragon could appear above her head, today was
different. The spiritual energy gathered at her hands, turning into solid golden gauntlets.

“That’s the technique Kurogame uses with the Black Turtle... She’s mastered it already!”

This was established long ago, and perhaps people have forgotten, but Ryuga is an all-
around psychic.

She can use healing powers like Yukimiya, unleash vacuum waves like Aogasaki, and even
manipulate flames like Elmira. These abilities don’t manifest often, since her own family
powers require a different focus.

(And, unlike back with Shakuhou, Ryuga is now full of energy. Stop going off-script! Not a
single heroine of The Heavenly Gods is here! None of them have appeared yet!)

I dashed to Ryuga’s side, immediately starting to berate the fox in front of me.

“Hey! It’s not your turn to take the stage yet! Can a last boss like you take a backseat for a
moment?”

“Oh, Kobayashi, you’re here. How’s your spirit holding up?”

“Still pretending to be clueless, huh! What I said is that I’m not using you for this scenario!
Also, I never thought you’d dare to bully our little one—”

I stopped mid-sentence, cutting off abruptly.

I didn’t bite my tongue or anything; it was because—a man was approaching from the bridge
behind me.

He wore a pure white priest’s robe, with fingerless gloves on his left hand. A few days ago,
he was still my classmate, but he definitely shouldn’t be showing up here now.

“Ah…Agito!?”

“Tenryouin!?”

Ryuga and I both exclaimed in surprise.

It was none other than Tenryouin Agito himself, who had countless times harassed Qiongqi,
the Evil Spirit.

“Long time no see, Hinomori. I left Omei High School to make sure you were utterly
heartbroken. You must have spent your nights crying into your pillow, imagining me and
doing naughty things while helplessly moaning in ecstasy.”
His words were outright harassment, making it impossible for us to respond with anything
coherent.

But that’s not the real issue right now. Why is Agito in another world?

Qiongqi doesn’t have the ability to open a portal between worlds like Hundun does, so it’s
probably related to teleportation.

However, teleportation should only work for the Evil Spirits themselves; it can’t bring others
along. That much I know clearly.

“Agito, why are you in this other world... What in the world is going on...?”

Hearing my nearly hoarse voice, Agito glanced at me for the first time.

His eyes, as always, were like icy blades, full of hostility.

“That’s a stupid question, Kobayashi. There’s only one way for someone outside the Evil
Spirits to move freely between the human world and the otherworld...”

Next, the Evil Spirit smiled slyly and extended his hand.

“The truth is, we found it today, the new ‘Crevasse’.”

“Crevasse...?”

Mion gasped.

A crevasse—originally referring to a crack in the ice of a snowy plain or glacier.

However, I immediately understood the “Crevasse” they were talking about.

“A tear in time-space...!”

It occurs only under rare circumstances for specific reasons, acting as an unregulated
gateway connecting the human world and the otherworld. Unlike Hundun’s controlled
gates, it’s an unpredictable opening.

Many monsters have tried to use the crevasse to enter the human world, which also marks
the official beginning of the “Hinomori Ryuga’s Battle Story.”

By the way, the crevasse was previously sealed completely by Kurogame. As the heir to the
power of the Black Turtle, she is also the “Guardian of the Diamond Wall.”

“How... How did such a thing happen at this exact moment...”

“It should be said that we were actively searching for it. Crevasses often appear in
conjunction with the resurrection of a Evil Spirit, so now that all of the ‘Evil Spirits’ have
awakened, the chances of finding an undiscovered crevasse are quite high—at least, that’s
what Agito said.”

It made sense, in a way. Now, he could move freely between worlds without restriction, and
he could even bring Agito along. Of course, the location of the crevasse is a closely guarded
secret.

This is the worst possible news I’ve heard since we entered the final chapter.

Our advantage of being able to form a team in this otherworld has just vanished into thin
air.

(No, it’s not just that we’ve lost our advantage. We are now in a severely dire situation.)

Hundun’s gate only lasts 3 hours, and once the time limit is up, we’ll be forced to stay here
for two days.

But Qiongqi and Agito have no such limitation. They can use the crevasse to move back and
forth freely, staying in the otherworld as long as they want, and even dragging us back to the
human world whenever they choose.

(To be honest, this foreshadowing was already laid down. Mion mentioned something
during the earlier skirmish on the bridge...)

—”Ugh! Someone fell into the moat around the castle!”

—”It doesn’t matter, that’s Captain Zamosu! His presence there is expected...”

Zamosu the flag bearer... Isn’t he one of Agito’s inn workers? Didn’t he kick me out of the
inn just a few days ago?

(I should have thought more about why that guy is in the otherworld...I shouldn’t have
assumed it was just a coincidence...)

As a result, I was caught off guard by the two of them. You’d think I’d have learned
something by now after all the times they’ve duped me!

I felt a deep sense of regret and sorrow. At this point, Mion yelled down from the bridge,
directing the group.

“You guys! If you speak there, you’ll become bait! Qiongqi will combine the soul-turned
apostles his creature, Shiyuu——!”

However, Qiongqi smiled bitterly without any concern.

“Ahaha, of course, the truth will come out. Mion is quite the accomplished supervisor of
lost souls, yet up until now, not a single person has died... Such splendid pride.”

“Lord Qiongqi, I will no longer be loyal to you. You who play with the apostle’s soul do not
have the qualifications to be a king. Everyone here, too, knows Master Qiongqi’s evil
deeds—”

“As for that incident, I no longer need to gather cursed bait. I’ve reformed myself into a new
person and intend to be more appreciative of our forces.”

Mion looked stern as she rattled off the nonsense, but Qiongqi gasped in surprise.

“In the end, I think I only need souls at the level of generals. You, the three princesses,
Shima, the rebellious officer, and Shizuma. And there are still two others from the ‘Eight
Masters’ whose whereabouts are unknown: Sahui and Bamin. With these, we should have
enough.”

Sahui and Bamin... Aren’t those two also subordinates of Qiongqi?

They haven’t even made their appearances yet in the final chapter. You guys are too
confident about your victory. Sorry, but the remaining ‘Eight Masters’ aren’t exactly as
highly anticipated as you’d expect.

However, the only person to truly benefit was the one directly under her command, while
other members of the family had already been deceived by Qiongqi’s sweet words.

“Kobayashi, after this, things might not be easy for you, huh? Losing a castle like this is like
giving up the Soul Dreaming World, and that would give me a huge strategic advantage. But
if you focus only on this world, the human realm will be left defenseless. No matter how you
look at it, it’s a completely passive situation.”

Though I was completely unwilling, what it said was true.

The boundary between the other world and the human realm couldn’t be neglected for even
a moment. We weren’t only facing Qiongqi and Agito, but also someone with the strength
to match the Evil Spirit, Shiyuu.

“I’ve said it before, haven’t I? I——will become the Last Boss far beyond what you expect,”
Qiongqi said, turning around.

Waving goodbye to us, it retreated to the large bridge, giving an order to its lined-up soldiers:
“For now, we’ll retreat.”

“I’ll see you later, Kobayashi. Let’s make this final battle a lively one.”

“Qiongqi, stop right there! You need to properly greet the main character!”

“I just did that.”

“Not me! Ryuga!”

“To me, you’re the main character.”

Qiongqi left, giving me a heavy, lingering glance as it disappeared from sight.

At the same time, Agito also turned to leave, giving Ryuga a parting remark.

“Well then, see you later, Hinomori. Shouldn’t you take off those armored gauntlets? You’re
much better suited for a cat-eared maid outfit.”

“I’m a man! Fight me, Tenryouin!”

“I refuse. Fighting you would make Fukushi sad.”

“Who the hell is that?”

“Our future children.”

“Shut, shut up! Stop talking! Come back here! I’m going to beat you!”

Ryuga, in a rage, charged toward Agito, but Mion and I frantically held him back. Meanwhile,
the enemy army retreated far into the distance.

(What a mess. Right now, we need to come up with a strategy quickly and get the main
character back in action...!)

While I was still gathering my thoughts, I suddenly heard a loud, pitiful scream.

“Ahhhhhh—! Help me! I don’t know how to swim!”

It sounded like a monkey’s wailing, though it could have been just my imagination.

Thirty minutes passed without us realizing it, and we had no choice but to return to the
Hinomori residence.

We explained the situation to the trio of commanding officers and Jyuri, who managed to
repel the enemy through the back door, asking them to stay temporarily in Hell Castle to
serve as backup defense. We also requested Taotie to remain close by as an extra
precaution.

Upon returning, we found that only an hour had passed in the human realm.

“Qiongqi should be in the castle with Tie. When the time comes to assault the castle, we’ll
need to be very careful. But, knowing Qiongqi, it’s unlikely they’ll recklessly sacrifice their
subordinates.”
In haste, we convened an emergency strategy meeting with the main cast of “The Heavenly
Gods” at the Hinomori residence.
Before long, everyone had gathered in the guest room.

Present were the main members: Ryuga, Yukimiya, Aogasaki, Elmira, and Kurogame.

Additionally, the supporting members: Hundun, Mion, Kiki, and Shizuma.

Then there were Kyouka and me, who handled support and strategy coordination—a total
of 11 people ready to discuss.

“...The situation really is quite troublesome,” Aogasaki said, frowning as she crossed her
arms.

“We can’t let the Soul Dreaming World be taken. We need to defend the Hell Castle. But if
we send too many people there, the human realm will be left vulnerable.”

Elmira, absentmindedly playing with her pink hair, laid out the situation.

“At this point, the Evil Spirit is already causing us enough headaches, and with Shiyuu acting
separately from Qiongqi... not to mention Tenryouin. The enemy has plenty of flexibility in
their personnel choices.”

Yukimiya sighed in confusion, but her expression soon changed.

“On top of that, Shiori and I still haven’t managed to rescue Renie yet, and it feels like I’m
dealing with a never-ending headache, like a farmer under the scorching sun every day...”

Tao appeared only to say that, then quickly withdrew. So she was here, too. I guess that
brought us to a total of twelve.

After that, Aogasaki exchanged glances with the silver-haired girl across from her.

“Speaking of which, Mion, why is it only you who’s been eating sushi since earlier?”

“That’s my reward for seriously guarding the castle. You guys don’t need to worry about it.
Keep the discussion going. Kyouka, can you get me some more tea?”

“Y-Yes, right away.”

Mion, while enjoying her high-quality sushi, asked the younger sister’s protagonist to pour
her some tea.

Not wanting to burden the cute Kyouka, Hundun began preparing the tea himself. As
expected, even the Evil Spirit was at our service.

“Everyone, please leave the defense of Hell Castle to me and Shizuma. I’ll handle any
issues related to the other world,” I announced confidently.
“Shizuma, things have changed. Shouldn’t the one responsible for the other world be Kiki?
After all, managing the other realm is the job of the ‘Three Abyssal Princesses’.”

Kiki stroked Shizuma’s head, agreeing with this notion. Today, she was unusually playing
the role of a big sister.

By the way, Kurogame remained silent throughout, her mind seemingly elsewhere as she
swayed side to side. Perhaps I shouldn’t have called her here at all.

After hearing everyone’s opinions, Ryuga spoke up, clearly laying out her perspective.

“Basically, the most pressing task for us now is to seal the crack that Qiongqi found. As long
as that crack remains, we’ll be in a passive position.”

She was right. That was Ryuga for you, always pointing us in the right direction.

The root of all our troubles was the existence of that crack. If we could seal it, Qiongqi would
only be able to travel between the worlds for 4 hours at a time, and only stay for 10 minutes.

Without the ability to freely move between realms, their strategies would be severely
limited, and we could regain control over the situation with Hundun’s portal.

After the discussion, everyone stood up. Now the whole group was determined.

(I feel that moving forward, in terms of direction, there are no issues.)

First, about the “crack search,” prioritizing this and spreading out the search net as widely
as possible is something I have no objections to.

On this foundation, I must present my personal views on how to arrange the team members
most effectively.

As a supporting character, as a scriptwriter, and as a father... I base these on the positions

of these three roles.

“——Until you all find the new crack, Hell Castle will be left to me and Shizuma to look
after.”

I gave firm and decisive words, which left all the staff in silence.

“Wait, wait a second, Ichirou, isn’t this a bit too reckless...”

“Ryuga, as you said before, we must quickly find the crack. Therefore, this allocation of
tasks is the only solution.”

Elmira, taking the reins, stared at me with a serious expression.

“It’s clear you just want to take Shizuma to Hell Castle, but what are you thinking!? This kid
could become a target of Qiongqi! Are you even acting like his father!?”

“Isn’t it the same over here? Whether it’s the otherworld or the human world, both are
dangerous. So, if I guard the castle and protect Shizuma at the same time, that’s all that
matters. I’ll take responsibility for “protecting”, and you all are responsible for “finding”.
These roles are clearly defined.”

I slammed the table as I firmly asserted my stance. At this moment, Aogasaki’s face showed
signs of hesitation.

“But, Kobayashi, isn’t this strategy a bit too reckless? Ryuga, the Dragon King, and the Three
Abyssal Princesses all going to search for the crack... If the castle is attacked, how will you
handle it?”

“It’s fine. Hundun and Tie will naturally stay with me. If they can’t find the crack they’ll
become useless, so I’ll use them to watch over the castle.”

The Kobayashi father and son, along with two of the Evil Spirits... I feel that’s sufficient
combat power.

Moreover, this plan has three major advantages for me.

——First, the benefit as a supporting character.

If all the main characters are in the human world searching for the crack... There’s no doubt
that the human world becomes the “main stage of the story,” while the otherworld
becomes the backstage.

In other words, Kobayashi Ichirou can officially quit the main stage for a while, and maybe,
in the long run, can even withdraw completely.

——Second, the benefit as a scriptwriter.

If Ryuga and the Three Abyssal Princesses manage to work together...their bond may be
worsened, and various group dynamics and combinations may occur.

I hope that during your search, you’ll have some conflicts that worsen relationships, and
maybe even a mix of calm moments like soup simmering or confrontations that light a fire
like in a forest explosion.

——Third, the benefit as a father.

Now that Ryuga and the others are on the frontline of the main quest, I want to enjoy some
good quality time with Shizuma in the otherworld. Up until now, we haven’t had a chance to
bond properly, so I want to make up for it now.
Once I’m familiar with the layout of the castle, I’ll send the team leaders to the human world
as well. The more people searching, the higher the chance of finding the crack.

(That way, Shizuma’s “desire to visit the otherworld” can also be fulfilled. The only issue is
with his schooling, but I’ll figure that out later.)

But that’s a small matter, even if I get a detention back at the School, it’s fine. I’ll figure it
out when I get back from the otherworld.

How about that? This plan is perfect. Even if I slip up for a moment, I can still get back on
track... This is Kobayashi Ichirou’s comeback from a dead-end crisis!

“Ichirou, is this really going to be okay? What does Shizuma think?”

Shizuma nodded without hesitation.

“I don’t have any objections to father’s decision. Once the crack is discovered, we can
adjust personnel as needed... I think this is the best strategy for now.”

Way to go, Shizuma! We’re going to have a great time in the otherworld!

“Tao, do you have any opinions?”

Yukimiya murmured for a bit, but Tao quickly spoke up. The Rustic Evil Spirit also kept
nodding in agreement with my suggestion.

“It’s totally fine! If Qiongqi shows up in the human world, I’ll crush him! I’ll stuff pumpkins
down his throat and take back Renie!”

Although I appreciate your passion, please leave the Qiongqi fight to the main characters.
If Tao can fight Shiyuu instead, I’ll feel even more reassured.

Although I’ll miss out on the final battle... this development is something I wholeheartedly
welcome.

After all, as a supporting character, I don’t need to be involved in the Final Battle in any way.

“I understand, Ichirou. We’ll find that crack as quickly as possible. In the meantime, please
take care of the otherworld. Everyone, let’s give it our all together! For Ichirou!”

Ryuga raised her hand high, and everyone else raised their fists and shouted, “Yeah —!”
Then, they began quickly discussing how to divide the teams. I hope they’ll try out some
fresh new combinations.

(Qiongqi, this time it’s my turn to outsmart you. The main character Kobayashi Ichirou won’t
be involved in the Final Battle... instead, I’ll be happily living a leisurely life in the
otherworld!)
...But, a few days later, I regretted it.

Disappearing from the main stage of the story——what does that really mean? I now
understand it down to my very core.

Yet, at that moment, I didn’t know.

(Where did I put my travel bag? And why don’t I have even 300 yen to spare? I’m still wearing
that Hawaii t-shirt I bought ages ago.)

Back then, I was completely in a vacation mindset.

I even considered bringing a swimsuit and swim trunks.

A few days later, we were called to an emergency meeting.

I was busy preparing for the trip and headed to the otherworld with Shizuma. I was so
excited the night before that I couldn’t sleep.

“Come on, kid. Ready to go?”

Hundun barged into my living room and swiftly made his way over. He seemed somewhat
disappointed that Kyouka hadn’t seen him off.

There was no helping it. If I called Kyouka, I’d have to call Ryuga too, and the secret of living
with the “Three Abyssal Princesses” would be exposed. It would ruin the fun.

Ryuga’s group had already started searching for the crack since yesterday.

They requested a leave of absence from school and were using all their time searching
within the castle. They were still working hard, so Elmira reluctantly came to see Shizuma
off.

“Ichirou, do your best. The crack search and household matters are in my hands.”

“Shizuma, if you’re in danger, don’t force yourself. If necessary, use Tie as a shield.”

So, only Mion and Kiki came to see us off. They would join the search team later.

(I do feel a little guilty. While everyone is working hard, we’re just relaxing here.)

Oh well, I have the mission to protect the Hell Castle... I kept reminding myself.

“Haa, there’s nothing better than being home.”

Jyuri stepped out from the doorway, stretching her arms with a satisfied expression.
We had already explained the meeting details to the eldest daughter of the snake family, as
Hundun had moved countless times in the past two days.

“You’ve worked hard, Jyuri. Although I feel a bit guilty, could you help with the crack
search?”

“Understood. Ichirou, please take care of the castle’s defense. Feel free to give orders to
Gaigo and the others.”

“Sorry, sister Jyuri. This was all because of my whims…”

The busty older sister gave a gentle apology to Shizuma, raising one finger.

“No need to worry, Shizuma. For my adorable little brother, I’ll lend a hand—both hands if
needed. If it comes down to it, I’ll even dip my hands into your pants...”

The eldest daughter made this declaration as she began undressing, but Shizuma and I
quickly stopped her.

“Jyuri, you just mentioned about dipping, and it reminded me...has there been no
movement from Shakuhou?”

“He has appeared at the critical moment to strike the main gate. He brought an insufficient
army, so I believe his goal is reconnaissance. Shakuhou fell into the river trying to attack the
castle. As for the rest, I’d said that his plan failed.”

So, he fell into the river? Poor monkey, he clearly doesn’t know how to swim.

“Alright, it’s almost time to go, Shizuma.”

“Yeah, father.”

While I listened to the “Three Princesses” voicing their support, I carried my round travel
bag and stepped through the gate into the otherworld.

“Ichirou, I wish you good fortune and luck. There’s no signal on the other side, so please be
extra careful.”

“Shizuma, you can return at any time. You’re the only one who can help with household
chores.”

“Baron Ichirou, looking forward to local specialties from over there!”

After the “Three Stars” said goodbye, they immediately left the guest room to join the search
for the crack.

(What local specialties? I have no idea what’s unique to the otherworld. Also, I haven’t even
made it to Hell Castle... Besides, isn’t this world supposed to be terrifying?)
I listened to these random conversations and took a moment to look around and confirm
where I was.

——This room was lit by countless candles lined up in rows.

Whether ahead or to the sides, there were flickering, ghostly pale flames. The sizes of the
flames varied, and each candle had a name inscribed on it.

“This place is...”

“This is the Konminden. Lord Hundun opened the door to the underground castle.”

Shizuma, looking bewildered, began to explain to me.

So that’s how it is. This is the legendary Soul Slumber Hall, where after turning into a relic,
souls enter to rest, awaiting resurrection.

The room was about the size of a basketball court, with shelves along each wall, stacked
ten levels high, each holding numerous candles. Right now, this place held an enormous
number of flames. It’s said that there are currently three souls in slumber here.

“These... candles represent souls. The larger the flame, the closer the time to resurrection.
Even if blown on, they won’t go out. Don’t worry.”

“Yep... Alright, Shizuma, is Reida’s soul also here?”

“This is only the second time I’ve been here. I’ve checked about half of the candles... I
haven’t seen mommy’s name.”

Here, the mention of “mommy” didn’t refer to Elmira, but rather to the relic known as Reida.

She was Shizuma’s biological mother, and she was wiped out by her kin for wanting to live
alongside humans.

(So, Reida’s soul should be slumbering here in the Soul Slumber Hall... or maybe she was
taken by Qiongqi?)

That Evil Spirit could use his gourd to store relic souls. If Reida’s soul is in his hands... it’s
possible she’s being held as a hostage.

“Alright, Shizuma, let’s investigate all the remaining candles in this castle. I’ll help as well.”

“No need. I hope to search for mommy’s soul once the entire otherworld is reorganized.
This is my personal matter...”

“Don’t be so distant. Mion also said it, right? You’re still a kid, it’s okay to rely on your family.
Especially me.”
I forced Shizuma to nod before temporarily leaving the Soul Slumber Hall. Regardless, I
need to first gather Hundun, Taotie, and the team leader.

As I pulled open the front door of the Soul Slumber Hall, I noticed a flyer taped to the wall
across from me.

At first, I thought it was some sort of symbol, but upon closer inspection, it was scribbled
with phrases like “Congratulations on your resurrection!” “Don’t lose next time,” “Think
carefully about why,” “Brush your teeth and try again.”

That last one was definitely written by Kiki.

“Oh, long time no see.”

Shizuma and I, at this moment, encountered our family’s Evil Spirit.

Although they were here, they greeted me with confused “Ah-re?” sounds.

...Right there stood a tall, muscular young man with a single horn growing from his head,
bat-like wings, and a dark aura.

Hundun and Taotie had both entered combat mode, and what I normally saw as middle-
aged ojisans had transformed into completely different beings.

“Why have both of you changed into battle forms?”

“Kid, battle form is our original appearance as Evil Spirit. What you usually see is due to the
effects of ‘suppression’ ——”

“Well, I actually prefer this form now. Since we’re in the otherworld, changing back to our
original forms isn’t a bad idea, right? That’s how I feel.”

“Don’t just take my words lightly! This guy isn’t an Evil Spirit anymore, he’s a lackey!”

“Who are you calling a lackey! You’re the lackey here!”

“You bastard! I’m more useful than you!”

Hundun and Taotie continued bickering. It seems that even though their appearances had
changed, their usual behavior remained the same.

Shizuma began skillfully stepping in to stop the Evil Spirits from starting an argument. At his
age, he had learned to respond with a sarcastic smile.

“Tell me, tell me, Lord Hundun, right now, your form looks different from how I saw it
before…Can you change your body size?”
“That’s right. Isn’t it inconvenient to have such a big body? This is the smallest form.”

Even so, he stood at two meters tall, like an ordinary demon, his robust body turning
towards the throne. Taotie, looking at Hundun sitting on the throne, could not contain his
anger.

“Hey Hundun! Don’t sit on my throne without permission!”

“Haa? This is the great lord’s throne, so it’s mine!”

“It’s mine! I’ve always been the one sitting here! Right now, I’m the one sitting!”

“This great lord is also sitting here.”

The two started to argue, their voices growing louder. That said, it seemed like only those
with the title of Evil Spirit had the right to sit on that golden throne. The presence of several
kings once again brought tension into the room.

“Listen, both of you are Evil Spirit, so don’t start making noise over trivial things. By the way,
where are the three captains of the team?”

“They are taking turns guarding the corners. One at the front gate, another on the left, and
the last one is taking this time to sleep… Hundun, enough already! You have enough
cushions!”

It seems that the three captains of the team are still fulfilling their duties with utmost
dedication.

However, if this continues, they’ll be exhausted. It would be better to rearrange the watch
shifts and come up with a new system.

Of course, Hundun and Taotie should also be included in this plan.

While I was thinking about this, Taotie suddenly grabbed the chair again. I saw him
forcefully push his butt onto the throne, his wings flapping with a dull thud as Hundun
glared at him with a dark expression.

“Enough, Hundun! If that’s how you want it, as an Evil Spirit, let’s measure our strength to
decide the winner!”

“Interesting. No matter how we compete, this great lord will always be the victor.”

“Shizuma! Please start singing “Oklahoma Mixer”! You can even whistle if you want!”

[ Note: Famous music to play when playing musical chairs. Not sure if this is usually played
in this context, but at least that’s what I understand in this translation. ]
The zebra apostle heard Taotie’s sudden order, saying “Eh…EH?” looking quite awkward.
This was understandable; I felt quite confused too.

“Oklahoma Mixer, really…?”

“You sing, and look for the right moment to stop, so we sit in the throne!”

“Y-Yes. As you wish.”

Shizuma sincerely hummed a tune, while Hundun and Taotie began to circle around the
throne to the gentle rhythm.

I thought it was something more serious; this was just a game of “Musical Chairs.”

“Hey, there’s the Evil Spirit who is determined to win! At least let’s return to normal mode!
You’re looking utterly ridiculous right now!”

We were currently surrounded by the chaotic outer world, slightly overwhelmed by some
sort of demons. If the three captains were to return, they might not be happy about the
situation being turned upside down.

In the end, I, Kobayashi Ichirou, was who triumphed in the last game of musical chairs.

In summary, I still needed to call on the three captains. Since we needed to keep watch over
the castle for a few days from now on, I at least wanted to greet them properly.

“It’s okay, Commander. I heard you were looking for me?”

“Sorry for making you wait, Lord Kobayashi, Gaigo has come to pay his respects.”

“Lord daddy, what’s the matter~?”

Rushing over to Zelva, Gaigo and Yagujya suddenly formed a line under the throne, bowing
deeply.

Their faces were filled with confusion: “Why is this person sitting on the throne while the
Evil Spirits are over there on the cushion?”

“Gentlemen, I apologize for interrupting your duties. However, I heard there will be an
attack this afternoon; Commander Shakuhou is entering the river. So, I took the opportunity
to greet you before the enemy can make their move.”

“Indeed, it’s true; the situation is currently chaotic. They probably didn’t expect Shakuhou
to fall into the river in the first three minutes, right?”

“I threw down a pair of underwears from the bridge, and after seeing that, Shakuhou
immediately wanted to dive in.”
“However, it was just a handkerchief~ Lady Jyuri clothes are sacred after all~”

What kind of war is this that a pair of underwear seems so significant?

“Really? Never mind… You should know, but starting today, I’ll be under your care as well.
I hope to receive your guidance.”

I bowed deeply, and the three captains responded in unison “Yes.”

Although the three of them had different military backgrounds, the way we communicated
didn’t seem too awkward at the moment. They truly were impressive and reliable, being
better than their generals.

“Although it’s a commander’s order, having me as your underling is too much…”

The hedgehog-headed commander murmured, taking in the heavy gaze of the infantryman.

“Zelva, if you have any complaints about Lord Kobayashi, you can follow the enemy right
now. After all, we don’t need any troublemakers.”

“Huh? What are you talking about, masochistic giraffe? A troublemaker is clearly just
someone cumbersome and slow like you.”

The heavy makeup commander looked at the two of them, who were tense, and shrugged.

“Ara~ you two are really rude. Lady Mion and Lady Jyuri don’t take care of the captain’s
education problems either~”

“Damn annoying insect. I don’t want to hear that from the guy who just lurk in the shadows,
ignoring other troops’ affairs.”

“In the end, Lady Kiki’s army isn’t the best, after all! There are countless frictions in the
name of exercise! My colleagues and I are terrified of him!”

“You, you stay out of this! Our army’s motto is ‘Get along with everyone’! How dare you
insult Lady Kiki; I’ll need to use a poison needle to roll you up!”

The opening remarks fell silent, and the tension still hadn’t dissipated. Just a while ago, the
Evil Spirit was also like this; my side seemed to have everyone arguing, and it made me
deeply sad.

At that moment, Shizuma stepped forward to begin criticizing.

“Zelva, Gaigo, Yagujya, I said no arguing. This is currently father, the commander.”
The three captains immediately responded to Shizuma’s loud command, hastily replying,
“Understood,” with an impressive sense of unity.

(It seems that, previously in the other world, all three of them were Shizuma’s subordinates.
As expected of my child, he is managing these captains flawlessly.)

However, Shizuma, could you please stop referring to me as the Commander-in-Chief?

Your papa isn’t that kind of person; I’m just a friend to these people.

“...Commander, can I ask you a personal question?”

Just as Shizuma successfully stopped the three captains from quarreling, Zelva, the falcon-
headed warrior, suddenly looked at me sitting on the throne and posed a question.

“What is it, Zelva? Feel free to ask whatever’s on your mind.”

“You—what is your relationship with Lady Mion?”

He got straight to the point.

The giraffe-headed and bee-headed captains also chimed in, saying, “What’s your
relationship with our queen Jyuri?” and “What’s your connection with Lady Kiki ~?”

It was only natural for them to be curious. Even though I’m the Evil Spirit, it’s strange that
I’m so close to the “Three Abyssal Princesses,” especially with a person like me, who
doesn’t seem to belong in such esteemed company...They must have constantly wondered
why I had such an intimate relationship with someone like that.

Even though it wasn’t as serious as they might think, they were, after all, the “Three
Generals” who served at her side. They held deep respect and admiration for each of their
superiors. Because of that, I had to give a serious answer, not some careless remark.

“No. No, it’s nothing unusual at all! I mean, we just spent time together, and we might be a
little close due to that... But yes, if you must say something, we’re comrades, and fellow
soldiers—”

Before I could finish, the Evil Spirits interrupted me, covering my mouth.

“Mion often uses his lap as a pillow to clean out his ears.”

“What!?” Zelva’s expression was filled with intense inner turmoil.

“And there were countless times when Jyuri ambushed him at night.”

“Oh my God!?” Gaigo’s eyes bulged in shock, his face turning pale.
“Kiki even said that you and she bathed together, didn’t she?”

“EEHH!” Yagujya leaned back, covering his face with both hands in a dramatic gesture.

Ma God! Stop blurting out such outrageous truths! This is seriously annoying!

The room, which had been filled with awkward silence during this “audience,” was
suddenly overwhelmed by a heavy and embarrassing atmosphere. Only Shizuma’s naive
and innocent voice could be heard, saying, “As expected, father is really amazing,” in
genuine admiration.

After about ten seconds, the three captains once again stood at attention, looking at me
with a serious and sincere expression.

At that moment, they bowed their heads deeply and, with genuine respect, said to me:

“Please forgive us for our blindness.”

Their voices were perfectly synchronized as they admitted their mistake, clearly moved and
impressed after hearing the undeniable truth.

Currently in the center of the Otherworld, within Hell Castle, the commanding officers
kneeling before a golden throne, while the two Evil Spirits stood on either side.

Ah, this is truly a fine side story.

If it were the main one, I’d have to commit seppuku right now, wouldn’t I?

At the same time, Hinomori Ryuga was diligently searching for any existence of a rift
somewhere in the town.

Today, her partner was none other than the Black Turtle’s heir, Kurogame Rina. She teamed
up with her to search in pairs, dividing them into four groups.

• The first group: Hinomori Ryuga & Kurogame Rina.

• The second group: Yukimiya Shiori & Mion.
• The third group: Aogasaki Rei & Kiki.
• The fourth group: Elmira McCartney & Jyuri.

This rare team composition had Ichirou feeling very eager.

He didn’t know why, but he found himself saying, “Please, try to organize something a little
more exciting! It’s for the audience’s entertainment, after all!” as he bowed in a dogeza.
He’s still as weird as ever.

(It’s been two days since I’ve seen Ichirou... I couldn’t get through to him via phone or
messages...)
Currently, all communication is conducted through the portal to Hundun. So even though I
can see him the day after tomorrow, I can’t help but feel a bit empty.

The roster for the Otherworld was rotating. For fairness, we choose two people at a time
and rotate through all the members.

(That means I won’t see Ichirou for a whole rotation... I’m about to develop “Ichirou
deficiency syndrome.”)

As I sighed internally, stretching my back, my childhood friend beside me did the same.

Having stayed up until 10 PM last night, Rina was starting to feel exhausted. Although she’s
a high school student who needs to sleep early, she’s not exactly an early riser either. I bet
even half-asleep, she could still beat the Shakuhou.

“My eyelids feel so heavy...”

“Come on, stay awake, ‘Crystal Wall Guardian’ lady. You’re the main character in this raid,
Rina.”

“Kyaa~ Oh, it’s so tough being the main character.”

This whimsical magic girl is a rather special existence among the Heavenly Gods.

No, I should say she’s one of the Heavenly Gods, the Black Turtle, akin to the White Tiger,
Blue Dragon, and Vermilion Bird.

This is because, unlike the other Heavenly Gods, the Black Turtle doesn’t have a fixed
inheriting family.

It’s not like the Yukimiya, Aogasaki, or McCartney families (formerly Akatori) that only pass
down the Guardian Beast within a single family. Instead, every hundred years or so, a new
family is chosen.

(That’s why finding a successor for the Black Turtle is such a difficult task during the current
war... I still can’t believe Rina of all people is the “Crystal Wall Guardian.”)

In other words, the fact that the Kurogame family now has the ability to inherit the Black
Turtle — that was purely a stroke of fate.

Even if the lineage makes sense in hindsight, it’s still hard to wrap my head around it.

“Rina, isn’t there a way for the Kurogame family to continue the Black Turtle legacy? Can’t
you ask Kameotto?”

By the way, “Kameotto” is Rina’s nickname for the Heavenly God. She calls the Black
Turtle’s snake tail “Hebisuke.”
“Who knows, I’ll ask next time. But hey, Ryu, where are you headed? We’re excusing
ourselves from school, right?”

“ Just to make sure, I think I’ll take a quick look at the abandoned factory. The demons show
up there often; don’t you think it’s kind of strange?”

“Now that you mention it... Yeah, that does seem odd! The rift must be somewhere around
there!”

I gave a wry smile at her innocent enthusiasm. Soon after, we arrived at the abandoned
factory.

Unfortunately, we couldn’t find any trace of the rift in that place.

(It’s not that simple to find, huh. In the end, whether a rift even exists in this district is just
speculation.)

At this rate, Ichirou’s time in the Otherworld will be indefinitely extended. For someone like
me, who likes to be spoiled, a long-distance relationship is terribly frustrating. My
resentment toward Qiongqi and Tenryouin grew even stronger.

“No helping it. Let’s go, Rina. We’ll switch up the routes and continue—”

As I spoke, I heard a faint sound behind us.

“!”

Rina heard it too. We both turned around and assumed a defensive stance, staring into the
darkness.

(Is that... cloth?)

In the stillness, there was a piece of cloth in a corner of the room.

It was a piece of canvas, likely used to cover up construction materials or weapons, thrown
carelessly in this place.

(It was almost too easy to miss. The sound definitely came from over there...)

I signaled to Rina with my eyes, and we both slowly crept toward the sound.

Even if it was just a homeless person sleeping outside, we had to warn them to be cautious,
as demons often lurked in these parts.

The abandoned factory, the riverside, and the cemetery... These are the three places I
consider to be the “Three Great Danger Zones of Omei Ward.” I should inform the local
police next time.
We carefully approached the canvas until we were about three meters away.

Suddenly, a figure moved under the cloth and spoke to us.

“...By any chance, are you Hinomori Ryuga?”

“Eh?”

I was startled by the sudden mention of my name.

The voice belonged to a young girl. And, strangely enough, I felt like I’d heard it before...

“Heh heh~ I thought it might be the cops, but turns out it’s just you. Sorry, I’m not in the
mood to fight right now. Besides, in this state, I wouldn’t be able to battle properly anyway.”

— And there, standing before us, was the General Apostle, Shima.

She used to be a subordinate of Qiongqi , and I’ve encountered her before at the bowling
alley. She’s also a member of the Tenryouin music ensemble, a huntress with the general’s
look.

“Huh? Didn’t you hear what Kobayashi and Yukimiya said? I’m the ‘Unparalleled
Huntress.’”

“… No, I’ve heard. After Qiongqi ‘s rebellion, I know you managed to survive Shiyuu’s
attacks as well.”

“Hehe~ That’s good to know. But first, could you give me something to eat? I’ve run out of
money (wallet empty), and I haven’t eaten for three days. I’m totally starving.”

This turn of events was certainly unexpected, almost like finding a crack in the narrative just
waiting to be revealed by the black gal (gyaru).

It seems this ruined workshop still had some value after all.

Unexpectedly bringing Shima under Ryuga’s protection, we decided to head to Rei’s house.

The nearest place happened to be her home, and after contacting her, we received a
convincing reply: “I’ll give my father a heads-up. You guys head to the dojo and wait for a
bit. I’ll be there shortly.”

Since Shima said, “I can’t move,” Rina and I took turns carrying her.

She was truly covered in injuries. I heard that a week ago, she and Jyuri fought Shiyuu and
were badly beaten. Saihiru and Renie also took heavy hits, and it’s a miracle she survived.

“Ara, sorry Hinomori Ryuga, I owe you one.”

Following behind Ryuga, the blonde-haired black gal (gyaru) was stuffing her face with rice
balls she bought from a convenience store and spoke words of gratitude between bites.

“Shima, you got beat up at that ruined workshop by Shiyuu, didn’t you? Even so, you still
kept that place as a hideout. Isn’t that a bit careless?”

“Hehe~ There’s a saying, ‘Under the cover of darkness.’ Qiongqi would never expect me to
return there.”

Facing her unclear mix of caution and recklessness, I sighed. Before we knew it, we’d
arrived at Aogasaki’s house.

The door was open, and we walked through the courtyard toward the dojo. After turning on
the light and taking a closer look, as expected, Shima’s uniform was torn to pieces.

“Uwa... This is terrible. Rei, give her some clothes, please.”

“Hinomori, don’t stare me like that. You look a little repulsive, looking at me with that
expressionless look.”

Hearing Shima’s teasing, I reluctantly averted my eyes. Of course, she still sees me as a
man.

“Don’t look at me like that. I’m a pure-hearted person. I’ve even thought about finding
someone to settle down with.”

“…you’re not talking about Ichirou, are you?”

As soon as she said that, I recalled seeing her being overly friendly with Ichirou at the
bowling alley. Though I had many opinions about that, I couldn’t react because I’m currently
seen as a guy.

Still, after eating her rice ball, the huntress shook her head as she moved on to a sandwich.

“Un~ Although I do like Kobayashi… I’ve found someone I like even more now. Someone
who’s my destiny.”

Rina’s eyes sparkled as she asked, “Eh? Who is it? Who?”

As expected, this little one is quite interested in romantic topics... Just as I was thinking this,

“—— Sorry for the wait, Ryuga. I’m back.”

“Third group reporting back.”

Rei appeared at the dojo door.

For some reason, she was carrying a small doll-like girl on her shoulders.
“…Rei, why are you carrying Kiki?”

“It’s because this impulsive huntress said it’s better to stay still to avoid detection from
afar.”

In other words, this is the position they’ve been searching in the whole time.

Rei often teaches sword techniques to elementary school students, and sometimes she
has a soft spot for kids. Plus, she has big breasts, which makes her quite maternal.

“More than that, Shima, keep talking. Who exactly is your destined person?”

“I’ve already heard enough from this conversation earlier. Come on, spill it already!”

Rei, with Kiki still riding on her shoulders, had four eyes gleaming with curiosity.

Although I felt there were still a lot of things that should be asked… Honestly, even I was
quite interested. Every girl loves this kind of topic.

“W-Why do you all care so much? Why do I have to tell you… this…”

Shima’s face flushed red as she fidgeted awkwardly. In contrast to her wild exterior, she
was incredibly naive on the inside.

Ryuga once told Ichirou, “You can’t judge a book by its cover. Many girls have unexpected
sides to them.”

Now that I think about it, those words seem perfectly tailored for someone like Shima.

“Shima, if you won’t say it, at least give me some money for the food. Shiori will be here
soon to treat you, and I think you should at least cover some of the cost.”
Shima sighed after hearing that and stopped struggling. She squeezed her legs and arms
even more tightly in embarrassment, and then, with a soft and weak voice, she spoke.

“...Tie..Lord Taotie...”

“Huh?”

“As I’m saying...it’s Lord Taotie. In my heart right now, there’s only that man.”

Did I hear that wrong?

Taotie, also known as Tie? No way, that’s impossible.

“In truth, in order to serve Lord Taotie, I’m currently looking for Kobayashi’s place. If I could
say it, more than just being his subordinate, I want to be his lover.”

Rei, Rina, and even Kiki were all shocked, their mouths half open, probably wearing the
same expression.

After a long period of silence, Ryuga’s group asked the same question at the same time.

“... Why?”

“Why? Isn’t it obvious? He’s super cool!”

“Who?”

“Lord Taotie, of course! He’s strong, unwavering, yet incredibly gentle. He even has a bit of
that mysterious demonic charm... I can only obey Lord Taotie! If that man desires, I’d be
willing to exist alongside humanity!”

“What a crazy thing to say...”

“I’m not joking! I’m serious! If anyone speaks badly of him, I won’t forgive them! You
absolutely must keep this a secret! And after that, I hope you can help me with setting up a
date with Lord Taotie——”

Afterwards, the tea party with the girls continued until Shiori and the others arrived.

The nightly training trip was really something like this... Hinomori Ryuga’s emotions secretly
surged within.
 3. Urashima Ichiro Discarded the World

I arrived in the other world and was greeted by my first morning.

Though I say that, this place has no sun, so there’s no way to distinguish between day and
night. The sky is always shrouded in darkness, with only a lone blood-red crescent moon
marking the passage of time.

(Though I have my phone and can check the time… somehow, time flows much faster here,
so it feels strangely off…)

At the same time, I’m incredibly bored.

Since I arrived here, our apostle’s army hasn’t made a single move, and Shizuma, who’s
usually eager to hang out, hasn’t come to visit either.

I was hoping to pass the time by reading some manga I brought with me, but——damn it…all
of it has been replaced with textbooks and reference books.

“To Ichirou. I’m confiscating your manga. Please focus on guarding the city seriously!
Spend your time studying more! —Mion”

Among the textbooks was a slip of paper, seemingly related to some white dove maiden’s
business.

How incredibly persistent that motherly figure is. Why did I ever agree to come here on this
academic leave! There’s no cell signal here, and no other “…” forms of entertainment!

(Even in the Spirit Realm, I checked everything once… only to come back completely empty-
handed.)

It’s a real shame that I wasn’t able to see the Reida Candle.

To make matters worse, her soul has been claimed by Qiongqi…I sat on the throne,
overwhelmed by melancholy.

“Fuu ~ how relaxing. Hey, why don’t you come bathe as well?”

Taotie appeared, rubbing his head with a towel, returning just as I was lost in thought. He
seemed to have just finished playing around in battle mode, and now returned to his usual
form like mine.

In the Hell Castle, bathing requires using the underground hot springs.

This other world doesn’t have distinct seasons. It’s warm during the day and a bit chilly at
night. That’s why taking a bath in the morning is ideal, as there’s no hot water available at
night, which can be uncomfortable.
“No, I think I’ll pass. I don’t want the hassle of heading all the way to the underground
springs.”

“Ehh— but it’s so relaxing,” said Taotie, while sitting down on the cushion to the right of the
throne. The cushion on the left was reserved for Hundun. These cushions had now become
the fixed seating spots for the “Evil Spirits”.

“By the way, I couldn’t sleep last night, so I went outside the castle, crossed the main
bridge, and wandered around the city.”

“Huh? The besieging army is still here?”

“Exactly. When they saw me, every single one of them knelt down and said, ‘Good work,
lord Taotie!’”

It seems, even the enemy can’t stand against an Evil Spirit.

Did they risk their life outside the castle to attack at that moment, while this guy was just
lying inside and reading manga? Moreover, he had even finished the latest chapter!

“Tie said inside the city, right? It must be the area around Hell Castle, right? Even though it
looks big, how large is it exactly?”

From the top of the castle, looking down, it was hard to get a clear view due to the black
mist.

I gazed out again, the area around the castle was crowded with buildings. The further away,
the more it turned into fields and grasslands, with the main roads inside connecting directly
to the main gate.

“The area is about the same as Omei district. You can walk to the outskirts in about an hour.
Since we have the chance, let’s take a quick tour of the princesses house.”

I heard that all the people from that group were assigned to relatively large houses.

Although the soldiers lived in small, single-story homes, those who became generals could
move into the more luxurious homes of the nobility. Social class differences exist even in
this other world.

“The only general who still lives in a single-story home on the outskirts is Mion. It’s
practically the countryside.”

“She’s frugal, huh... or maybe just poor.”

“Speaking of which, I once took some underwear from Mion’s place. She mentioned
wanting to prepare more things to help, and I am more than willing to help some fellow
apostles with whatever they need.”
“Give it back! If it gets out that you’re stealing her underwear, even if you’re an “Evil Spirit”,
you’ll be killed!”

“I also wanted to give one from Jyuri, but when I tried to find some more, there were none
left. Shakuhou looked so disappointed.”

“Why on earth are you encountering with the enemy!?”

I wondered why they were not making a move, and after half a day of thinking, it turned out
our commander had left his post...

“I casually asked him, ‘Isn’t Qiongqi targeting your soul?’ He replied, ‘Apparently, Lord
Qiongqi only needs to collect seven souls like mine, so I was spared. Lord Taotie, please
return to the city.’“

And this underwear thief is still acting so serious.

“Why don’t you go take a walk outside? Just pretend to be me, and you’ll have a smooth
time! Besides, since the army surrounding the city is rotating shifts, there are only about a
thousand soldiers. I don’t think we’d have much trouble attacking first.”

“No need. In a siege, defending has the advantage, so we don’t need to worry for now. Let’s
assess the situation before taking action.”

At exactly 7 PM that evening, Hundun opened the gate as usual.

His ability had a cooldown of two days, but this time it was synced with the boundary’s time.

Two days there equaled one day here, so he could open the gate every night. During that
time, the human world had to send two representatives to report the situation and deliver a
few necessary items.

Thanks to this, we didn’t have to worry about food, clothes, or even charging our phones.
Although they were only good for looking at manga.

“Haa, I finished reading the manga... I’m bored... What’s Ryuuga doing now?”

“She’s probably at school, or maybe she’s trying to find a gap in the timeline right now.”

I wondered what kind of combination would form; hopefully, something interesting and new
would come out of it.

I paid close attention to that. At a time like this, I should refrain from interfering with the
original story. Kobayashi Ichirou shouldn’t appear anytime soon.

(Come to think of it, the connection only happens every night at 7 PM... This situation is a
bit tricky. I also need to urgently establish an infrared line to avoid accidents.)
As I was contemplating the right timing, Tie was lying sprawled out on a red carpet, still
grumbling at me.

“By the way, I’ve been by your side for three days now, haven’t I? Isn’t it about time I returned
to the human world? Boss, can I go back tonight?”

I was about to refuse, but I hesitated.

(Wait a second, Tie could be used as an infrared signal...)

Taotie could transfer between the human world and this other world. If something urgent
happened over there, he could come back and inform me.

Of course, even if I received a message, I wouldn’t be able to rush over right away, and if
something happened on this side, I couldn’t inform Ryuga and the others.

But overall, it wasn’t a strong plan. Especially since I absolutely had to be alerted to any
“discovery of gaps.” Whatever happened here could only be endured for now.

“Tie, you probably expect me to agree, but... can you really do this? If you go to the human
world, you’ll be away from me for at least two days, won’t you?”

Unlike in this other world, Evil Spirits need a vessel to exist in the human world.

Although Tie could act away from his vessel, wouldn’t being away for so long be an issue?
Based on past experience, I estimated that he could only stay out for 3-4 hours tops, but...

“Moreover, in the human world, Evil Spirits spend more than half their day resting inside the
vessel, right? Doesn’t that mean the energy consumption is even less than a phone? Will
you really be fine staying away for two whole days without recharging?”

“In two days, I’ll figure something out... As long as I stay home and don’t move, I’ll be fine.
I’ve got games and the internet.”

“As a hikikomori?”

“If I go to the human world, it will benefit you too, big brother! I can grab Mion and bring back
manga and my PSP.”

“...”

“I can also bring this week’s issue of ‘Weekly Shonen Sunday.’”

“...Fine, I’ll allow it.”

Taotie was overjoyed, shouting “Understood!” and collapsed to the floor in excitement.

“By the way, do you have time now, boss?”

At that moment, the hawk Zelva came in. Squinting his eyes, he threw a suspicious glance
at Evil Spirit lying on the ground and handed me a letter.

“Un? What is this?”

“Earlier, while I was guarding the front gate and about to switch shifts with Yaguja, the
enemy sent this over. It’s written by Bakunel, one of the captains of Mion’s army.”

Apparently, he used to follow Shizuma but had now betrayed us to join Qiongqi’s forces.
The content of the letter... It was a straightforward surrender.

“I understand you’re loyal to Lady Mion, but perhaps peace with humans is not what you
hoped for. Zelva, now I recommend to go to capture Shizuma, tie him up, and then
surrender to Shakuhou.”

After I finished reading the letter, Taotie suddenly jumped up and grabbed the hawk soldier
by the throat.

“ Zelva! You bastard—! Are you betraying us!?”

“Ouch, ouch, ouch! Please calm down, Lord Taotie! I just delivered the message! I never
planned to make you read it!”

“You’ve been freely communicating with the enemy! What are you plotting—!?”

“Didn’t you go out of the city for a walk last night too!? Didn’t you come across any
enemies!?

“Evil Spirits” are free to do whatever they want aaahh—!”

I was extremely at a loss for words while single-handedly subduing the lowest-ranking
squad captain.

“Tie, stop. Zelva is one of Mion’s captain, right? If you keep, you’re going to lose your
allowance, you know?”

“Hugh, that would be bad too… Zelva—! You can’t tell Mion about this—!”

Ignoring the loud Tie, I decided to confirm a few benefits with Zelva just to be safe.

“I think he’s like this because the other party is Qiongqi… Zelva, you’ll stay with us, right?”

“I’ve already told him, ‘Stop making a fuss and waking up your little brother with
nonsense.’“

Zelva massaged his disheveled hedgehog-like hair, looking annoyed, and said to me:
“I’ve received a lot of care from our princess. If she decides to side with the other side, I will
too. Gaigo and Yaguja feel the same.”

The three commanders were truly reliable. Despite being in this situation, they didn’t go
with the flow and side with Qiongqi. Their loyalty is in no way inferior to that of Renie.

“Besides, I also have a great fondness for Shizuma. It’s embarrassing to admit, but I once
challenged that brat and aaahhhh—”

“Ouch, my hair, my hair—! I get it!—!”

Before the hawk master could finish his words, Taotie yanked his hair.

“AAAhhh—! I gave up, I ended up losing our—!”

Zelva, forced by Taotie, fainted, eyes rolling back. Don’t worry, I’ll be sure to tattle to Mion.

Afterward, I carried Zelva to a private room in the city to rest.

I told him that Taotie would return to the human world tonight, and he was relieved.

After all of this, it was already 7 p.m.

I, Taotie, Shizuma, and Zelva gathered for an audience, and during that time, Hundun
spoke, “So, how are things on the other side now? Didn’t we find the crack? It’s only been
four days since we started.”

For me, the thought of finding the crack was quite a headache.

Because this crack’s search was deeply connected to the interactions of the main
characters led by Ryuga.

I hoped the girls would deepen their relationships while showcasing to everyone the “rich
combination with musical accompaniment,” but for now, that wasn’t the case.

(What will be the first combination? Kurogame and Kiki’s ‘Noisy team up’ should be quite
interesting, right? Aogasaki and Jyuri’s ‘“Giant (Coup) Army Team”‘ doesn’t sound bad
either, right?)

I waited expectantly at the door.

Ryuga came flying out from the other side of the door, crashing into me as she hugged me
tightly.

“Ichirou! I really missed you! It’s been two whole days, and I’ve been so lonely~!”

The main character buried her head into my chest, shaking me gently. No, it hasn’t been
two days for me—it’s only been one. I don’t feel like it’s been that long either.
“Come on, pat my head! Hold me in your arms! Then give me a kiss~ on the cheek! We only
have 3 ‘hours’, so we need maximum efficiency for Lovey Dovey!”

“Ryuga, let go of me! I haven’t even showered yet!”

I finally managed to pry the clingy “Heir of the Golden Dragon” off of me.

“Ichirou, have you been studying well lately?”

Next came Mion, who was carrying what seemed to be bath supplies and some food.

...I see, so Ryuga and Mion have teamed up. I think it’s a pretty good match.

The White Heron Apostle, originally rivals with Aogasaki, was now working as a mediator for
the “Three Abyssal Princesses,” so she needed to get along well with the main group.

“Hello, everyone, you’ve been working hard. How’s the search for the crack going?”

Mion handed her luggage to Zelva and shrugged.

“As expected, it’s not that easy to find. We plan to expand the search area tomorrow… Oh,
by the way, there’s something else I need to report. We found Shima.”

“Oh, so you found her?”

That was good news. I had nearly forgotten, but she was also one of the targets we were
searching for.

Because Qiongqi had set her up as bait, she was caught in a dangerous situation. After
being hit in the useless factory, she was severely wounded, and I was worried about her
safety… It’s a relief that she’s safe now.

Mion, while handing three boxes of chocolate balls to Shizuma, continued the report.

“Shima is currently recuperating at Kobayashi’s house. Although her injuries have been
treated, her nutritional imbalance hasn’t fully recovered yet…So she will temporarily be
staying at Ichirou’s house with us, the princesses.”

“Yeah, yep, that’s fine. You all can do as you like.”

Inwardly, I secretly thanked the heron girl for justifying living with the princesses.

Ryuga probably couldn’t have anything to say for this reason. The chita apostle under
Qiongqi couldn’t live in the house of other protagonists a few days ago.

“In any case, why don’t we just stay at Ichirou’s house for a while longer?”
“No! I absolutely forbid Ichirou from living with other girls! You’ll have to wait until he comes
back!”

Mion immediately expressed her opposition as Ryuga sighed.

Then the heron girl squinted, glaring at Ryuga as she continued clinging to me. I couldn’t tell
if it was psychological, but it seemed like she was sulking.

“Ryuga, you should let go now. You always make me report everything for your benefit…
This is one of your bad habits, isn’t it?”

Though her words sounded like serious criticism, I couldn’t help but feel there was
something different in her tone.

(Isn’t she being too casual Ryuga??)

In my memory, Mion always referred to Ryuga as “Hinomori” or “Hinomori Ryuga,” with a

sense of distance. It was the same when addressing the other “Guardians”.

Though she called Elmira by her name directly, that was because she had a more Western-
sounding name. Likewise, I addressed her similarly.

(Could it be that their relationship has progressed this quickly? Come to think of it, this
arrogant dragon is much easier to handle than before…)

And then, Ryuga said something that pushed that strange feeling even further.

“Ahaha, no need to be jealous, Mion.”

She was clearly calling her by her name, and even Zelva was shocked.

“I-I’m not jealous!”

“Could it be that you were moved when you were carried princess-style the other day? But
it’s really too bad, Ryuga is a girl.”

“I know! I confirmed it yesterday when we were taking a bath together!”

“Wait a moment! What the heck are you even trying to say now? What good could possibly
come from this? What exactly happened over the past few days?”

“Ichirou still doesn’t know, does he? Mion just took off in utter shock! And it seems like
she’s been wearing some rather revealing outfit since then.”

“Shut up, Ryuga! And for the record, I am not going to wear (or cosplay as) a bunny-girl
costume for a second time!”

So what exactly happened that led to this development? These events... Someone explain
them to me from the start!

(How did it all come to this...? And by the way, aren’t you guys supposed to be focusing on
finding that crack or opening? Did everyone just forget our original goal?)

Although I’m the one who created this whole situation, I can’t help but feel somewhat
frustrated.

It’s like those kinds of shows or organizations, where after missing just one episode, you
find out the characters’ relationships have turned upside down, and you’re left thinking,
“What the heck happened in that last episode?”

What makes it even worse is that this story is unfolding in real life, and there’s no way to just
patch it up or skip ahead.

“Alright, you two, please take your time and explain to me what exactly happened on your
side.”

“Forget about that, Ichirou. What about your side?”

“Yeah, didn’t you run into any enemy attacks? Lord Qiongqi and Shiyuu haven’t shown up
either?”

“No, everything has been peaceful here. But more importantly, hurry up and tell me what
led to the whole ‘bathing together’ situation...”

I tried to steer the conversation in a more dramatic direction.

“Ryuga! Hug me too! I’ve already finished bathing!”

Taotie suddenly rushed in, performing a dive attack.

But Ryuga noticed it just in time and quickly dodged, leaving me to get slammed to the
ground by the “Evil Spirit”. Taotie’s dive attack failed again.

“Why do you keep getting in my way, Ryuga? Come on, let’s go do some Lovey Dovey stuff
together!”
“Nope. Doing something like that with Taotie would definitely make Shima angry.”

“Huh? Shima? Why would she get mad?”

As Taotie stood there dumbfounded, Ryuga and Mion began whispering to each other.

“Mion, do you think Shima really likes Tie?”

“That guy doesn’t exactly have the best personality, so why would she be into rough, macho
guys like him? Even though Lord Taotie has a noble background, his upbringing is
surprisingly lacking.”

“Are you sure it’s okay to talk about your master like that?”

“Of course, this is just between us, Ryuga”.

Ack! They’re clearly getting way too close... Playing around and flirting like that—how can
they be so good at this!? I only missed one episode, and this is what happens!

Although I wanted to ask them to explain everything in more detail, three hours had passed
before I knew it.

Standing at the door, Kyouka turned around and told us:

“You guys better close the door now, or you’ll be stuck outside for the next two days.”

Ryuga sighed in defeat after hearing that.

“Haa, time’s up already? And I wanted to spend more time getting all lovey dovey with
Ichirou.”

“You’re lucky. I didn’t even get a chance to act all sweet and adorable with Ichirou”

“Why do you want to act cute, Mion? Ichirou belongs to me!”

“Alright, alright, say whatever you want. Well, see you in a week, darling”

“Darling? Hold up, Mion! Wait! You’d better explain that!”

Carrying the white heron maiden on her back, Ryuga left, the two of them having been
perfect from start to finish.

“Wait, wait a second, Ryuga! I’m coming too! See you in two days! And by the way, if
everything goes according to plan, I’ll be back tomorrow! I’ll bring manga and video games
too!”

Taotie hurriedly jumped through the door, and in the blink of an eye, the door vanished.
The room returned to its former silence, the previous lively atmosphere now feeling almost
like a dream. Only the sound of Zelva coming back to gather her belongings remained.

(And in the end, I didn’t even get to ask what happened between them... I’m seriously
curious...)

For some reason, both Shizuma and I felt strangely dejected.

Was it because we hadn’t had a proper conversation with Ryuga? Just as I thought this, I
heard my dear companion sigh and mutter under their breath.

“I knew it...Ryuga is definitely into father...of course, he’s so much more charming than
me...”

After saying this, Shizuma curled up in a corner, hugging their knees. I had to find a way to
console them.

“It’s alright, your father isn’t a match for Ryuga”

“But you really are…”

“—No way. I’m not even remotely cool, and I’m certainly no commander or anything like
that—”

At that moment, I fully understood the pain of parents raising kids going through
adolescence.

Even though my house only has four of them.

“It’s been a while, Ichirou-kin! What’s the matter this time?”

“Shizuma, your sister is here!”

Tomorrow, around seven o’clock, Hundun will once again open its doors.

In the other side, a beautiful accent with unclear speech bursts out from behind the little
doll-like girls. There’s no need to say that it’s Taowu (Yukimiya) and Kiki.

(Today, it’s these two...)

This is quite an interesting combination. Both of them need attention, and it’s no easy task
to manage them, as Yukimiya said.

“First, let’s inform Shizuma! This week, a ‘photon molecular man’ appeared in the depths
of the underground monster Berruberon’s second generation! His tongue has evolved since
the first generation!”

“Really? Berruberon is pretty famous, isn’t he?”

“Shizuma, after this, greet the newcomer! I’m the Evil Spirit Taowu! You can just call me
Tao!”

“Y-yes, I’ll remember. Lord Tao, nice to meet you...”

Shizuma worked hard to fit in with the two of them. His recovery from heartbreak was
surprisingly fast, probably because he’s still young.

... From the reports, it seems like the search has hit a standstill.

Every day, the girls swapped partners in their search until one in the morning, but nothing
was found. It’s been six days since it all started in the human world... almost a week.

(In other words, these days the main characters deepen their relationships through various
pairings... For me, personally, observing from the sidelines is a bit frustrating.)

After finishing the conversation about the “photon molecular man” with the Hokkaido wolf,
she remembered something and clapped his hands.

“Oh right, Baron Ichirou, I have some news.”

“What is it? Something minor? Feel free to give the details. Maybe someone got closer, or
maybe there’s been a fight ——”

“There’s been an increase in the household members.”

I asked with some interest, but the result was disappointing. Wasn’t it just a hunter’s report
or something?

“Ah, Shima has already returned and is staying with us, hasn’t she?”

“Yes, that’s right. She’s fully recovered and has joined the search team. Everyone is quite
excited about it.”

“Really? That’s good to know... Hm? Everyone?”

“Shima, along with two subordinates, is at the Kobayashi household now. It’s like a
boarding house there.”

“Everyone came back again, huh?”

I suddenly remembered that when Shima betrayed us, she took two subordinates with her.
And now... all of these people and supplies are in my house!?”

“The food costs have become terrifying.”

“Of course! You need to feed that many people!”

My household has become a terrifying place. I didn’t expect this mess to reveal the human
world’s shortcomings so clearly! The financial impact on the family has been intense! Can
I continue to stay here in this alternate world without issue? Is this strategy... really the best
one?

I had an overwhelming urge to run to the portal to the alternate world.

Suddenly, Yukimiya turned to me and said, “Kobayashi, about that event...,” seeming to
have returned to reality after who knows how long.

“Don’t worry, baron Ichirou. We already negotiated with Mion and Jyuri, and we’ll invite
Shima and the others to Yukimiya’s house.”

“Etou?”

“Having more than two people in the Kobayashi household is difficult...The financial
pressure on the family must be immense.”

That’s true. But isn’t the situation the same at Yukimiya’s house?

Even though Yukimiya’s family is thousands of times wealthier than mine, the cost of
feeding two people isn’t a small number. Should I help pay for them...?

“Actually, I hired those two to serve as guards at the Yukimiya residence.”

“Guards?”

Yukimiya smiled and nodded again.

“Yes, guards.”

“As you know, my house is a bit big... We need a car just to get out.”

I understand. You can’t call that “a bit big.” It’s more like a small country. I’ve even had
trouble finding house numbers there.

“That’s why my parents decided to hire permanent security staff. The residence hall is
currently under construction, and we just posted a recruitment notice for two people.”

“Recruiting two hunters...?”

“Yes, they are strong and reliable. You could say they’re like warriors, more trustworthy than
ordinary humans.”

...This is a surprise development.

While I wasn’t there, Yukimiya’s house became the second “Hell Castle”.
“However, Shima is in a difficult position. She seems to harbor deep feelings for Tie... Even
the three princesses are troubled by it…”

“Shima stays close to Baron Taotie whenever she can. Baron Taotie also seems quite
frustrated, focusing only on playing games.”

It seems that Taotie raised a flag with that apostle...

Taotie protected Shima from Shiyuu’s attack, and after that, Shima and Taotie’s
relationship changed. Yesterday, Ryuga and Mion even whispered about it.

“But this issue was resolved today. Tie ordered them to ‘work at the Yukimiya residence,’
and Shima begrudgingly agreed.”

Even though this clearly looks like I’m being handed over staff, it’s a big help for me,
especially financially.

“Shima will be my exclusive maid for now. I think that in the future, she and Sebastian will
support both me and Tao.”

Can that lazy black gal (gyaru) really make a good maid...? Although her coffee is quite good.

“No worries. Although she’s not as skilled as Mion, Shima looks like she’s quite good at
housework. She’ll be an excellent maid.”

Kiki, who was lying on the red carpet, watched with curiosity. Without me realizing, she
started drawing on a piece of paper with Shizuma.

(The human world’s situation is constantly changing, but as a scriptwriter, I can only sit
back and listen to the reports... As long as I’m still in the alternate world, this is how things
will be.)

This really is a dire situation.

This is accurate from the perspective of “a friend character,” but as “the scriptwriter,” it’s
problematic. Can I really continue writing this original story...?

Yukimiya suddenly adopted a serious expression as she faced me.

“Therefore, Kobayashi. Shima and her 20 subordinates —— the ‘New Taowu’s Army’ ——
will be officially established from now on.”

Yukimiya Corporation has officially reached the stage of having its own private army, and
all its members are apostles.

“Doesn’t it sound amazing to have a group that protects humanity’s apostles? Their calm
and steady existence will allow humanity and the apostles to grow closer step by step.”
Yukimiya’s breathing quickened, and an air of masculinity seemed to emanate from her.

“Once Sebastian returns, my army will become even stronger. The Yukimiya Corporation
will rule the world—it’s not a dream!”

Stop! Don’t plant a Last BOSS Flag now! We’re not even in Part 4!

“In the future, the alternate world will need more facilities and improvements in the living
conditions. Of course, the Yukimiya Corporation will also help. No, we’ll monopolize it.”

Don’t start any new projects! Though, if they include hot water services, I’ll be very happy
to join them!

Yukimiya raised her fist and shouted “Yukimiya Co.!” while Kiki, Shizuma, and I all nodded
with troubled expressions.

“Shizuma, would you like to join my army in the future? I would warmly welcome you.”

“No, no thank you. I plan to work in public service in the future...”

Yukimiya, please stop talking about your army, and don’t recruit the kids from my house
either.

Also, Shizuma, your future dreams are so modest. Elmira once said she hopes you’ll join a
good office like me.

I showed a troubled expression on my face.

At that moment, Kiki stopped drawing and suddenly stood up.

“Superior Yukimiya, wasn’t there ‘that thing’ you brought with you?”

“Yes, the handcrafted photon monster Picabo, right?”

The photon monster Picabo only appears for an instant in the photon molecular man movie,
covered in electrical charges. Not to mention it’s a handcrafted item—I thought it would be
nearly impossible to commercialize.

But it does exist, as Yukimiya now holds the mystical Picabo in her hands. When asked why,
it’s because Yukimiya Corporation is one of the sponsors of the “photon molecular man”
series.

“Yes, Picabo! Did you really bring it?”

“Of course I have it with me, just on the other side of the bag.”

“How wonderfully said! Superior Yukimiya!”

In the blink of an eye, the Hokkaido Wolf’s mood skyrocketed, enthusiastically praising
Yukimiya. Maybe she was really considering transferring to Taowu’s army.

“Earlier, you all mentioned the second generation Berruberon, a tiger born under divine
limitations, with only ten produced. I heard we might be lucky enough to receive one.”

“The second generation Berruberon! Just possessing one is the envy of all…!”

“If we really get one, I’ll give it to Kiki. I wouldn’t have much use for it.”

“Superior Yukimiya! Superior Yukimiya!”

The Hokkaido Wolf had completely surrendered to Yukimiya’s charm.

This otherworldly encounter was going quite well. If I hadn’t understood what was going on
and heard Kiki shouting “ Superior Yukimiya!” I’m beginning to suspect that she respect her
more than me…

“Kobayashi, the search operation is progressing smoothly. Please bear with it a little longer.
We’ve increased our search team to 21 members, and we should hear good news soon.”

“Understood, I’ll leave it to you.”

“…”

Yukimiya was staring at me for some reason.

“I’m counting on you, Yukimiya. And about Shima, please take care of her too.”

“…”

Yukimiya shook her head, clearly thinking, “That’s not what I wanted to hear.” Does she
mean… am I supposed to cheer too?

“S- Superior Yukimiya!”

Feeling incredibly embarrassed, I reluctantly shouted, and Yukimiya proudly puffed out her
chest, satisfied. “Alright, leave it to me.”

And with that, the three-hour countdown began.

Yukimiya and Kiki returned to the human world, only greeting me at the start and joking with
Tao for five minutes at the end, expressing some regret about the trip.

(Where is Tie, by the way? He hasn’t been seen at all.)

While pondering, Taotie appeared, leaning against the door and chatting with Kyouka, his
shoulder resting on Hundun, making his way toward the disappearing door.
“Boss, being away from that yo for two days was unbearable… I’m so exhausted.”

Taotie’s face looked pale, with dark circles under his eyes, either from extreme fatigue or
pulling an all-nighter gaming.

“Staying here for even one more second feels torturous. After this, I’m going straight back
to the otherworld. I need to sleep the whole day to recover…”

It seemed he couldn’t handle the infrared line anymore. However, since he brought the
“Young Sunday” magazine and my gaming console, I had no choice but to accept the
situation.

Taotie, already in his pajamas, climbed into the bed and continued grumbling.

“Being entangled by that gal girl was truly awful...she knew I couldn’t resist and immediately
pushed me down as soon as she could...”

It’s clear that Shima likes Taotie. And yet, she already has Saihiru, a general too… Poor
Saihiru, the noble bug knight.

“Then, while pressing her chest against me, she was licking my ear, and before I knew it,
she unplugged my game console… I really shouldn’t have saved that feline earlier.”

My friend, you’re currently living through a real rom-com, you know?

I’m starting to feel more and more uneasy about how this story will end.

Today marks my third day in the otherworld, and I’m growing increasingly concerned about
what’s happening back in the human world.

While the protagonist deepens their connections through the search, I’m still trying to grasp
the full picture. There’s nothing particularly worth celebrating in this plot, but I have no
doubts that I understand the characters thoroughly.

However, I haven’t seen the “Shared Bath Scene” or “Shima’s Entrance Scene” yet.

The others are likely continuing their usual discussions, even though I finally witnessed the
“Superior Yukimiya Scene.” That one, at least, doesn’t really matter.

(I feel like Urashima Taro... No more updates on the daily events anymore. There is no one
writing a daily summary for me to read... Even if someone does write it, I can’t access the
network to read it…)

Just as I was getting frustrated, it was already 7 PM, and two people entered through the
door.

“Shizuma, your mother is here! Come, let me give you a hug.”

“Ichirou, you’ve worked hard. Did anything unusual happen?”

Today’s visitors were Elmira and Jyuri.

“Blood-kin of Eternal Darkness” had just returned, with Elmira leading the way toward
Shizuma, while the snake-like servant handed me a stamped document.

“Jyuri, what’s this?”

“It’s your homework for today. Since you’ve been taking an extended break from school, at
least try to keep up with your written assignments.”

Jyuri, with her soft smile, are now acting as Miss Hebizuka.

Thanks to Jyuri’s memory manipulation, neither the teachers nor the students realized I’d
been absent from school. Instead, they believed I attended classes regularly.

“Both you and Mion have been so serious in the otherworld... How’s the search for the rift
going? Has Shima’s addition helped?”

“Regrettably, no progress yet. We might have to extend our search to the Omei District…
That’s the conclusion from yesterday’s meeting.”

I felt a bit disappointed.

If this delay continues, I may have to form yet another new group... Shouldn’t I just summon
the three princess commanders’ team?

“Has there been any movement on the other side, according to Shizuma?”

Elmira took her son’s hand and approached me.

I noticed Shizuma was wearing a handwoven scarf, which Elmira had knitted overnight,
fearing the cold nights of the otherworld.

“The forces haven’t shown up in the human world at all. I wonder what the Evil Spirit Qiongqi
is planning… Surely, they’ve noticed we’re searching for the rift.”

“Just as Elmira mentioned, Lord Qiongqi might have some plan in mind. We should remain
vigilant.”

I nodded at Jyuri’s words, feeling more at ease.

Good, Jyuri still calls her “Elmira.” If she ever starts calling her “Elle,” “Little Elle,” or
“Elmin,” I wouldn’t know what to do.
“Kobayashi Ichirou, I deeply apologize, but this castle still needs your help for a little
longer… Here, please accept this.”

The vampire girl handed me something.

It was a jar of honey, the label describing it as being from an acacia tree, a rare and
expensive delicacy.

“Huh? What’s this?”

“It’s a local specialty from my hometown.”

“So, you went back to see your grandparents!”

Elmira seemed to have no shame in trying to talk back.

“It not like I returned home, but my Grandma who came to Japan for a visit.”

“No matter how we explain it, this timing is a complete disaster! I’m already feeling gloomy,
and now a new character is causing such a commotion!”

According to Elmira, her Grandma is truly an ancestor. She is also a Vampire, having lived
well beyond a century, perhaps even from a generation of the Vermilion Bird successors.

“Grandma deeply regrets that she hasn’t met Kobayashi Ichirou, nor her great-grandchild
Shizuma.”

This sounds like I’m Elmira’s husband, doesn’t it?

But no, Grandma. It only appears that way at first glance. Although she might be Shizuma’s
great-grandmother, she is definitely not my ancestor.

“She glanced at Shizuma’s recordings, squinting her eyes and laughing while saying, ‘He’s
incredibly cute, this child.’ Then she looked at Kobayashi Ichirou’s photo, opened her eyes
wide, and said, ‘He seems like such a passerby.’”

Being called a passerby... Her observation skills aren’t bad, and I kind of want to meet her.

No matter what, Grandma has returned to Europe. Though I do feel some regret that I wasn’t
here when this new character appeared.

At that moment, Elmira absentmindedly asked Jyuri a question that surprised me.

“By the way, Jyuri, how is Leon?”

——It seems there is more than just Grandma as a new character.

Who is Leon?! Is he a relative of Elmira!? Or perhaps her disciple!? Or maybe a transfer
student!?

“Ever since then... I haven’t seen him. Leon, he’s really a handful.”

Jyuri seems to know Leon as well. Is this guy another friend character... or is he here to steal
my spotlight!?

(From the sound of his name, he might be American? In my mind, he already has a strong
fascination with Japanese culture, especially with women. A laid-back Californian
character—this is my first impression.)

He probably wears a flashy American flag T-shirt, has blonde hair, a strong physique, a scar
on his chin, and would crack American jokes whenever he gets the chance. His father is
definitely a U.S. soldier.

I won’t lose to him. A guy with such a dense, clichéd look can’t possibly become the friend
character; he’s only fit to play a random background character!

“Please, I beg you, tell me all the details about this Leon!”

With an unexpected burst of enthusiasm, I looked at the two vampires.

“Why do you want to know about Leon’s situation?”

“Ichirou, Leon’s business is not something you need to worry about.”

“How could I not care about my rival? Does he have a connection with Ryuga?”

“Um... What do you think, Jyuri?”

“Hinomori Ryuga interacts more with Alex than with Leon.”

Ah, here we go again, new characters just keep piling in.

Is this some kind of joke? I leave for a bit and not only does Grandma show up, but now
we’ve got Leon and Alex, two new characters, and you’re telling me their hair is ordinary
too? Is this chapter finally coming to an end or what?! It doesn’t feel like a climactic scene
at all!

As I sit there feeling somewhat sidelined by all this chaos, Elmira and Jyuri exchange wry
smiles.

“Kobayashi Ichirou, you really are an odd person, treating even puppies like rivals.”

“Leon and Alex are strays who recently wandered into Omei High. Not just Ryuga; the entire
school loves them.”
Puppies? From what the two are saying, these two seem to be some sort of domestic mixed
breed dogs, completely at odds with their grandiose names, and apparently brothers.

They’re not just unafraid of people, but also bold enough to wander into the school’s main
building. Even the teachers are fond of them, with the newly appointed student council
president, Miyamoto Chizuru, currently running around making sure they can stay at
school.

(What the heck? I panicked for no reason... If they were Golden Retrievers or Dobermanns,
that would be understandable, but they’re just mutts...)

Even so, I missed “Grandma’s return,” which is a fact. As long as I’m in this other world, the
dramatic conflicts with the human realm will only grow more distant.

Here really does feel like “quitting the stage”... gradually accumulating a lot of pressure
outside of expectations.

Three hours flashed by, and Elmira and Jyuri were getting ready to leave.

“Shizuma, don’t push yourself too hard. Make sure to take care of your health and drink
papa’s blood three times a day.”

“Understood, mother.”

The mother and son vampires hugged each other tightly.

At that moment, accompanied by heavy footsteps, a fully armored knight stormed into the
room, shouting, “Requesting an audience!”

“Oh! This aura, it must be the queen!”

It was Giraffe-like Gaigo. He must’ve just finished his shift, rushing in with overwhelming joy
to meet his superior. Yet as soon as he got close, Jyuri slapped him across the face.

“Huh?!”

“You’ve worked hard, Gaigo. You’ve done well to complete your mission, as expected of my
right hand.”

The snake apostle both praised and smacked him, acting completely contrary to her words.

“That’s right! I am extremely grateful! It’s an honor!”

Despite Gaigo’s extreme joy, his eyes sparkled with excitement, breathing heavily as if in a
daze.

...Well, Gaigo the Giraffe is clearly an M-type. The last time he stubbed his toe on the throne,
he smiled before passing out.
“Gaigo, after defeating Lord Qiongqi, I will gift you my underwear. These haven’t even been
touched by Shakuhou yet, so accept them with overflowing gratitude.”

“No, no! I am overwhelmed with shock! I wasn’t expecting underwear; I was hoping for a
scarf!”

You guys have fundamentally misunderstood the use of underwear.

Watching Gaigo getting repeatedly slapped, Elmira sighed and said, “I can’t look at this,”
while covering Shizuma’s eyes with both hands.

“We only have one minute left. Well then, until next time, Kobayashi Ichirou.”

“Ichirou, don’t forget to finish your homework.”

Taotie panicked, stumbling out of a small room to chase after them.

“I’m going too! Even if it kills me, I want to keep playing games!”

This Evil Spirit really doesn’t learn. But since he still has some usefulness as an infrared
beacon, I let him slide.

I will defend this castle, and I ask you to defend your chastity.

The fourth day in this other world remains as peaceful as ever.

During the day, Shakuhou stood at the bridge, shouting, “I challenge Shizuma to a duel!”
But the moment Hundun stepped out of Castle, it quickly mumbled, “My apologies,” and
ran faster than a rabbit... Other than that, there’s nothing noteworthy happening.

However, my heart was not calm.

In simple terms, I replaced Taotie and returned to the human world only once, just once... I
even considered whether I should return for this matter.

(I have been waiting in the other world for four days, while only three days passed in the
human world. Although the search for the “gap” proceeded smoothly, I still went back to
reconsider whether this was truly the better decision...)

I realized that this kind of behavior was called self-centeredness.

To be honest, I was quite eager to see the original. Observing the constantly changing
people and the situation at hand, I felt an indescribable sense of unease. In short, you could
say I missed home.
(When did I become so fond of showing off? As a background character, shouldn’t I be
welcoming the current situation? My need to step onto the stage is even lower than
Kurogame’s; you know that, right?)

Well, that was fine. I stood firm on my position as Kobayashi Ichirou — while contemplating
my own ego, I sat down to meditate and rid myself of negative thoughts.

... In the end, I slept until 7 PM.

“Kyaa〜, it’s been so long, Kobayashi. I missed you so much.”

The first to appear was Aogasaki. Today, she was once again carrying the “Spirit Wood”,
standing tall before me in her gallant posture. Her black stockings perfectly wrapped
around her beautiful legs, as always, making anyone wish they could maintain a dignified
expression while slowly walking towards her.

(Speaking of which, another person should be Kurogame. She hasn’t arrived yet, so when
she comes, it’ll likely just be her.)

Once again, I made a miscalculation.

Aogasaki probably intended to meet with Kurogame today, but Kurogame was detained by
her dinner croquette, and so the lineup changed at the last minute.

“You’ve worked hard, Kobayashi. Still got energy?”

Then, the next person to show up at the front door was... the hunter.

She was the black-gal (Gyaru) with platinum blonde hair, Shima, who was clearly still
harboring a one-sided crush on Taotie.

“Shima? What’s with your outfit?”

It had been a while since I’d seen Shima not wearing her usual modified uniform. Instead,
she was dressed in a maid outfit that totally didn’t match her character.

By the way, she had recently become a maid for Yukimiya’s household. If she hadn’t opened
her mouth, she might’ve looked pretty decent... But as expected, she started speaking.

“Ara, it’s been quite a while since I returned from the other world. Guess I’ll go back first.”

The gyaru type maid greeted me and was about to leave, only to be caught by Aogasaki
grabbing her by the back of her neck.

“Hold on, Shima, you’ve only been here for less than a minute.”

“Right now, Lord Taotie is bathing, so I must go in and scrub his back, or better yet, use my
breasts to do it!”
“Stop it! Don’t do such shameless things! That’s not a proper maid duty!”

“Even though I’m working as Yukimiya’s maid, my heart belongs to Lord Taotie, not to the
young lady! Let me go, Rei! Let me go!”

Earlier, the hunter called herself the “Swordswoman of the Beheading Dance.”

She also referred to the “Shrine Maiden of Fortune” as the young lady.

It’s understandable that Yukimiya was her boss, but why was Aogasaki on such good terms
with Shima? Their only connection should be the solo fight they had in the graveyard.

(Did I just miss an important plot point...? No, stay calm. This situation isn’t nearly as
intense as when Ryuga and Mion were involved.)

By now, just being called a certain name wouldn’t shake me... I was about to brush off this
train of thought when Aogasaki said something that shattered my calm.

“Shima! Be serious for once! If you keep fooling around like this, our band will fall apart!”

They were still organizing a band, with the “Apostle” band taking the lead with their guitars.

Why did the conversation suddenly shift to such a divine topic?! And why are you two clearly
planning such intense performances in the graveyard?! Both of you are guitarists, yet you’re
still organizing a band, how ridiculous!

At this point, a doubt crept into my mind.

Up until today, I had been hearing the protagonist’s drama every day, and none of it had
anything to do with the “search for the gap.”

In other words, all of this was just part of the daily routine?

If that’s the case, wouldn’t it mean the background characters appearing on stage are just
the same?

(Could it be that I’ve been participating in the wrong plot all along? Have I misunderstood
everything?)

Ultimately, thinking it over, how could keeping an eye on my friends in the other world be
part of the original story? In terms of the bigger picture, wasn’t searching for the gap already
over-complicating things? Ah, I regret this so much!

Aogasaki and Shima’s argument continued.

“You add way too many random notes during the performance! As long as you don’t fix this
bad habit, I’ll never let you join the ‘White Egret’ band!”
“Oi~, who even wants to join that band? Why do I have to be stuck playing guitar behind
Mion in the human world? Isn’t this like, just too carefree for me?”

“That may be true, but her voice is pure quality. I’ve always thought so. If Mion takes the
lead vocals, it wouldn’t be a dream for our band ‘White Egret’ to officially debut, right?”

“I know the band caught the attention of a performing arts office, but I’m not planning to get
into the music business. My dream is to become Lord Taotie’s bride!”

Without realizing it, their conversation had gone far beyond just idle chat.

I asked a bit, and it turns out that a few days ago, during the cultural festival performance,
there were even more boundary workers present than I expected.

Moreover, just a few days prior, that boundary worker had contacted them and said,
“Please ensure that the ‘White Egret’ band is handed over to us for management,” and for
some reason, Jyuri and Kiki were also involved as members.

(Although they refused the offer... It’s still frustrating that I didn’t witness such an
interesting plot.)

See, it turns out that my involvement really wouldn’t have been a problem, right?

—— Everyone, I am “White Egret” band member, Kobayashi Ichirou.

—— Ah, impressive, huh? That’s some serious drum technique!

—— Look! An official debut is not just a dream!

—— Now, let’s show our best performance at the festival.

—— Fantastic! So wonderful!

Things should have progressed with a bit more seriousness to the final act, but instead, it
all ended on such a light and breezy note. You could even say this is what a proper
“background character” should do.

I was grinding my teeth in frustration for having erased this opportunity with my own hands.

“Arrrghhh—! Taotie, you idiot!”

Suddenly, I heard Kyouka’s sharp scream.

Aogasaki, Shima, and I all turned around simultaneously, and there at the entrance was
Taotie, engulfed in Hundun’s flames.

“But, what are you even thinking! Stop joking around!”

From the scene at hand, it seemed that Taotie was heading towards the front door to have
a conversation with Hundun and Kyouka. Simultaneously, this group appeared to be
directly involved with the earlier screams and the sudden outburst of anger.

“Hey, I’m back. Huh〜 ~~ I’m completely exhausted; this level of fatigue is even worse than
the last time.”

Not long after that, I saw Taotie’s expression and fully understood the situation.

Then, Aogasaki and Shima both let out a horrified scream: “Kyaaaaaa—!”
Taotie was using a towel to roughly scrub his hair, his entire body emanating steam from a
fresh bath. It seemed, as Shima had mentioned, that he had just finished bathing right at
Hinomori’s front door.

The result? This guy was completely, entirely naked.

“Nee〜! Stop flaunting yourself and walking around like that! Dry your face first!”

“Hah, after all, when it comes to Japan, they sure do enjoy their baths. A good soak in the
tub can surely help restore some energy, right? What do you think, hey?”

“First, let’s clarify whether you even count as a Japanese citizen!”

Standing beside me in anger were “Swordswoman of the Beheading Dance” and the
apostles, each looking as though they were carved statues.

Taotie, completely unfazed, continued walking, the motion of his... lower region distinctly
noticeable.

... I’m so envious I could die. This guy’s body is just like mine, but his... is bigger. And he
walks around like he’s totally confident, obviously having no intention of covering up.

The Evil Spirit kept approaching, step by step, while Aogasaki and Shima finally snapped
out of their stunned state and began panicking.

“Hurry, hurry! Take your Mongolian Tiger out of here!”

“Lord Taotie! It’s all out! Everything is on full display!”

“Why should I hurry? I just want to relax like this.”

The ‘Evil Spirit’, hands on hips, uttered some crude remarks, which made Aogasaki unable
to bear it any longer. She raised her large wooden sword.

“YOOOUUU! That’s it! I’ll slice you up right now! Feel my secret sound-speed sword
technique!”

“Wait, stop! What are you going to do to my Daniel?!”

A spotted cat still had a title, and I thought it was a new character. Didn’t you previously
have that toy named “Jirou”?

Shima quickly restrained Aogasaki, crossing her hands behind her back. She definitely
didn’t want her beloved to lose his... assets.

“Lord Taotie! Please, for Daniel’s sake, leave now!”

“There’s no other way but for us to part ways!”

“Kobayashi! Not only is Renie involved, but Saihiru as well! That guy became Shiyuu’s bait
to protect me!”

“Is this really the time to be talking about that?”

Amidst the chaos.

Just then, Shizuma and Yaguja returned after finishing their task.

“Sorry for being a bit late, Shizuma has arrived for reporting duty.”

“Ara, Lady Shima? That maid outfit suits you so well ~ Lady Shima, your figure and
appearance are just perfect, what a transformation~”

The two of them tried to make sense of the chaotic scene unfolding in the main hall.

This situation was hard to believe. The ‘Blue Dragon’ brandished a sword with murderous
intent, while one of the “Apostles” frantically held her back, and the Evil Spirit stood by,
proudly flaunting his nudity.

“Tou, Taotie oji, what are you doing? Why are you... not wearing a thing?”

“Uwahaha! Behold my mighty EXCALIBUR—! Even King Arthur would be stunned~!”

Shizuma looked slightly troubled, while Yaguja covered her mouth in disbelief, glancing at
Taotie with a mix of awe and hesitation. Even with a blade like that, I doubted he could be
king.

... A few minutes later, Taotie finally got dressed and appeared more composed.

“So that’s it, Taotie oji had just finished his bath. I’m sorry, Aogasaki, my uncle can be quite
indecent at times.”

“No, it’s fine. I should be the one apologizing for getting so startled.”

Aogasaki’s face was still a little flushed as she bowed to Shizuma before clearing her throat.

“Shizuma, as his disciple, I understand you have to serve an Evil Spirit. However, I hope you
won’t imitate Taotie’s behavior and will continue to be a good student.”

“It’s all right. A small-minded person like me could never become as open and
magnanimous as Taotie oji, nor could I carry myself so proudly.”

My son had no clue what that phrase meant.

At this moment, Taotie lay down on the throne, preparing to sleep. The diligent work of laying
down the bedding had been completed by Shima and Yaguja.
“What a shame~ I was hoping to admire the sword for a little longer~”

“Go cool your head elsewhere, Yaguja! Daniel’s a proper person, let me take care of him!”

The General desperately tried to keep control of the chaotic apostle while also trying to
crawl under the blanket.

But then, Aogasaki dragged her out. Before we knew it, three hours had passed.

“Well then, see you later, Kobayashi. We should head home now. Come on, Shima.”

“Stop! I want (need) to keep Daniel’s electric sleep!”

The maid was interrupted, then dragged out of the blanket, but her two hands were still
grasping it as if refusing to let go.

From Taotie: “Ouch ouch! You are going to to chop it off! My sword is about to be pulled
out!” From the sound of the scream, it wasn’t hard to guess that Shima was holding onto
something.

“Shima, that’s enough! Hurry back to the human world and keep looking for the crack! This
is an Evil Spirit’s order! Then hurry and let go of Daniel... Ugh, so annoying! Let go of me, you
rooster!”

“Deal! Once I find the crack, you’ll let me... Let me say this: Lord Taotie has strayed from
the path of male beauty!”

“Huh? What nonsense?”

“You’re always saying ‘My Ryuga, my Ryuga’... Hinomori Ryuga is a man!”

Ah, yup, Shima still didn’t know Ryuga’s true identity.

“Yearning for love like this, promising everyone all at once! People must live up to
expectations, even special ‘play’ is no problem!”

“No! Ryuga is ——”

Taotie suddenly clammed up, probably unwilling to reveal Ryuga’s secret.

I glanced absentmindedly at Aogasaki, and noticed that she, too, was wearing a
complicated expression. Turning to the side, I also caught Yaguja with a similar expression.

As time passed, the three leaders of the organization slowly realized that Ryuga was truly a
girl. After all, she was passionately embracing me in front of Zelva... I had no choice but to
speak.
“Understood! Once you find the crack, notify me immediately! From now on, we’ll start as
friends! Now, hurry back!”

“Ah, what an honor! Lord Daniel, please wait for my good news!”

“Stop talking to his male’s weapon!”

After receiving Taotie’s warning, Shima quickly darted through the door. Aogasaki, too,
muttered, “Honestly...” and turned to leave.

However, her steps halted for some reason, and she turned back to me.

“... Kobayashi, I have a question I want to ask you.”

“What... what is it?”

“Are you, like Daniel... also has a strange beastly creature?”

“No, mine is just an average-size person.”

I answered truthfully, and she mumbled “Really?” before walking away.

I couldn’t shake the feeling it wasn’t just my imagination — she seemed a little
disappointed.

Fifth day in the otherworld, just before seven o’clock in the evening.

I was waiting in the Hell Castle, standing on a tall tower, watching the main courtyard.

Though I had been on guard on the second-floor terrace before, my legs had gotten tired, so
I moved. From here, I had a clear view of the large bridge and the entire area—there was no
way the enemy could approach without being seen.

(Why hasn’t Qiongqi moved yet? Is there some reason for his lack of enthusiasm?)

Even that monkey Shakuhou hadn’t shown up today.

Needless to say, neither Qiongqi, Agito, nor Shiyuu had appeared. They clearly had free
access to the otherworld, so why weren’t they taking advantage of that advantage?

... That being said, maybe we should just go ahead and lay siege to them directly.

At this point, we could return to the human world and participate in the “search for the
crack.”

(No, that’s not right. Even if we destroy the army besieging us, we can’t leave Hell Castle
undefended. If Qiongqi waits for the right moment to invade the Dream Soul Hall, then it’ll
be a wasted effort.)
Still, it wasn’t a personal affair to keep maintaining the siege. Continuing this situation was
mentally exhausting and not good for my well-being.

It was almost seven, the time for a shift change. There should be a new team coming soon.

After that... watching these ladies being so affectionate with each other, I couldn’t help but
feel uneasy once again.

(Man, I thought this plan was good at first...)

Initially, the idea of searching for the crack seemed fine, but it was taking longer than
expected, and I started feeling uneasy. Though interacting with characters was important,
my original goal wasn’t progressing at all.

If the search for the crack drags on any longer, I’m afraid we’ll start getting comments like,
“Isn’t this storyline dragging a bit?” or “Are they stalling on purpose?”

The crack hasn’t been used for too long... I glanced up at the crimson crescent moon and
started pondering.

(If I were the scriptwriter, I wouldn’t let the quality of the story drop. Though the plot’s been
loose for a while... it’s time to use some drastic measures.)

That drastic measure is to “Search for the crack in the otherworld.”

In other words, let Taotie or Hundun use their Evil Spirit authority to directly question where
the crack is from the besieging troops.

That way, we can identify where the crack in the human world is, and then we just need
Kurogame to seal it.

(Although ideally Ryuga and her friends would find it... we’ve already been searching for two
weeks.)

I made up my mind and called a team over to report on the plan.

“Lord daddy~ Are you here~? It’s time to switch shifts~”

Instead of Yaguja, someone else arrived. I couldn’t help but call out in surprise.

“Ah! You scared me... I thought you were a Kabuki dancer...”

“Geez, so rude~ This is a mask I got from Lady Kiki ~ As expected, the quality of human world
products is so good~”

She seemed to be in a good mood, buzzing as she looked out toward the bridge.
By the way, Yaguja can shoot various types of poison needles from the middle of her five
fingers. Her index finger paralyzes, her middle finger hypnotizes, her ring finger causes
confusion, her pinky finger is an antidote; and her thumb releases a deadly venom.

A few days ago, when she sneakily attacked me, she used her thumb — it was a real attempt
to kill me.

“Hmm~ There’s no movement today either~ everyone’s so fresh and new~”

“You’re supposed to be a Sniper, right? Could you even hit the enemy from here?”

“I can hit a target within five meters accurately~ but if it’s a general, my hit rate might drop
a bit~”

“So if you aimed at a general, it would be even harder to hit them, right?”

“The ‘Three Abyssal Princesses’ and the Eight Generals are super strong like monsters~
Lady Kiki, though, could dodge anything within five meters even in her sleep~”

As expected, the little doll girl was formidable. I often underestimated her daily actions.

“By the way, lord daddy, even dodging a sniper at two meters~ You gave me quite a shock.
Lord daddy is like a monster too~”

I heard nothing. I shouldn’t have let her finish talking.

“Lord daddy, your martial arts skills are on par with Hinomori Ryuga, absolutely no less ~
You really are a calm and collected papa ~”

Hearing this, I didn’t feel any joy at the praise. After handing over my guard duties to Yaguja,
I headed down.

At almost seven o’clock, I hurried back to “Meet and Greet.” Shizuma was just finishing up
too. This kid had just finished overseeing the back-end.

“Good work, Shizuma. So, are you heading back to the report after bathing? Although
judging from the time, it might be a bit cold.”

“Father, please listen to me.”

With an unusually serious tone, Shizuma approached me while wrapping Elmira’s scarf
around her.”

“Father, those who don’t feel the wonder of this...”

“Hmm? What do you mean?”

“Even though there haven’t been any major attacks, morale has still fallen... The number of
troops surrounding the castle has decreased significantly. Today, the rear castle has fewer
than 300 soldiers.”

In fact, even the main front lines seem somewhat dubious about whether they are
enthusiastic or not.

“At the same time, several commanders here are completely unknown, like the Zasutan
style flag, the Bakunel style halberd, and even the Danoji-shaped hawk... At present, all
commanders are soldiers, where could they have gone?”

I feel a chill down my spine at this serious situation, feeling a bit uneasy.

There’s no doubt that the reason for the current situation is Qiongqi ‘s directive. Why isn’t
there a strong point here at Hell Castle, which is so well defended (and strategically sound)?
Why would they want to weaken the surrounding area?

“Father, isn’t this Lord Qiongqi’s way of transmitting information? Like saying ‘Provocation,’
or ‘Pretend to move,’ or some other meaningful...”

Shizuma rubs his chin thoughtfully. In this world, even a three-year-old strategist would do
just as well as he does.

“But then again, if Lord Qiongqi doesn’t think the situation is ideal right now, what should
we do?”

“Kid, it’s about time to open the door.”

Hundun cuts in from inside the room. It’s already seven o’clock.

Until now, I was planning to take my time and discuss the situation with both of them... So
I waited at the door.

For some reason—Kyouka has arrived.

“Hundun, you’re really late opening the door! I’ve been waiting for so long!”

Kyouka scolds Hundun with a playful pout, then turns towards me.

She looks a bit flustered. From her usual serious demon expression, today she seems to
want to say, “Find a gap” to win. I can feel her heightened determination.

“So, what’s going on, Kyouka? Where are the others?”

“Kobayashi, something happened! I received a message from my sister ten minutes ago!
‘An army of apostles appeared in the courtyard of Omei High School]! The total number is
over two thousand!’”
Shizuma, Hundun, and I all look surprised.

More than two thousand? How can there be so many! Where did they all come from!?

According to my estimation, there should be less than a thousand apostles in the human
world, and not all of them follow Qiongqi. Even if you add the guys who were defeated by
Ryuga and the princess troops who attacked without authorization, the number of apostles
who listened to the poor in the human world was no more than seven hundred.

So…where did these names come from? You don’t need to think about the answer.

(Perhaps that’s the reason why the number of besieging troops has suddenly decreased!)

Qiongqi must have used the crack to call out these troops to this side.

Currently, there are still two enemy troops left in the alternate world, but the number of
besieging troops has not reached one-third yet, and the numbers are fluctuating.

“According to Kiki, you can sense Lord Qiongqi’s dark aura near there!”

Upon hearing this, Shizuma turns to me urgently.

“Father, let’s hurry to the alternate world! Currently, more than half of Lord Qiongqi’s forces
are concentrated there! Leave the castle to Zelva and his group, let’s go!”

Hundun nods in agreement.

“We must take action. This should go away. I don’t think that bastard Qiongqi will take
advantage of the chaos to invade the castle. There are three ‘Evil Spirits’ here.”

... It’s a rapidly changing situation, it looks like it’s time to start the final battle.

Currently, in the alternate world’s battle, there are Ryuga, the “Abyssal Princesses”, Shima,
and two others at the subordinate level.

However, facing 2,000 enemy troops still seems like a daunting task, even without Qiongqi,
Agito, and Shiyuu, this side’s forces are clearly insufficient.

(It’s really hard to find a way back to the human world right now, but it seems like I can’t
avoid the final battle... This story is indeed overwhelming to me!)

Shizuma, Kyouka, and Hundun are all waiting for my decision.

At this moment, Taotie shouts, “I heard what you said!” Rushing into the hall. Although he
has just finished bathing, luckily he is dressed.

“Boss, it’s finally time for a good scene. After a refreshing sleep and a shower, I’m in perfect
condition now! I can go anytime!”
I’m still a little reluctant.

The two ‘Evil Spirit’ start whispering in my ear.

“Boss, you are the scriptwriter, right? If so, for the storyline, you must participate in the final
battle.”
“But…but…you know it’s not my time to enter the battle, or the story will...”

“But no matter what, if you don’t make, the Final Battle will end and you’ll definitely be told,
‘Kobayashi Ichirou didn’t make it after all, huh?’“... Hearing this makes me feel struck.

It’s true. Although I don’t want to admit it, until now, I have been sewing the lines of history
scattered until now.

I was also the central character several times in this important story, and I also served as
the Part 2 Last BOSS. If such a character has no chance in the final battle... it is obviously
unnatural.

From the beginning, it was impossible for me to avoid the final battle. If you say this,
“Supernatural Batle Story of Hinomori Ryuga” will suffer an accentuated lack of quality for
some reason.

(Don’t mess with me! As I can admit! Now I can’t return to the role of a real friend, did I know
that, right?)

And more importantly, I made a promise to Yukimiya.

From saving Renie from Shiyuu, to let Yukimiya manage the the final chapter—this is the
must-do task for Kobayashi Ichirou, and it is also to compensate for myself after losing my
spirit at that time.

I’m determined to listen to the three captains organizing a briefing after I’m completely firm.

“Report, Kobayashi! The entire army has retreated from the castle!”

“There’s not a single person left at the city gates now!”

“What should we do, General? Do you want to pursue them?”

Gaigo, Yaguja, and Zelva reported in succession.

Up to this point, I felt confident. Just as Shizuma said, this was the information transmitted
from Qiongqi.

—— Don’t be worried about the inside castle; we’re about to have a spectacular decisive
battle.
—— It seems it wants to display that this is the case. That guy treats me as the main
character, initiating a full-scale war.

(Then come, “Fox Evil Spirit,” I accept your invitation. However... I will not dance on your
palm right now; I will not please you.)

I will participate in the Final Battle, but only to the extent that I can take center stage.

I will only reveal a small part of my expression, quickly rescuing Renie from Shiyuu, and then
establish the main focus of the attack. As long as Taotie and Shizuma are still there, that’s
enough military support.

The one who will defeat Qiongqi won’t be me, but Hinomori Ryuga, along with the “Heavenly
Gods”.

Only then can it be claimed that she is the protector of the world. Friends, the characters
competing to defeat this Last BOSS cannot make excuses.

(I want to maintain the dramatic tension of Qiongqi’s destruction; the script must be written
in an increasingly interesting way!)

I took a deep breath and, as commander-chief, gave orders to the trio of troop
commanders.

“Gaigo, Yaguja, Zelva, you don’t need to come. You three will stay here and continue to
guard the castle; I’ll leave the other world to you.”

The three captains simultaneously replied, “Yes!” in a well-coordinated manner, the

highest level of precision so far.

“Tie, Hundun, Shizuma, let’s hurry to the school; the combat power comparison should be
50-50..”

“Leave it to me!”

“Remember Shizuma, uncle Tie will also participate in the festival”

“I will definitely give my all for father!”

Taotie and Hundun vanished from my body, returning to the human world, indicating that
the two of them could only manifest one person.

“Kyouka is waiting at home for the right moment. Hundun can maintain the gate for another
thirty minuts; if anything happens in the other world, just call me immediately.”

“I understand! I firmly believe that everyone will definitely win!”

With the assignments complete, I maintained perfect timing and stepped into the portal to
the other world, returning to the boundary ten days away.

At the same time, Hinomori Ryuga’s group was caught in a dilemma.

Suddenly, two “Apostles of Hell” appeared at the school training ground. They were likely
able to act quickly because it was the right time to gather all the members of the small team.

(Unexpectedly, Qiongqi has now been discovered...)

Although the situation seemed unpredictable, it was also what Ryuga was waiting for.

In this decisive battle, there was no need to search for opportunities. As long as Qiongqi,
the “Evil Spirit,” was defeated, everything would come to an end. Since ancient times,
humanity and the war strategy have been continuously maintained— it could be illustrated
on a talisman.

Everyone understood this, which is why when facing the enemy forces, everyone fought
bravely, taking a step forward instead of retreating.

“Wind Sunder, deep and twisting, a blizzard of frost— Secret Technique: Tree Binding Skill!”

With Shiori’s incantation, the trees in the lecture hall extended their dry branches,
entangling the enemies and preventing their actions.

“Oh my, this saves me a lot of effort, Yukimiya. Huhu, stopping in front of me is equivalent
to saying ‘Please kill me’ you know~?”

Jyuri’s serpent tail swung, and more than ten enemies were sent flying; she followed up by
sending several enemies soaring into the sky.

“Secret Sword: Royal Heir’s Single Slash!”

The sword energy of mercy surged through the whirlwind, the huge tornado enveloped the
apostles, and more than a dozen apostles were beautifully eliminated.

‘Qinglong troops! Suffer the combined attack of the wolf and the blue dragon!’

Kiki rushed from left to right like a cannonball to crush the enemy, and then he shouted,
riding on Rei’s shoulder.

“Have you finally got the timing right? Secret Technique— Fiery Dance: Dreaming Tune!”

Elmira transformed into a fiery bird, breaking into the enemy lines. The enemies screamed
as they burned, as if hell itself had descended wherever she went.

“I’m also joining! Kurogame’s lethal technique! Secret Skill: Bone-Strike Point Attack!”
Rina was constantly annihilating the enemies with her boxing skills, her ultra-fast punches
were even too quick for Ryuga to dodge. With both hands transformed from the Black Turtle,
its power multiplied exponentially, unleashing formidable boxing strength.

(Indeed, having allies like this is incredibly beneficial… Facing such a large number of
enemies, not a single one is in danger.)

Ryuga and when before she knew it, there were apostles coming from all directions. No,
this is not an occasion for admiration.

The moment she came back to herself she prepared to face the attack.

The shadow of a bird flew across the sky, slaughtering the enemies in an instant... Assisting
her was a white heron apostle that transformed into a young girl.

“Stop wasting time, Ryuga! Don’t make me waste power unnecessarily!”

“Sorry, Mion, is the sky already handled?”

Since she could attack from the sky, enemies were pleading for her to take responsibility
for their destruction. As she glanced up at the sky; indeed, no enemies were present in the
night sky.

“Of course, my aerial combat strength is the first in another world. The title of Abyssal
Princess cannot be outcased like this.”

“That’s amazing. However, I know many adorable sides from Mion over there.”

“I had already said this before, could you please refrain from saying such things so
casually?!”

Ryuga and Mion exchanged banter while once again leaping into the enemy camp.

“Ryuga! The one over there seems to be the captain!”

“That guy, right? Okay!”

Mion fiercely swung her two arms, creating a path through the enemies before her.

Ryuga surged through, using the wind to accelerate, delivering a powerful punch that sent
the enemy captain crashing into the lecture hall.

(Yes, it’s beautiful; even in seizing, Mion’s supportive skills are really helpful.)

...In these few days of “Searching for Opportunities,” the best relationship Ryuga has built
is indeed with this white heron apostle.
Although they had quarreled at the beginning, Ryuga unknowingly grew fond of this girl, who
took great care of her with exceptional skills.

Unexpectedly, he was able to get along with supernatural beings other than the Heavenly
Gods.

“Mion, is Qiongqi there?”

“Although not physically present, I can sense the demonic energy. It’s definitely nearby.”

“That’s not good. If we’re at the school, then no one...”

“Don’t worry, Shima and the two subordinates have cleared everyone from the teachers to
the school staff. They’re still evacuating nearby.”

So Shima and the others aren’t here to fight.

Rescuing and evacuating is quite a job. I can fight like this without hesitation because the
level of training is not inferior to combat.

(From the current situation, it seems help is not needed. The necessary help at this time is
Qiongqi and Tenryouin’s manifestation.)

If Shiyuu appears at the same time, this side will not be able to win easily.

In other words, the twenty guards and apostles are all pawns... you can’t count on them too
much…We can’t rely on them.

(However, there is other reinforcement here in coming to our side, which is the most
reliable)

Ryuga is very confident that help will come. “He” will definitely arrive. To put it plainly, her
“prince,” Kobayashi Ichirou.

During the training match, Kyouka told the others that Ichirou would definitely come.
Qiongqi acted at the same time Hundun open the gate... This will be the greatest enemy
because of that reason.

(After the battle ends later... During the winter break, I’ll invite Ichirou to go to China.)

Then, I’ll introduce Ichirou to my parents and persuade them to agree to our marriage. She
wants to hear Ichirou himself say, “Please entrust your daughter to me.”

By that time, it will be the reason that I, as a girl, speak to Shiori and Elle, as well as Tao and
Shima. After the liberation from fate, they will no longer have to serve as reasons for living
as a guy.
(Currently, the graduation ceremony and wedding ceremony will be together... It’s a joyful
occasion again. How happy it would be if the bride were carrying the essence of the love
between the two people in her womb.)

Perhaps having a double wedding with Tie and Shima wouldn’t be bad either. Yesterday,
they even said, “Maybe I can go on a date with Taotiesama!”

“Ryuga, why are you smiling during the battle?”

The white girl’s voice brought her back to her senses, revealing an expression that made all
the surrounding enemies tremble in fear.

(Calm down a bit! The battle isn’t over yet!)

As Ryuga was trying to protect herself, she noticed a shadow descending from above and
quickly flew back.

“Oh, no! You’re going to die, Hinomori Ryuga!”

With the scream, she was seriously assaulted here for a moment.

The attacker was General Shakuhou, who she had defeated a few days ago. He also came
here, looking like a blue monkey with military attire.

“Oh! I didn’t expect you to escape like this, Hinomori Ryuga!”

“It’s really you. I’m sorry, but in this world, I won’t show mercy.”

“Nonsense! It was me who let you go before! Besides, I’m here for a date with you, Mion!”

“Don’t ever try!”

Mion’s electric lights shimmered, as Shakuhou expressed his surprise. She blinked in that
instant.

“Hey Shakuhou, is a rare opportunity, so can you play with me?”

The enemy on the left suddenly fell, and an apostle approached the enemy’s body.

Its flexible limbs are covered with a layer of fawn fur and there are black spots on it - the
cheetah apostle is Ryuga’s new support.

“Oops~ It’s so annoying, there are soldiers everywhere and they are not enough to fight...
Oh well, the swordfish-shaped apostle Zamorusu has been defeated. So this is the
commander of the Lord Qiongqi’ troop.”

“I told you, we still have to evacuate people”

The hare princess was somewhat irritated by the cheetah general’s actions.

“Don’t worry, my subordinates are still working on it. It’s still chaotic over there, which suits
my temperament... Therefore, I’ll take care of this monkey.”

The cheetah smirked and provocatively waved his hand toward Shakuhou.

The monkey face immediately got angry and swung his rod.

This rod can not only freely expand and contract, but also bend and even fork. It allowed the
weapons in his hands to change unpredictably. This man truly is powerful.

“Woooohhhhhh! All good! You traitor!”

“We were the ones who were betrayed. We were abandoned by Lord Qiongqi. But thanks to
that, I realized I should truly serve the Evil Spirit—”

“Who is it?!”

“Of course, it’s Lord Taotie! I should dedicate my loyalty and purity to him!”

“Have you lost your mind?”

“You a re too noisy, you perv monkey. Are you looking for a fight?”

The two generals kicked the ground into battle at the same time, and the sound of
uninterrupted punches and clubs and the sound of each other’s clashes continued to be
heard. The nearby apostles hurriedly moved away to avoid getting involved.

“Oh! I want to rummage through your underwear! Then add it to my collection!”

That monkey is insufferable.

“Hmph! You’d better try! By the way, I’m wearing silk today! Very comfortable!”

“Please be quiet, Shima. Don’t expose your underwear”

Mion patted Ryuga’s shoulder, still stunned at what was happening.

“Ryuga, the enemies have been wiped out. Let them fight alone.”

“Really, is it okay?”

“In a one-on-one, Shima will definitely win. That monkey was already defeated once before,
who told him to face us with such a long losing streak?”

Indeed, that monkey is insufferable.

In summary, let’s first follow Mion’s advice and continue to eliminate the enemies. The vast
training ground was filled with ongoing battles, with other comrades fighting fiercely.

(The battle has begun... We must have taken out one hundred of the enemies by now. The
remaining half still needs to recover, and Elle also needs to replenish her energy.)

I looked up at the sky, which was full of stars.

No, that’s not right; those… are all souls. After being defeated, the soulful apostles became
specks of light and filled the entire night sky.

Suddenly, the stars began to move simultaneously.

Just like a galaxy spilling over, all the spirits flew towards a “certain direction” , where there
were still strong enemies remaining.

(What is it that the soul is being sucked (absorbed) away? Could this mean that...)

Ichirou expressed his thoughts... Qiongqi’s current form must first absorb the soul data into
the floating bottle, causing it to sway.

That can’t be wrong; where are Qiongqi and Tenryouin Agito!

As Ryuga prepared to face the other side just before, suddenly a massive shadow rose from
the ground — a huge mound.

“Mmaaaaaa——!”

That thing emitted a loud growl, stomping towards this direction.

It had a body larger than a person, its face looking incredibly bizarre and frightening; its body
was covered in numerous arms, reminiscent of the hundred-armed giant from Greek
mythology, dense with a dark aura that sent chills down anyone’s spine even from dozens
of feet away.

(Shiyuu...!)

However, that is just a “diminished version.” As far as we know, Qiongqi can at most create
two combined forms simultaneously, and this form’s data must have been absorbed by the
souls here.

Indeed, this is Qiongqi, an ‘Evil Spirit’, and besides being a significant threat... it has this
counter-soul ability. It can force Ryuga and the others to resurrect a soul or cause it to
cease existing, becoming a part of Shiyuu.

“Everyone, be careful! Shiyuu has appeared——”

Ryuga’s scream abruptly stopped.

At the current location, another enormous figure emerged. Though this creature’s head was
smaller than the first, its body radiated an aura dozens of times more intense.

(This dark energy is indeed completely different from that earlier creature! Is it the complete
form of Shiyuu?)

Ryuga couldn’t help but feel a chill running down her back; this miasma seemed to press
down on her, making everyone feel as if their minds were being crushed.

Though she had heard rumors, the intensity of this monster still exceeded her imagination.
It was created using soul energy at the level of a general and a captain, and even that Tie
felt hindered by this formidable enemy... approaching the Evil Spirit was a daunting task.

(Also, Shiori and Sebastian are still with that thing; we must pay close attention to this point
instead of simply attacking.)

The two forms of Shiyuu, appearing as they currently are, began their coordinated assault.

They reformed their chaotic battle formation, ready to launch an all-out attack at any
moment. Shakuhou and Shima were still locked in battle, with their battlefield having
shifted to a nearby club.

“Ryuga!”

In an instant, the « Heavenly Gods » and the «Three Abyssal Princesses» converged from all
directions.

Although none of them were seriously injured, everyone displayed a grave expression,
trembling as they drew near the two forms of Shiyuu.

“It’s finally come out... This is truly a critical moment.”

“Ryuga, do you have any orders? No matter what, we will follow your commands.”

“Ryuga! Let’s get everything out! We must definitely use “everyone at the same time
(boom)” now!”

“Hinomori, please leave the complete form of Shiyuu to me. Tao and I will definitely rescue
Sebastian, and at the same time, we must take it down!”

Rei, Elle, Rina, and Shiori each expressed their thoughts and opinions one after another.

Following this, Mion, Jyuri, and Kiki also shared their views.

“Ryuga, you all deal with the complete form; we, the « Abyssal Princesses », will find a way
to handle the diminished version.”
“Yes, right now, we need to split into two teams.”

“The chaotic troops will also be under our command. You all focus on countering the
complete form”

The «Heavenly Gods» nodded in agreement with the «Abyssal Princesses» suggestion.
However...

Ryuga couldn’t make a decisive decision, so the strategy did not consider two particularly
important points.

The first point is the existence of Qiongqi and Tenryouin.

As long as they participate, it could suddenly change the situation, so simply dividing the
battle forces may lead to a reversal; Qiongqi might even be waiting for that moment.

The second point is that it is still a bit early to split the strategy.

To explain the reason, we still have “him” on our side. Regardless, he will definitely make it
here. We also have the potential to turn the tide of battle.

(Because of that, Ichirou, hurry up and get here... You dear friend is trapped in a dangerous
net!)

Ryuga fervently wished in her heart. In that instant...

“Oaaaa! Everyone, wait a long time! Just a little more! I’ll be there in a few minutes! Don’t
you dare show yourself now!”

In front of the school, from the direction of the main entrance, a young man was flying over
with a shocked expression. Although he didn’t quite understand what he was saying at the
moment.

Look, he has indeed arrived.

The prince of theirs seems a little strange.

 4. All members gather for a decisive battle

I rushed over to Ryuga, ignoring the danger, and adjusted my breath a little after reaching
her side.

From Hinomori residence to Omei High School, it’d took about 10 minutes running at full
speed... Although I estimated that for myself, it probably took you 5 minutes, and even
though he was a bit slow, Shizuma still praised me, “Father, you’re so fast...”

(Good, Qiongqi and Agito aren’t here... What’s more, there are still a good number of
enemies left, and most importantly, Shiyuu has appeared.)

It seems the battle is still in its early stages. My timing to enter the stage is still acceptable.

“Ichirou, you really made it.”

Ryuga gave me a genuine smile from the bottom of her heart. Yes, I’ve arrived, and without
me, the quality of the story would surely decrease.

“It’s just like a hero’s entrance, Kobayashi.”

“There’s no one more reliable than Kobayashi-kun.”

“You’re so late, Ichirou! Being late is my specialty! Give me back my money!”

Following that, Aogasaki, Yukimiya, and Kurogame each spoke up.

Only Elmira was so moved when she embraced Shizuma. “Ah, Shizuma... because you
were, your came all the way here with me. This is how much you love your mother!”

“Ichirou, you’re here. If anything, Lord Tie and Lord Hundun are also watching over us. This
means our victory is already certain.”

“We can’t be careless, Mion. Now’s the time for the ‘emergency focus belt.’ No, better yet,
it’s ‘emergency underwear’ time.”

Mion and Jyuri, seeing their backup, began to relax and prepare.

Only Kiki was so touched that she hugged Shizuma tightly. “For the sake of your sister,
you’ve come to rescue us, Shizuma, you’re truly the little brother among all little brothers!”

Though I’m sorry, everyone, I don’t have the luxury of staying on stage for long.

My plan is to quickly deal with the entirety of Shiyuu, then withdraw. I’ll find a fitting enemy,
let him hit me once, then cough up blood and faint.
The timing should be within 10 minutes, the longer the time, the greater the chances that
others will complain.

“Leave the entirety of Shiyuu to Tie and me! Everyone else, handle the smaller one!
Shizuma, go take care of the mixed apostles!”

“Understood, father!”

I gave the instructions like a shot and then quickly headed towards the entirety of Shiyuu.

As if perfectly timed, the enemy also began to rush towards me. Their speed was as fast as
a high-speed train, which didn’t match their massive four-meter size.

(Ugh! They’re faster than I imagined!)

While feeling impressed, I tilted my body, dodging a head-on collision. Then the monster
stomped heavily on the ground, causing the earth to shake, and tried to crush me
underfoot.

“Whoa! That was close! Uwaaa!”

I desperately dodged, narrowly avoiding the monster’s attempts to stomp me. From above,
it looked as if the monster was performing a clumsy tap dance.

“What are you doing, Ichirou! Charging in recklessly by yourself is too dangerous! Why are
you making this kind of foolish mistake?!”

“Don’t be impatient, Kobayashi! You idiot!”

“You’re too careless, Kobayashi-kun! You fool!”

“Being a fool still has limits, Kobayashi Ichirou!”

“Come back here, Ichirou! We already know you’re an idiot!”

“You should properly consider the battle plan! You foolish lord!”

“Baron Ichirou is really a battle-crazed madman!”

“Ichirou, you’re stupid! Stupid, stupid, stupid, stupid! Hippo!”

While listening to Ryuga and the others— the “Heavenly Gods” and the “Abyssal
Princesses”—shouting insults at me, I stumbled and retreated. There’s no need to call me
stupid so many times... Especially you, the last one. I don’t want to be insulted by a turtle!

“Aah boss, I knew it, you’re truly an idiot.”

Even Taotie said so. Of all people, you too? You were the one panicking earlier.
I was actually getting a bit nervous, as my stage time was limited, so I wanted to finish up
quickly.

The entirety of Shiyuu stopped about ten meters away from me, and the degraded version
of Shiyuu stood still there as well, and they glared at me while shouting in resentment.

We both squared off, adjusting our stances for a tense standoff.

In the distance, the enemy troop of apostles were anxiously waiting for orders.

“Mmm, what, what is this situation, this kid?!”

“Is this kid... could it be he’s from the other world... the one who…?”

“Don’t panic! Surround him! The enemy is only one person—mmph, ah!”

A small figure, like a gust of wind, raced through the enemy ranks, cutting through them like
a blade. Swift and unstoppable, he took down soldier after soldier. It was a single individual
who appeared no older than a child of three years.

No need for further explanation—that was Shizuma. That is the true combat form of my son.
The stripes on his body proved it; he truly resembled a zebra.

“I won’t hold back! If you are apostles, prepare yourselves for death!”

With a stern voice, Shizuma continued hunting down enemies. Upon closer inspection, the
soldiers he defeated weren’t killed, only knocked unconscious, unable to move.

If he were to kill them, their souls would be absorbed by Qiongqi... While that was one
reason, the boy’s original principle was “Don’t kill our own kind.” Truly, the character of
someone in a higher position is on a different level.

Although he said those words, actually following through was becoming increasingly
difficult, especially when facing so many enemies.

(It feels like I’ve done something bad... It’s all because I arrogantly said, “Shizuma, go
handle the mixed army”)

Meanwhile, Elmira and Kiki were preparing to assist Shizuma.

“Shizuma! We’re coming right away!”

“We won’t let you suffer even a scratch!”

However, while fending off enemies with ease, Shizuma called out loudly to them:
“Mother! Sister! You don’t need to worry about me! Please trust in the strength of the
Chrysanthemum General, Shizuma!”

“The Chrysanthemum General!?”

Everyone, including his mother and sister, was in shock. Only Ryuga showed a faint smile.

So, you’ve finally decided to use that title... Just as I began to show a rather dissatisfied
expression—

“Uhhhhhhhhhh—!”

Suddenly, something came flying from behind us—it was the monkey summoned to tease
Shakuhou.

The monkey apostle flew past us, crashing violently into the ground and twitching as it
collapsed. As expected, this thing failed to do anything, even here.

“Hah, hah... Don’t underestimate your elders! You’re still one year behind me!”

After that angry roar, it turned out to be the beast hunter, who had just finished a solo duel
with the monkey.

“I was just going to let you off easy, but who invited you, the general who needs to be turned
into bait after being killed by Shiyuu... Oh, Taotie! You’ve arrived!?”

Shima, halfway through her sentence, suddenly changed her tone and charged toward
Taotie, throwing herself dramatically into the arms of the dark ‘Evil Spirit’ in front of
everyone, while her hips continued to wiggle.

“Oh, what a majestic body... Taotie, you really are my beloved Lord Husband! By the way,
let me give to His Royal Highness Daniel a kiss...”

“Aren’t you paying attention to the situation!? Shima, this is a command from your ‘Evil
Spirit’. Go help take care of Shizuma!”

“We’re in the middle of an intense battle with Shiyuu!”

“Understood! Then, please call me ‘Little Shi’ !”

“I’m not calling you that! The only one I’d ever call like that to is Ryuga!”

“Hinomori Ryuga is a man! Please wake up a little, Lord Husband!”

“Don’t call me like that! The only boss is over there!”

(Note: Both ‘husband’ and ‘boss’ are referred to as ‘Danna.’)

“In my heart, my only boss and husband is Lord Taotie!”

“Ugh, this is too troublesome, so whatever! Fine, you can call me Tie! I’ll allow it!”

“Understood, Lord Tie! Leave the kid to me! ... Oraoraaa! Watch me beat you to a pulp! Line
up and prepare to meet your end —!”

The cheetah apostle, having regained her mischievous nature, plunged into the enemy
ranks. Meanwhile, we faced two Shiyuu bodies.

At the same time, Ryuga put a hand on my shoulder and locked eyes with me sharply.

“Ichirou, this time, don’t act alone. We need to properly allocate our personnel. Elle and
Kiki are fine, right? I know you’re all worried about Shizuma-kun, but we need to deal with
the Shiyuu first.”

“Understood. She is the inheritor of ‘Vermilion Bird’... I know she will fulfill her mission.”

“Kiki as well, only today will refrain from speaking impulsively,” said Ryuga, nodding with
approval.

The complete body, which had been silent until now, began to act again, and roared like a
beast from its mouth, slammed into the ground and quickly charged forward.

“!”

The monster ignored everyone present and aimed directly at its prey. But its target wasn’t
any of us—it was the trembling blue-faced monkey priest.

“Damn it, it’s bad! Tie! Quickly, go help Shakuhou—”

I shouted, but it was too late. The massive hand-like shape loomed over Shakuhou’s head
and struck down with a thunderous “Boom!” that shook the ground.

“...”

We stood there in stunned silence as the monster slowly raised its fist again.

A massive crater in the shape of the kanji “大” (large) marked where Shakuhou had been
crushed.

“This... this can’t be real... It’s not…”

The monkey apostle let out one last feeble groan, before his soul began to dissolve.

Shakuhou’s soul, now transformed into golden particles, rose to the sky, but before long, it
shifted direction and once again descended to the ground somewhere else.
At that place—there was no doubt about it—it was “them.”

It was the fox-faced ‘Evil Spirit’ who had opened the gourd lid to the sky and was retrieving
the burning soul.

And with him there was also, as always, the handsome boy who has no expression and
wears a white uniform is a transfer student.

“Well done, Kobayashi-kun. I graciously accept Shakuhou’s soul.”

“Long time no see, Hinomori. To be honest, I didn’t really want to meet you again on the
battlefield.”

Having swiftly eliminated Shakuhou, who should have been one of their own, the two Last
Bosses now began to walk in our direction. Agito strolled ahead, while Qiongqi casually
waved his gourd.

(Really, just after a fight! How out of touch can you be...?!)

Caught off guard, I fumbled over my words. But a predetermined plan is a plan nonetheless,
and sooner or later, we would face them.

However, defeating them wasn’t my job—it was the job of the main character, Hinomori
Ryuga.

(Rescuing Renie from the perfect body... This is the only task I have in the final battle. In the
end, the last bosses have nothing to do with me)

Sorry, but today I’m giving it my all. I’ll do everything so I can to avoid getting involved and
focus on controlling myself.

Make a decisive battle based on this, Qiongqi and Agito.

Your ambitions will be shattered by the protagonist and their companions.

“Hyaa, my plan has been thrown into disarray, thanks to you, Kobayashi-kun.”

Agito stood just a few meters away from us.

The pale face of the ‘Evil Spirit’ he wore atop his head suddenly started to twist in anger.

In the distance, behind us, Shizuma and Shima were still fighting off the enemies. Despite
the appearance of the Last Bosses, the two continued with their duties of defending the
fort.

“Disarray? What do you mean by that?”

“I didn’t expect you all to fortify the Hell Castle so thoroughly, and that Kobayashi-kun and
Shizuma would be the ones taking charge... What a complete miscalculation.”

This was indeed a miscalculation. I didn’t understand, so I shot back a question right away.

“Of course I take this seriously. If the Soul Slumber Hall falls into your hands, all three
thousand souls there will be resurrected by you —”

“That’s exactly it, Kobayashi-kun. I thought you’d be able to figure it out by now.”

The “Fox Evil Spirit” sighed deeply and shook his head.

What are you even talking about? You’re really driving me crazy, and now you’re treating me
like a fool on top of it.

“Listen, Kobayashi kid, I mentioned this before, didn’t I? I awakened long before Taotie and
Hundun, but I kept a low profile to gather data on the Shiyuu souls.”

That part was true.

Qiongqi and Agito had been busy hunting down souls to collect data on the Shiyuu, so this
Evil Spirit had hidden himself from view after awakening, biding his time until now while
observing the entire battle.

This ‘Evil Spirit’ was playing dirty, letting Ryuga and her group defeat his subordinates while
collecting their souls.

“Do you think I’ve never been to the Hall of Soul Sleep? I was there a long time ago, long
before Jingma used the Hell Castle as a stronghold, depending on the transfer”

“What……?”

“So, I also tried to capture the souls of the apostles who were sleeping there, but it didn’t
work. The souls sent to the Hall of Soul Sleep couldn’t be retrieved even with my gourd.”

Wait, let me process this for a second.

Thinking back, Shizuma had entered the otherworld about a month and a half ago. At that
time, the Hell Castle had been pretty much unguarded.

If that’s the case, would Qiongqi, who had awakened long ago, have let the Soul Slumber
Hall slip by unnoticed? If he were trying to collect those 3000 souls for the ‘Evil Spirit’,
there’s no way he’d leave them alone.

(If he had gotten his hands on the souls from the Soul Slumber Hall, then he wouldn’t have
needed to send his current subordinates to their deaths. This has to be the case.)

But, the souls of the Soul Slumber Hall couldn’t be retrieved.

Thus, he had no choice but to let Ryuga defeat his subordinates—that’s how it was.

(In other words, from the very beginning, he had no intention of targeting the Soul Slumber
Hall?)

Unbelievably, we had been risking our lives to protect that place, even going so far as to skip
school lessons.

I touched my forehead lightly, trying to process this, while Qiongqi continued his outburst,
his face burning with frustration.

“I told you this before, didn’t I? ‘The castle being attacked is equivalent to losing the Soul
Slumber Hall, so I can gain more power.’ That was a lie... but I only said it for Shizuma’s
sake.”

“For Shizuma’s sake...?”

“I figured that once you realized I was after the Soul Slumber Hall, you’d send Shizuma back
to protect the human realm. Honestly, having a child win such a monumental battle would
have been too cruel.”

“...”

“As you know, I need Shizuma’s soul, because with his qualities as bait, he far surpasses
both “Generals” and “Three Abyssal Princesses”. So, I couldn’t kill him in the otherworld.”

That part I also vaguely understood.

If a soul dies in the otherworld, it cannot be resurrected, nor can it be retrieved.

“Obviously, you guys left Shizuma in the otherworld this entire time... And you even had the
protagonist Kobayashi-kun retreat into the castle... Do you know how much of a headache
that gave me?”

In the end, BOSS’s complaint didn’t stop at all. To think, at the same time I was getting
anxious about the protagonist’s situation, the enemy was getting frustrated too.

Previously, Shizuma had been attacked in the otherworld by Qiongqi.

“The one over there is currently reporting our location,” the voice said. “Although the reason
isn’t clear, I believe Lord Qiongqi definitely didn’t use full power.”

(The reason for not using full power is probably because their true goal was ‘kidnapping.’
However, Shizuma’s unexpected strength threw them off, and they realized moving him
inside made the abduction far more difficult.)
As a result, Qiongqi accepted Agito’s suggestion to ‘find a gap’ and reduce the ten-minute
time limit.

However, after finding the gap, a new problem arose. I clearly appeared in the other world
and still had the mood of being on vacation with Shizuma while retreating in the city.

(Looking at the results, I disrupted Qiongqi’s calculations... Although the method was
different from what I had anticipated.)

Looking back now, after Qiongqi and Agito appeared in the other world, they continuously
focused their attention on Shizuma.

In the message Zelva delivered, it was written, “At this moment, capture Shizuma and bind
him, forcing him to surrender to Lord Shakuhou.”

Someone under the city gates of Shakuhou said, “I want to have a solo duel with Shizuma.”

These actions were all to confirm whether Shizuma was inside the city. They hadn’t tried to
assault the city once, only signaling their intentions to us.

“From what I see, this isn’t leading anywhere, so we have no choice but to launch a full-
scale attack. With all of us in the human realm, shouldn’t you send your entire group too?”

Hearing all this, Ryuga muttered in astonishment.

“So, you started acting the moment Hundun opened the door...Was that intentional?”

“Exactly, otherwise we wouldn’t have been able to lure out Shizuma. And with the
protagonist Kobayashi-kun not showing up, as a scriptwriter, that’s a problem for me.”

Stop calling yourself a scriptwriter.

I am not the protagonist.

Regardless, I understand your desire to make the story lively. I understand the hard work of
having things not follow the script. The struggle to develop the plot was evident, and I
appreciate it.

“Really, the whole script got messed up... I was happily writing several small pre-final battle
scenes.”

Your enthusiasm is obvious. Even though you’re the ‘Evil Spirit’, you’re still writing these
small scenes... I secretly respect you for it. And just as I was admiring that, Taotie, who had
remained silent until now, cracked his knuckles and stepped forward.

“Fox, everyone’s here for the final showdown.”

My ‘Evil Spirit’ rarely spoke in such a cool manner.

Indeed, things have reached this point, and there’s no turning back.

“Alright Qiongqi, quickly feed Shakuhou’s soul to Shiyuu. I’ve been waiting.”

“Hey, I’m very confident, Taotie. Let me tell you, if you give the monkey’s soul, Shiyuu’s
fighting power will increase exponentially. Even you wouldn’t be able to beat it.”

“Then you try, even if you get the princesses souls, I would be able to defeat that monster
perfectly——”

Before Taotie could finish, the princesses hit him. “Hey, stop messing around; we’re in the
final battle!”

Qiongqi ignored the commotion and said “Well, if you’ll excuse me...” and opened the lid
of the gourd., and light poured from it into Shiyuu’s body. After absorbing the new soul, the
demon’s strength increased far beyond what I had anticipated.

(That Tie said unnecessary words… As a result, the difficulty of rescuing Renie increased
again! The probability of obtaining the correct arm also dropped!)

I took advantage of the situation and punched on Taotie’s head.

Ryuga, watching us intently, stood there untouched, her gaze revealing no signs of
disturbance or hesitation.

“Ichirou, listen to my plan, okay?”

“Eh? Ah, ah, of course, no problem. You’re the commander after all.”

I nodded repeatedly, not wanting to upset the protagonist, while Ryuga turned to address
the others.

“Shizuma-kun and Shima are suppressing the opposing troops, so our current enemies are
Qiongqi, Tenryouin, and the fully transformed Shiyuu... We must divide our forces to meet
them.”

“…”

“Mion, Jyuri, Kiki, you three will focus on the transformed version we faced earlier. This one
is much stronger than the others, but can you handle it?”

The three immediately responded with confidence.

“Of course. Don’t underestimate the “Three Abyssal Princesses”.

“When the three of us combine, we become a powerful multiplier effect.”

“We are the unrivaled sisters of hell.”

Then Ryuga turned to the group of ‘Four Gods’.

“Rei, Shiori, Elle, Rina, Shiyuu’s full form is up to you all, and of course, Tao, you’ll come
too.”

The girls who had fought alongside Ryuga nodded as one.

“Understood. We swear by our swords to bring you victory.”

“...You truly consider my thoughts, thank you, Hinomori-kun.”

“We’ll handle it. We’re going to crush them magnificently.”

“ROGER! Let’s finish this!”

Finally, Yukimiya’s voice broke through the tension as she shouted, “I’ll do my best!” It was
Tao’s voice.

(Huh? What am I supposed to do...?)

Suddenly, I had a strong feeling of unease. With this setup, that leaves only Qiongqi and
Agito... Does this mean I’m supposed to fight the main battle!?

Fuu, I guess I’ll have to step up. With the ending coming up, my name in the ED credits will
follow the main character’s after this. That should satisfy Qiongqi.

More importantly, I can’t oppose the protagonist’s arrangements. She says something, and
I follow it, all because I said, “Of course, no problem. You’re the commander, after all!”

I waited nervously, feeling as though I was being judged.

“Ichirou, can you lead the ‘Four Gods’? I believe you can do it.”

“Eh...”

“I’ll also leave Taotie under your command. We must extract Renie from Shiyuu’s full form,
so we can’t afford to be careless in this battle.”

It felt like an innocent judgment.

Ryuga, are you... considering my thoughts? Are you doing all of this just to make sure my
reputation isn’t tarnished?

(My friend! You’re truly the best protagonist!)

I trembled with gratitude but still felt uneasy. After all, Ryuga’s opponent is—
“Qiongqi and Tenryouin, please let me handle them. Everyone, do not interfere; focus on
dealing with each Shiyuu one at a time.”

This division of labor caused everyone to show signs of doubt, while Aogasaki and Mion
directed their questioning towards Ryuga.

“Wait, wait a moment, Ryuga. You plan to face Qiongqi and Tenryouin alone? This is even
more reckless than when Kobayashi wanted to charge in before...”

“That’s right. I won’t say it’s impossible, but I ask for Ichirou and Lord Taotie to join me at
the same time.”

Others nodded in agreement; I had no other choice but to nod as well.

However, Ryuga shook her head, her single eye shining with a fearless smile.

“Who do you think I am? I am truly—Hinomori Ryuga.”

... Not good, so cool.

Even though Ryuga bears a heavy burden, she remains calm and collected, still managing
to put on a confident front.

“Although I may seem to be rushing ahead, in reality, I may not be able to deal with them
alone. Therefore, I still need everyone’s strength. If you all handle each Shiyuu from now on,
I will be extremely grateful.”

“...”

“My task right now is to prevent Qiongqi and Tenryouin from advancing. I’m sorry for
choosing to do the light task.”

No, your task is incredibly difficult... I’m not just rambling.

“Understood, Ryuga! I’ll be there to help you quickly, wait for me!”

I grabbed Taotie by the head horn and dashed outside.

The protagonist finally realized what was happening. Thus, I should only do one thing.

That is to rush to help Ryuga after extracting Shiyuu from Renie. The scenario is to write
about Ryuga & Taotie vs. Agito & Qiongqi!

However, someone seems intent on blocking my plans.

A pure white figure is currently disrupting my sight, Agito stands in front of me with an angry
expression.
“Kobayashi, you... Do you even know what you’re doing?”

“Shut up, Agito! My opponent is completely Shiyuu!”

“Do you clearly want to let Hinomori face Qiongqi at the same time? Do you clearly want to
put Hinomori in danger? Do you consider this person to be Hinomori’s friend?”

This is the first time I’ve seen Agito so angry.

Ah, I understand Agito.

Agreeing to this battle plan may seem like a friend’s mistake, but...

You are the one, holding onto this kind of thought is indeed unacceptable. “Hinomori
Ryuga, the one and only friend.” Treating Ryuga as just a girl, at most, she’s simply a
standard junior high school girl.

Because of the danger, because she’s a girl, you don’t want to act tough—this kind of
statement is simply an insult to Ryuga.

Ryuga has lived with so many survival feelings until now, she has made many sacrifices,
neglecting her own feminine side. If you can understand these... you should fight Ryuga
without hesitation, even if that may harm her.

I will support Ryuga until the very last moment, no matter what happens.

That’s right, because from the very beginning—I will never be just “a friend” to Ryuga.

Kobayashi Ichirou is Hinomori Ryuga’s “character friend”! So I cannot play around like this!

“Tie! You go ahead! Leave this place to me!”

“Ah, that sounds like a supporting character’s line, although it also sounds like a death
flag... It’s fine, I’ll go ahead!”

Taotie moved forward, and I readied myself to confront Agito.

“Tenryouin! Qiongqi! Your opponent is me!”

With golden and black spiritual energy swirling around me, the protagonist launched
towards the Last BOSS.

Needless to say, that is Ryuga. She wields the Guardian Deity ‘Yellow Dragon’, transformed
into a wrist guard, and her legs are equipped with golden armor.

“Go Ichiro! Come everyone too!”

The protagonist’s shout made us react quickly. All the staff ignored everything around them,
and the Heavenly Gods and I rushed towards the perfect body, the princesses ran towards
the degraded version.

At that moment, the snake appeared and shouted to the “Shrine Maiden of Life”

“Yukimiya! First, I apologize! I can’t help you extract Renie!”

“It’s okay! You’ve helped a lot! Don’t push yourself, Jyuri! You still have your own life to
consider!”

Immediately after, the Heron Apostle shouted to the “Swordswoman of the Beheading
Dance”.

“Don’t die, Aogasaki! We haven’t settled the score yet!”

“Of course, Mion! Don’t forget the promise to go shopping together!”

Finally, the Hokkaidō wolf called out towards “Blood-kin of Eternal Darkness”.

“Elmira! If you are beaten to death, you will be deprived of your qualifications to be the
Shizuma’s mother!”

“You are the only one who won’t be fit to be a sister if you are knocked down! You’ll be
demoted to be Shizuma’s dog!”

Kurogame emitted a “And me?” sound nearby. I instantly rushed after Taotie.

“Boss, are you here yet? No, you just passed a death flag!”

“It doesn’t matter! This story has long since gone out of common sense! The flag won’t
arrive!”

Taotie and I clasped our hands together and rushed towards the entirety of Shiyuu.

Taotie and I began the fight.

The entire Shiyuu measures approximately 4 meters; it’s much smaller compared to the 7-
or 8-meter-tall version.

However, the aura of evil here does not layer over the top; the entire entity of evil energy is
dense enough to distort the surrounding scenery. After absorbing Shakuhou, it truly
approaches the ‘Evil Spirit’ step by step.

“Tie! Give him a punch first!”

“Understood!”
Taotie launched a powerful punch towards Shiyuu, but after a loud “Bang!”, it was our ‘Evil
Spirit’ who screamed.

“Huh, so hard! Ouch! I think I broke a bone! More than half must be broken!”

Taotie pulled back his right hand, and Shiyuu ignored him as it approached me. Stop being
so funny every time you play!

Like dealing with Shakuhou, Shiyuu swung its gigantic hand towards my head. I hurriedly
dodged to the ground, waiting for Taotie to recover or for the “Heavenly Gods” to come to
help.

(Currently, Shiyuu only has two branches extending from its arms... Could it be Renie?)

I hope I can jump into the soul in one shot.

Although I’ve previously thought about this, it’s based on the foundation of the currently
abundant personnel. With the current situation, if I accidentally resurrect another general...
it will undoubtedly become very troublesome.

(Baron and Higaia will definitely continue to be hostile to us, while Saihiru and Shakuhou
who betrayed Qiongqi might become allies... But regardless of the situation on the other
side, it’s a complete waste of time.)

Therefore, I can only trust Taotie right now... At this moment, the four heroines rushed over.

“Taotie! Taking down that guy is a waste of energy; relying on you alone isn’t enough! Since
we are responsible for causing the chaos, you should take the opportunity to act!”

“We need you to pull out Renie at once! Otherwise, you will be an useless for life!”

Aogasaki and Elmira’s words made Taotie a bit uncomfortable, but he struggled to respond,
saying, “I know, I get it”. He shot at Shiyuu, and his right hand, like something from a typical
manga, swelled up significantly.

“Looks good, Tie! You need to use that fist!”

Next, Aogasaki and Elmira also attacked Shiyuu.

However, her shoulder was grabbed by Yukimiya.

“Please wait a moment; I have a request to make of Rina.”

“What? What is it? Speak quickly, Shiori! Rei and Elmira are in great danger right now!”

“Please support me.”

“Kyaa~ ha ha ha ha~!”
Yukimiya was serious about the unclear reaction from the turtle as she began to clarify.

“From now on, I will be unprotected for 5 minutes. Therefore, I hope Rina can become ‘my
second leg.’ I trust that we, the Heavenly Gods will quickly take action.”

So that’s it; Yukimiya plans to exchange with Tao.

She cannot “submit” her consciousness within the body of the ‘Evil Spirit ‘, so currently, at
the moment Tao appears, she must lose consciousness. That’s why she wants Kurogame
to assist her.

With this, Tao can fight freely without worrying about her physical state, while her mobility
can be widely enhanced. That’s a good idea.

“Based on the situation, I will return from Tao in 5 minutes. If possible, when I get back,
please tell me the situation; it would be very beneficial.”

“The key point is to have a close relationship with Tao, right? ROGER!”

Kurogame understood the situation and quickly carried Yukimiya.

Before Tao appeared, Yukimiya suddenly gave me a suggestion.

“Kobayashi-kun, although it’s just a possible suggestion... Please pay attention to Shiyuu’s
right index finger.”

“Index finger?”

“Sebastian currently has a ring chain on that finger; if that can be preserved... It should
become a very distinct marker.”

That’s right; when Yukimiya was younger, she had received a present from Sebastian on his
birthday—a chain of toy rings.

(That being the case, it is indeed a valid basis for judgment. In that case, it is better to let
Shiyuu show all his weapons)

As long as we see that ring, we can draw out Renie. According to that, not only should Shiyuu
weaken, but we can also allow the strongest of the ‘Eight Generals,’ Renie, to join the battle.

“ROGER, Yukimiya! I will remember the ring!”

I quickly pulled out my phone from my pocket. Yukimiya looked stunned, “No need to
record anything...” She said while using a strap to tie herself to Kurogame’s back.

“Then please. Tao, it’s your turn on stage.”

As soon as I said that, Kurogame behind Yukimiya suddenly lost all his strength.

Time could not be delayed; the enormous black aura above her head began to activate and
gradually transformed into a slender, petite female figure.

She wore a black dress, with long, flowing black hair like flowing water, and overall looked
just like a typical Sadako.

She is our secret weapon, ‘Evil Spirit’ Taowu, indeed Tao.

“Tao is here! Come on, little turtle! Let’s take down that monster!”

“OK! Full speed ahead—!”

In the blink of an eye, the turtle displayed unbelievable speed, while her head was still
(facing) an excited Sadako, and they seemed to complement each other unexpectedly well.

In this situation, I was still relaxed.

“Everyone listen up! We want to make Shiyuu sprout as many arms as possible! First, don’t
rush to harm him!”

Although no one spoke in response, I gave the order, and it was transmitted to everyone.

Aogasaki and Elmira began to accelerate, exchanging glances, skillfully distracting Shiyuu’s
attention.

Their mouths never stopped, which was proof of their good relationship, also
demonstrating how well they argued with each other.

However, more than the two of them, Shiyuu’s primary concern was still Tao.

“Yeah ha—! Oh, it’s you! Try to stop me, and you’ll die, monster!”

“The shabby-looking Evil Spirit” quickly attacked the turtle on her back. Her black hair
danced with the wind, transforming into countless spears (weapons) that pierced Shiyuu’s
eyes incessantly.

“Mm, oh oh oh oh ah—!”

Shiyuu’s roar produced four new arms.

However, all of its arms flailed around, not able to hit the “Swordswoman of the Beheading
Dance”, the “Blood-kin of Eternal Darkness” or the “Black Turtle” and, of course, they
couldn’t hit us either.

Seeing that, Shiyuu grew four more arms on its body. Yes, like that, it sprouted even more!
(This guy has developed ten arms... Among them, the right arm must have five arms; I need
to remember which one is newly developed.)

Unfortunately, despite that, none of them had a ring on the index finger. Come on, hurry up
and bring out that spider butler! If you don’t, my time in the main stage will have to be
extended!

Not catching its prey, Shiyuu grew more impatient, producing new arms.

We continued to dodge the giant arms that were attacking us. The increased arms not only
heightened the danger level but also increased the chance of surprise attacks.

“Indeed, I can hear that I’m dealing with a difficult enemy.”

“Rei’s sword and Elmira’s fire attacks are completely ineffective... No wonder it’s a
complete entity.”

Previously, the person who could counterattack, Aogasaki and Elmira, could now only
focus on dodging. The only effective attack was Tao attacks... But she also couldn’t use her
full power because of Renie’s situation, and could only prioritize dodging.

“Even taking a punch from me doesn’t do anything; how did this guy train!?”

“Little Turtle, it’s fine if you don’t hit him! You can stop your hands, but don’t stop your feet!”

Five minutes have passed, and Tao hadn’t switched back to Yukimiya. She must be
planning to keep Shiyuu’s current arms, so they shouldn’t change now.

(Everyone can’t maintain this full power state for long, and as for the ring, the information
might not be accurate. Right now, whatever happens, we must first find a way to let
everyone rest!)

Although I am feeling anxious, I still want to endure and continue the battle.

Shiyuu has grown a new arm, but still lacks patience.

Thus, the process of struggle continues to repeat. Aogasaki, Elmira, and Kurogame are all
showing signs of fatigue.

(How many arms does he have? Is it possible that there is no ring at all? Will our repeated
research also end in failure...?)

In any case, the three of them are going to their limit. Now they need to rest, during that time
I will go up and get up... I just thought of that.

Shiyuu shouts even louder to expand her several arms, now totaling 26 branches.

At this moment, I finally discovered it.

There is a right hand with a raised index finger, which gives me the impression of a beaded
ring.

“It’s finally here—! Tie! Immediately rip that belly and reach the arm! That’s Renie! Please,
don’t get it wrong—”

The emotions and screams that I had just stirred up came to an abrupt end.

Taotie is—at this moment of crisis, clearly not present.

Although his presence was very weak just a moment ago, it has now truly disappeared.

At the same time.

Faced with Shiyuu’s weakened version, the “Three Abyssal Princesses” is in the midst of a
painful battle.

Just before, the fight against 400 minions was intense... Although they are all minor
soldiers, the sheer number of combined spirits has become a formidable enemy, and not
only that, they are all quite solid.

Currently, in the air, Mion cannot help but grit her teeth as she begins her attack.

(Hmm, I was thinking that it was a degraded version, so I underestimated it. I never expected
that all members of the “Three Abyssal Princesses” would have to fight so hard to get here...
How can we be pushed to this state!)

Regardless of whether it’s her wing blade, Jyuri’s spells, or Kiki’s claws, none of them can
make the monster retreat half a step. Although spending more time might be able to win,
there’s not much time here.

(I must quickly finish off this one and then go help Ryuga... Seriously, why do I have to worry
about that person!)

—Even now, Mion still finds it a bit strange.

Clearly, the “Three Abyssal Princesses” should be fighting alongside Hinomori Ryuga and
the “Heavenly Gods” at this very moment.

Sometimes living together, sometimes going to the pool together, sometimes participating
in cultural festivals, sometimes bathing together... What have we done to end up as
enemies? This doubt has lingered until now.

All of this has turned out this way because of “Him.”

All blame goes to that guy; the unprecedented guy who ‘convert’ an ‘Evil Spirit’. He forced
to obey Lord Taotie and Lord Hundun, two pillars of the ‘Evil Spirit’, without any mercy.
The first time I met him was in an abandoned factory.

At that time, I felt like he was someone I couldn’t let go of for some reason, yet he made me
use my knees as a pillow. Thinking back now, that might be the first love at first sight.

(But my current life... I completely don’t hate it.)

Jyuri and Kiki must also have the same thoughts. Therefore, we cannot lose. We must win
this battle to let Ryuga and the others fully recognize us as the current Kobayashi family.
We need to keep living in this way!

“Jyuri! Kiki! Use that move! Get ready!”

Mion decisively shouts to prompt her sisters to respond quickly.

“Yes, there’s no time now, so let’s do it after a long time.”

“Let’s go again! Unleash the wildness!”

Mion gets the sisters’ response, falling to the ground to look at the combined apostles.

Let’s see, monster, “Three Abyssal Princesses” isn’t just a title.

At this point, I’ll use your defeat to prove this.

At the same moment Ryuga single-handedly faced the two last bosses of Qiongqi and
Tenryouin and also entered into a bitter battle beyond expectations.

She mistakenly thought she could fight against Tenryouin Agito.

What astonishes others is that she has blocked all his punching and kicking attacks.

Hinomori Ryuga does not hold back in her attacks; he blocks them all.

(I never thought that besides Ichirou, there would be another human capable of fighting me
all the way here...)

At the same time, she cannot solely focus her attention on him.

The claws of the ‘Evil Spirit’ above her must also be dealt with. Each hit is powerful enough
to leave injuries even with a mere graze.

“Ahaha, you clearly grasp the gaps; I never expected you could escape, Hinomori Ryuga,
you are doing quite well as a supporting role.”

Ryuga ignores the ‘Evil Spirit’ sarcasm. There’s no need to coordinate with the enemy’s
tactics.
“Having said that, you guys have said strange things before. In order to rescue Renie, you
have to pull Shiyuu’s arm?... What does that mean?”

This question goes unanswered as Ryuga threw a fearless iron fist at the container.

Tenryouin Agito seems indifferent, having maintained his defenses the whole time.
Although he is quite unwilling, his body possesses outstanding reflexes, completely reading
her movements.

“Hey, tell me why. In exchange, let me tell you the location of the crack. It’s actually in the
recording studio on the ground floor of Agito’s Apartment.”

Ryuga, bewildered, shouts, “What?!”, just as Qiongqi throws a punch aimed at her head.

She has no time to dodge. Ryuga gathers her energy in her right hand to meet Qiongqi’s
attack head-on.

Boom! The sound of an explosion and the shockwave spreads, shaking her arm and joints,
distorting the ground within a five-meter radius around her.

(Hmm, what kind of monster is this?! I thought this ‘Evil Spirit’ only knew how to play
tricks...!)

No wonder he’s one of the “Evil Spirits”, his direct hit is an incredibly foolish move.

Ryuga’s face contorts, but Qiongqi remains expressionless, as he has a mask that reveals
nothing.

“Aha, so you’ve taken it, huh? What can I say, I’m the weakest among the ‘Evil Spirits’.
However, being smart is more important than having strength, right? Just like that!”

Qiongqi’s five fingers release shockwaves.

The distance is too close, and even Ryuga cannot completely evade. Although she tries to
use her wrist to block four of the attacks, one still strikes her shoulder.

“Kuu!”

Although Ryuga immediately activates her healing ability to counter the pain, her face still
contorts in agony.

(The crack is in Tenryouin’s own house? Too cunning, right?)

Although she wanted to, like Ichirou, shout in a fit of rage, “I don’t care about the setting!”,
this was not the situation where she could afford to do such a thing. At the same time, she
couldn’t put distance between herself and Qiongqi.
If she showed any opening, Qiongqi’s bombardment can now be directed at his teammates.

Her companions, who were concentrating on their fight with Shiyuu, had no extra energy to
deal with shockwaves. If any of them got injured by a surprise attack from Qiongqi, it would
all be her responsibility.

“Qiongqi, don’t overdo it. Right now, it’s just me and Hinomori’s time.”

Tenryouin skillfully dodged Ryuga’s attacks while warning the ‘Evil Spirit’ above him. He
then glanced over here, a lewd grin on his face. How dare he look down on me...!

“Hinomori, now you should understand my strength. I won’t let you fall into danger like
Kobayashi did. Come closer to me.”

“I’d rather die!”

“You’re still being so vague... Be more straightforward, Hinomori.”

“There’s no such thing as straightforward with you!”

“Even someone like me can’t be polite forever.”

“When were you ever polite!?”

“...I see. You actually want to be overpowered, huh? In that case, I’ll pin you down and be
even more aggressive.”

“What the hell do you mean by ‘even more aggressive’!?”

Before Ryuga could finish her sentence, she felt a shock coming from her abdomen.

Ryuga had been hit square in the chest by one of Tenryouin’s punches. She had been
careless, only realizing she was hit after it was too late.

“Ugh...”

“Not bad, huh? Let’s dance, Hinomori. Until your heart completely surrenders.”

Tenryouin hit the ground as he spoke, then immediately launched another series of rapid,
relentless attacks, leaving no room to breathe.

(He’s fast!)

Not only that, his punches were both heavy and sharp, precisely aiming for vital points. It
was hard to believe... Are these punches really coming from a mortal body!?

“Hinomori, a woman should simply be protected by a man. Just give in and surrender.”
“How about no, thank you. That burden is way too heavy for someone like you.”

The enemy’s words filled Ryuga with rage.

Again with the “woman” and “supporting role” talk... Enduring it any longer was
unbearable. She couldn’t stand losing here—it would be an insult to her ancestors and the
long line of “Dragon God Successors.”

(So, no more stalling! I’m going to fight with all my strength!)

As Ryuga resolved herself, her armored limbs emitted a powerful golden light.

Power surged through Ryuga’s entire body, and her five senses were heightened even
further, as she harmonized with the guardian deity ‘Golden Dragon’. Now, her fighting spirit
burned bright and fierce.

“It’s no use, Hinomori. No matter how hard you struggle—”

“Whoosh!”

Ryuga gathered her strength, her feet steady, and struck with a powerful palm attack aimed
at the approaching hands.

The attack didn’t hit its target, but the shockwave caused Tenryouin’s face to change color.

“Hinomori... You can still muster that much power?”

“Tenryouin, you’re indeed strong. But you won’t defeat me, Hinomori Ryuga. Now, I’ll make
you accept your defeat.”

Tenryouin snorted and launched another punch.

But all of his strikes were easily deflected by Ryuga, whose speed far surpassed his.

“She’s... faster than me!”

“Tenryouin! My heart, with the power of the Dragon Fang, will break you!”

Now, under the continuous and fluid flow of Ryuga’s attacks, Tenryouin was forced back for
the first time, his once confident expression now fading into panic.

Ryuga’s fighting style adjusted based on her opponent and the situation on the battlefield.
Her fighting power was divided into three stages, and she could adjust the release of her
spirit energy accordingly.

Up until just now, Ryuga had been fighting in stage 2. Although that level of power was
enough to defeat most enemies... She had now pushed her strength to its absolute limit.
“I’m even more in love with you, Hinomori. You truly are my soul mate... the best woman.”

Even in a bad situation, Tenryouin never stopped talking. Not only that, but he was gradually
beginning to keep up with Ryuga’s movements. It was shocking... He really was a natural
talent.

However, Ryuga’s evolution didn’t stop.

Ryuga predicted his moves, already reading Tenryouin’s punches before they happened.
Her attacks began aiming at where her opponent would be in one or two seconds, biting
into his future openings.

“Agito, isn’t this bad? I think it’d be better if I stepped in—”

Seeing his ally start to get overwhelmed, Qiongqi spoke up, offering assistance.

“Qiongqi—! You dare to shoot rYUGA in the shoulder—!”

A massive ‘Evil Spirit’ suddenly swooped in, launching an attack against the enemy ‘Evil
Spirit’. It turned out to be a completely healthy Taotie that was supposed to fight against
Shiyu along with Ichiro.

“Tou...Taotie!? Why are you here!?”

“Renie’s arm can’t come out! It seems like more time has to pass!”

“That’s why I’m risking my life here! Hurry back to your post!”

“I’ll finish off this guy quickly and then rush back! He dared to hurt Ryuga, so I’ll make sure
to peel his face off and show it to the whole country!”

Taotie and Qiongqi launched a fierce attack and defense, and he couldn’t hear the words
here anymore.

Seeing Taotie ignoring the instructions, Ryuga felt a little dizzy. Ichiro are you serious? If you
don’t command well, it won’t work!

Looking around, Ichiro was shouting something on this side as expected. It seems like
“Hey!” It appeared repeatedly! Stop making trouble and go back!

“Tie, he seems to have found his arm! Please come back quickly!”

The desperate persuasion didn't work, and the gluttonous food had already taken hold.

The two-body ‘Devil God’ fought fiercely above the head, and Qiongqi is worthy of the ‘Devil
God’, there are two tricks.

“Are you kidding me, Tie!? Don’t expose my weaknesses like that!”
“Who cares! I’m betting my hair on this! If I lose, I’ll shave my head! How’s that for stakes?”

“Who wants to see you bald! Really, that's why I hate the muscle brain!”

“You weird Kappa-head! You and your strange tusks!”

“Alright, now you’re making me actually want to see it!”

The two ‘Evil Spirits’ bickered while hurling shockwaves at each other.

Close proximity (very close) caused continuous, uninterrupted explosions like supernovae.
Below them, Ryuga felt like even her own protective aura was going to be pierced.

(Clearly, this is a once-in-a-millennium opportunity to save Renie…!)

If this continues, I’ll be forced to watch this chance disappear right before my eyes.

Tao seemed uncertain; she wasn’t likely to fight Taotie, and she hesitated to draw out her
Shiyuu hand either.

It might be better to send Taotie back for now... Ryuga’s heart was full of anxiety. But as she
glanced once more towards Ichirou, her expression suddenly became emotionless.

“!”

Ichirou was still waving his hand and calling out loudly towards Taotie.

Above him, a massive hand from Shiyuu hovered, ready to strike.

“Wait—!”

Ryuga’s scream hadn’t even turned into a full-blown shriek before—BOOM!—a loud
explosion echoed across the battlefield.

The hand Renie had so painstakingly grown was supposed to be responsible for pulling
Taotie, but now it was nowhere to be seen.

This was my first major mistake.

That fool, interfering in others’ affairs, didn’t even think twice before jumping in to help
Ryuga, completely ignoring my carefully laid plan for a 2v2 scenario.

(These “Second Last Boss” has completely ruined my strategy! Once this is over, I’ll turn
you into a bowling ball! No, a Kappa head!)
The rage I felt toward Taotie for trying to please everyone distracted me completely from
Shiyuu. That moment of carelessness—the mistake of not paying attention—became a
deadly miscalculation.

(Damn it! Run away, boy! The fist is coming from above!)

Hundun was screaming in my body, and at the same time, I felt something massive,
thundering towards me like a divine strike.

I looked up, and sure enough, it was Shiyuu’s fist. The irony was that it was wearing a ring...
the same ring that Renie wore on her hand.

“Agh, it’s over.”

It was too late to dodge—I realized that instantly.

In moments like these, when death is imminent, one doesn’t really have time to react much.
Right now, all I could utter was that one short sentence.

In the corner of my vision, I could see Aogasaki, Elmira, Kurogame, and even Tao, all
screaming my name in slow motion.

(Is this it, Lord God…? Have you decided to judge me now?)

As a mere side character, now thrust into the middle of this story’s spotlight, it seemed like
my time had come. It was time for the death sentence. I’m done for.

Father, mother, please forgive your son for leaving you both behind.

Your son has fallen gloriously in battle, sacrificing himself for the greater good. His death
has meaning, so there’s no need to grieve.

You once told me, “It doesn’t matter if you’re the best or the only one; just don’t fall behind.”
I apologize for leaving ahead of schedule. Please convey my apologies to Makihara too.

[Note: probably talking about Noriyuki Makihara ]

(Ah… so death feels this drawn out... If I fail to become a Buddha, I will attach it to Tie!)

Ryuga, and everyone else, I leave everything to you. Please, try harder from here on.

Please step over my corpse and ensure we win this final battle. I’ll turn into a star in the sky
and witness it all, or perhaps, I’ll become a wandering soul.

—Once I die, Taotie and Hundun, who are bound to me, will disappear as well.

—The gap in power will widen significantly, and everyone’s morale will plummet.
—What’s worse, we haven’t even saved Renie yet, so if we fail now, we’ll all lose.

(Wait a minute! Isn’t this all turning out way too horrible!?)

And on top of that, aren’t we headed straight for a bad ending involving Qiongqi?

My death doesn’t matter much, but if others die because of it… That would undeniably be…
my fault. I cannot drag them down with me.

In the end, wasn’t it my hope to support Ryuga until the very last moment?

Not only that, but I still need to take care of little Shizuma. Would I just leave him behind?

Using character death to heat up the atmosphere—what an incredibly clumsy narrative

device. Isn’t this too amateurish, even for the writers?

(Lord God! Please postpone the execution! At least let me live until the final victory!)

The moment I screamed; the second miscalculation occurred here.

With a loud crash, I was hit by Shiyuu’s fist—I thought I was done for. But unexpectedly, I
was completely unharmed.

Because, at the very last second, someone blocked Shiyuu’s attack.

Standing over me now was a fully manifested “Evil Spirit” with muscles rippling like a beast,
bearing a long horn on its forehead, with hair like a demon. From head to toe, he looked
completely formidable. It was uncle Hundun.

“Huh? What? Why have I manifested now!?”

Even Hundun seemed shocked by his own appearance.

It was understandable. After all, Taotie and Hundun were not supposed to be able to
manifest fully at the same time, and Taotie was already out here.

Hundun blocked Shiyuu’s arm and looked down at me with a twitching eye.

“To think a battle form of two bodies could be fully manifested... Could it be that you, as the
vessel, have evolved to this point? Have your latent powers blossomed under the threat of
death?”

Even if you ask me that, I have no idea. I have no clue what’s going on.

I think this isn’t an evolution—it’s a character upgrade.

(Now my character design’s even more mysterious…the scenery is too carefree!)

Though that may be true, now is not the time to stand around dumbfounded. This is the
perfect chance.

With Hundun, the strongest among the “Evil Spirits” present, we could resume the plan to
save Renie. Plus, Hundun’s hand was holding onto Renie’s arm, the one with the ring.

“Hundun-jiisan! Rip that arm off! That’s Renie’s!”

“Alright, leave it to me”

Hundun grabbed the arm with the ring and started pulling with all his might, causing a
creaking sound.

“Damn, it’s really tough... What the hell.”

Shiyuu, still struggling, sent punches toward Hundun with its other arm, but it didn’t last
long.

“You won’t get in our way!”

Tao’s hair wrapped around Shiyuu’s arm.

Then, electricity surged through her hair, sending waves of demonic energy that made
Shiyuu scream in pain.

Apparently, Tao had hidden this technique all along. She hadn’t used it against Shima or
Saihiru back in the graveyard, which meant she hadn’t been serious back then.

(Her “Taowu Technique” is no joke... Even though Hundun is getting shocked too!)

At this moment, the heroines of the four gods finally came to me.

“It’s all fine, Kobayashi! I really thought it was over!”

“That’s right! Could you please stop worrying us to death!?”

“Exactly! I thought Ikkun was about to be squashed like paper!”

Aogasaki, Elmira, and Kurogame all joyfully embraced me.

Each of them handed me a bottle of mineral water to drink and rest a little, and even Tao
joined in for a drink.

On Hundun’s side, the fierce battle was still ongoing. Due to his powers not being fully
restored, he was currently struggling.

“Keep going, old man! We’re counting on you! Push through! Use your strength!”
While the “Heavenly Gods” female protagonists were also cheering for him, only Tao was
shouting, “Kill him already! Crush him into the ground!” while doing some kind of bizarre
dance.

Our voices of support were transmitted over.

“Uuuhhhh ——!”

Hundun exerted his full force, causing Renie’s grip to start loosening little by little.

However, another powerful right arm, electrified, suddenly struck down on Hundun from
above. One of the ordinary arms was still incredibly lively!

“Disgusting!” Hundun grabbed the arm with one hand and tore it off. His veins bulged all
over his body, and a blood vessel burst on his forehead.

Finally —— Shiyuu’s two right arms were completely torn off in one go.

At the same time, the two corresponding left arms on Shiyuu’s body started to disintegrate.

The two severed arms that had fallen to the ground began to slowly transform back into
humanoid figures, returning to their true forms as two apostles.

“Oh, mm... Where is this...?”

“This humble monk... is finally free...”

A great success! Those were indeed spider-like henchmen, one of the Six Generals, Renie.

And now, by his side, was the beetle-like apostle, Saihiru, who had heroically sacrificed
himself to protect Shima.

(That persistent, spirited arm was actually Saihiru! What an intricate setup!)

It suddenly occurred to me—Shima had once asked me not only to save Renie, but to also
help rescue Saihiru.

Tao quickly issued orders to the two generals, who were now resting on the ground.

“Renie! Even though you’ve just been revived, hurry up and help take down that monster!
This is an order from me and Shiori, your two masters!”

“Ah, Lord Taowu...? I’m terrified, please explain the situation a bit...”

“The final battle is currently at its most intense moment! Get over there and finish off that
monster, Shiyuu!”
Upon hearing the name “Shiyuu,” the spider-like apostle immediately stood up. Tao then
turned to the bewildered beetle-like apostle slumped on the ground.

“Saihiru, go handle the other apostles! If you need details, ask Shima!”

“In other words, do I need to fight against Lord Qiongqi...?”

“There’s no time for debate! Saihiru, you were temporarily assigned to serve the Yukimiya
household! Move it, soldier!”

“Though I don’t fully understand the situation, it seems you have saved this humble monk’s
life... In that case, I must repay the favor.”

Without asking any further questions, the two generals began their respective missions,
heading to their individual battlefields.

—— The tide of battle, once at a standstill, suddenly shifted dramatically in our favor.

At this rate, we won’t end up with a bad ending... I sighed in relief, feeling the tension ease
from my chest.

At the same time, the battles in other areas were also progressing favorably.

First off, the “Three Abyssal Princesses” were now facing off against a weakened version of
Shiyuu.
The long and drawn-out battle had finally reached a turning point, right at the moment when
I glanced back.

“Un... Kiki, are you all set? Can you hold it together and not spit it out?”

“I’m holding it together! Don’t mess with me!”

Little Kiki’s small frame was spun around like a top by Jyuri’s snake tail, while Mion spread
her wings, waiting for the right moment behind them.

In front of them, the 8-meter-tall monster was approaching, step by step, as if it was falling
into traps. Its entire body was covered with countless arms, wriggling like tentacles.

The monster advanced to about 6 or 7 meters in front of the “Three Abyssal Princesses.”

The snake apostle twisted its body, while the Hokkaido wolf apostle’s tail spun like a
whirlwind, both creatures curling up like dragons in continuous motion.

Seeing this, the weakened version of Shiyuu stopped moving. Lacking reason or
intelligence, the monster relied on its instincts, sensing danger.

“Take this, monster!”

“This is our ‘Abyssal Princess’ fusion technique!”

“The finishing move: ‘Maiden’s Iron Hammer’!”

The “Three Princesses” shouted in unison as they prepared to unleash their finishing blow.

With the force of centrifugal acceleration, the eldest sister’s tail quickly returned to her, and
the three sisters all thrust out simultaneously.

At the same time, the youngest sister flapped her wings, generating a powerful gust of wind
that boosted Kiki’s speed as she pierced through, with the wind aiding her advance even
further.

Victory or defeat was decided in an instant.

Shiyuu had no way to defend himself. He was hit straight on and turned into light by Kiki.

A streak of light shot through, and Shiyuu’s stomach opened up like a massive hole.

No, it wasn’t just a simple hole. Upon closer inspection, Shiyuu’s entire body had been
destroyed from the center outward, leaving him completely unrecognizable.

(Incredible...!)

As I stood speechless, the remains of the weakened Shiyuu began to disintegrate.

Hundreds of souls turned into particles of light and dispersed into the night sky. Since they
had already died once, they could no longer be revived by Qiongqi’s resurrection powers,
and they were sent to the Soul Sleep Realm.

(Those girls had been hiding such a powerful trump card...What a beautiful teamwork.)

The finishing move “Maiden’s Iron Hammer” was remarkably effective, truly outstanding.
Even in its name, there was no comparison to that “everyone boom” attack.

“Phew, if we’re being serious, nothing can stop that,” Mion said, hovering in mid-air, her
words of triumph resonating as her confident expression radiated like crystal.

“You could’ve stopped showing off and used it earlier, right? But that technique really takes
a toll on Kiki... Is she gonna be okay, right?” Jyuri scratched her head, worriedly looking
around.

Kiki, who was not far away, indeed lay face down on the ground, vomiting continuously. This
scene was almost unbearable to witness.

“Uh, if only I had brought a bag for the vomiting... It’s a dangerous situation with such a
strong attack...”

Everything had turned out so neatly and smoothly that I couldn’t help but feel a little bitter,
this only attack had a great burden for the three women.

(Anyway, I managed to resolve the weakened Shiyuu. But what about Shizuma and Shima?
They still haven’t shown any signs of ending their exhausting battles...)

I directed my gaze toward Shizuma’s group, who were currently fiercely engaged in combat.

The enemies, engaged with our forces, were starting to reduce in number at an accelerated
pace.

Currently, both the zebra and cheetah apostles were energetically fighting, along with the
newly arrived ones. The enemies kept dropping one after another, collapsing on the ground.

“Haha! Saihiru, you’ve been resurrected! You saved me back then! As repayment, I’ll let you
suck on my oppai next time!”

“No need, what are you even saying in front of the kids? You shouldn't say this too
carelessly.”

Despite his boisterous spirit, Shizuma’s fatigue was becoming more apparent.

Don’t push yourself, even though you’re tough, you’re still only three years old, and winning
this battle without killing the enemy is extremely challenging.
However, since Hundun had appeared behind me, I couldn’t rush over to help him.

Reinforcements would arrive soon. I wasn’t talking about Saihiru, after all, the appearance
of the new apostles was merely a coincidence.

They should arrive any moment now.

Shizuma’s trusted subordinates who had always supported my children in another world.

“Good, that zebra brat is slowing down! Focus your attacks on him!”

“Now is not the time for pride! Show him the power of adults!”

“Defeating that brat will make you a central figure in the ‘Hell’s Ten Spears’! This is a golden
opportunity!”

Despite the overwhelming shouts from all sides, the enemy’s attacks didn’t land.

From the sky, bird-like shadows flew down, knocking enemies away one by one.

A sweeping motion of wings cleared large groups of enemies.

Precisely aimed stingers from a hornet hit the enemies right on their rears.

“Eh? Everyone!?”

The most surprised one wasn’t anyone else but Shizuma himself, who blinked repeatedly
as he noticed the three figures surrounding him.

“Zelva, Gaigo, Yaguja? Why are you here...?”

Indeed, these were the three captains from the defense forces of the Hell Castle: the
falcon, the giraffe, and the hornet.

“Sorry, kiddo, we were a little late ~. It’s our first time in this realm, and we didn’t understand
the central command system very well.”

“We came here at Hinomori Kyouka’s request. She said it wasn’t necessary to guard the
city anymore and that we needed to rush here for reinforcement.”

“We almost missed the gate ~ but thank goodness we made it ~.”

...In truth, I was the one who asked Kyouka to do that.

Currently, in Qiongqi’s eyes, the Soul Sleeper Face had no meaning anymore—I sent a
message to Kyouka to explain the situation and told her, “Tell the three captains to come
here!”
Yukimiya might have thought I was recording information about “the ring on Renie’s right
hand” at that time... but I’m not that foolish. My brain’s capacity is at least bigger than a
chicken’s.

Reassured by his comrades’ presence, Shizuma’s eyes regained their spark of life.

“Now that the three of you are here, I’m at full strength again! Let’s show them our true
power, just like we did in the otherworld!”

The three captains all responded in unison.

With Shizuma, Shima, Saihiru, and the three captains united... that side was no longer a
concern, and the battlefield was gradually turning in our favor as enemy forces retreated
everywhere.

(That leaves only defeating the enhanced Shiyuu, and dealing with Qiongqi and Agito.)

The path to victory was clear.

It was only a matter of time before Ryuga, during the Final Battle, would reach her moment
of triumph.

Lord God, please delay the execution just a little longer. Although I could already die
content, seeing as how things have turned out, I still want to witness the very end.

I want to see our main protagonist, Hinomori Ryuga — her moment of victory.

“Wait, have Renie and Saihiru reverted to their original forms?! Those littles—!”

Shiyuu was forcibly stripped of his arm, which should have turned into bait for the two
generals...

The one most surprised by this development was Qiongqi, who had created the setup
himself.

As I had anticipated, he had no idea what was happening. Shiyuu’s arm being torn off would
revert the creature to its original form, a fact he hadn’t been aware of at all.

In other words, his failure lies in not properly understanding his own abilities.

As a result, our victory lay in noticing a mechanism that even its creator was unaware of.

“I’ve never even heard of something like this happening! To think Kobayashi boy could make
the ‘Evil Spirits’ manifest simultaneously!”

But this has nothing to do with me. In fact, it’s the same for me failing to grasp my abilities
properly.
(I’ll ignore those things for now, I’ve completed all my tasks for this Final Battle. From now
on, I’ll simply sit back and explain the battle, taking my seat as the commentator!)

I have no intention of fighting Qiongqi or Agito. No, to be precise, my participation in the fight
has nothing to do with anything anymore.

Not only Taotie but even Hundun has fully manifested. If I didn’t treat the enemy seriously,
the battle would drag on indefinitely, and this hard-fought battle would never end.

“Shiyuu’s construction has such a major flaw... it’s terrifying!”

Qiongqi, caught off guard, was strangled by Taotie from behind, and his mask was about to
be pulled off.

“Oh no! Qiongqi, hurry up and surrender! Everyone’s waiting to see your real face!”

“They’re more interested in seeing your kappa head!”

Qiongqi managed to break free from Taotie’s grip, his nine tails standing firm.

However, all of Qiongqi’s nine tails were dodged in a terrifying move by Taotie with
unimaginable precision.

“You’ve got admirable spirit, Qiongqi. I thought you’d find an excuse to avoid a one-on-one
fight.”

“I wanted to, but that would have been too boring. Although I’ve got plenty of tricks up my
sleeve, it would have ruined the heated atmosphere.”

His performance was impressive enough, making me appreciate him more than Taotie.

“Yeah, not bad. But even if I beat someone as weak as you ——”

“Ah, Tie, Hinomori Ryuga’s chest is exposed!”

“What!”

Taotie, without hesitation, glanced downwards, only to be struck point-blank by Qiongqi’s

shockwave, letting out a pitiful cry like a squashed frog: “Hiyaaahh!”

“I told you, I’d play dirty.”

“Damn it, caught off guard... You’re done! I won’t let you get away!”

“Just don’t cry when I beat you.”

Qiongqi immediately launched another attack, pushing back Taotie.

Listen, it’s fine if you two are having fun fighting, but keep it balanced. You’re both supposed
to be the main characters, so don’t overdo it.

Meanwhile, Ryuga was cornering Agito without any hope of escape.

The ‘Heir of the Golden Dragon’ seemed like a beast unleashed, with fists and kicks flying
in perfect form—this was likely her peak combat state, phase three.

(Even though Agito has managed to hold his own against Ryuga’s full power, I bet he’s
starting to regret underestimating her as just a ‘simple girl’ by now.)

As long as there is no sneak attack from Qiongqi, it will undoubtedly become like this.

In a pure one-on-one, Ryuga would undoubtedly defeat Agito... I knew both of their
strengths well enough to see that from the start.

“You’re amazing... You’re truly amazing, Hinomori.”

Agito, who was in a desperate situation, showed a trance-like expression for some reason.

“Your presence throbs in my chest, and it is you who has given me a bright color in my heart
filled with boredom and nothingness. That’s why... I want you!”

“Another poetic love confession? I’m not interested in dating you.”

“You’re essential to me! Let’s go on a date, Hinomori!”

“Not happening!”

“Stop gritting your teeth and holding back!”

“I said no!”

Their battle dialogue has a style to it... but please say something as serious as possible,
you'll lose the atmosphere like this.

(There’s so much more you could talk about! Like, for example, how humanity is so
stubborn! Yet, I still want to believe in them! That sort of thing!)

Suddenly, I heard Shiyuu’s agonized screams from behind.

I turned to look and saw the monster being cornered by the others, with Hundun, Tao, and
Renie not holding back at all.

“What’s wrong, dammit! Put some effort in! Didn’t you eat well?”

“Renie, don’t hold back now! Or I’m going to knock you out!”
“Your defiance against Lord Taowu’s will must be repaid in full. You’ll pay with your life!”

The combined entity was being beaten into submission—it was no match for the three of
them.

Having split into two weakened General-class souls, Shiyuu had lost much of its power,
with its energy visibly diminishing compared to before.

“Don’t forget about us too!”

“Watch as we burn it all to ash!”

“I want to fight too! Tao, it’s time for Shiori to take over! You’ve been on the stage long
enough!”

At this point, Aogasaki, Elmira, and Kurogame were also rushing in. Now that it’s become
an all-out assault, it seems like defeating the entirety of Shiyuu is just a matter of time... I
was thinking that when—

Qiongqi suddenly caught the gap and snapped his fingers.

The entire Shiyuu entity spun around and broke through the encirclement, charging
furiously towards Shizuma and the others.

No—! The monster was heading straight for the three young kids.

(Is it trying to absorb Shizuma’s soul again to power itself up? It must be waiting for him to
tire out!)

As I thought this, I prepared to rush in, but there was no need.

“Special Technique ‘Maiden’s Iron Hammer’!”

I heard a familiar voice. A blazing comet came crashing down, crushing Shiyuu’s leg, and
the monster collapsed with a thud.

...This was thanks to the “Three Princesses”

They had once again used the special combo move from earlier. Although I’m grateful for
their help, is it really okay to keep using that move? Especially for Kiki.

Just as I took a few steps forward, I noticed the Egret Apostle and the Snake Apostle
approaching. Meanwhile, the Hokkaido Wolf girl was still off in the distance, continuing her
assault.

“Ichirou, we’re here to help. With Taotie handling things, Ryuga doesn’t need us anymore.”
“As expected, Lord Ichirou, you’re as reliable as ever. Truly, you are a man worthy of
admiration.”

“This isn’t fun at all. And now even the ‘Three Princesses’ are joining the assault on
Shiyuu...”

I felt a slight headache coming on. Honestly, we’ve already got more than enough people
here.

It’s already overcrowded as it is, and adding the “Three Maidens” to the mix... At this point,
it’s basically just bullying Shiyuu. I really hope we don’t get a complaint from the BPO about
this.

‘Note: BPO refers to Japan’s broadcasting ethics organization. ‘

(I never imagined we’d have too much combat power... Having too many characters has
turned into a real issue...)

This situation will need to be handled carefully. Sorry, Ryuga, but I’m going to have to take
over the command for now.

“‘Three Maidens,’ please assist Shizuma. Even though they have enough people, it’d be
best to wrap this up quickly.”

“Understood, Ichirou. Let’s go, everyone! We’ll knock them out in three strikes!”

“Let’s go all out this time! Today’s the day we bring down everything!”

“Yes! Kiki, come back here! We need to use the ‘Maiden’s Iron Hammer’ again!”

Please stop! You’ll kill her!

I desperately pleaded with the cold and merciless girls.

At the same time, the main battle was reaching its climax. Ryuga’s lightning-fast fist finally
struck Agito square in the body.

“Hu!”

Although Agito barely managed to block the attack, he was still sent flying with a
spectacular blow.

Since Qiongqi couldn’t move away from the container, he was also thrown into the air and
Yutie emptied it.

—— In that brief moment, Ryuga and I locked eyes.

Our gaze only held for less than a second, but I could understand the message in her eyes.
Of course, because we’re more connected than anyone.

Because I am her one and only classmate, we can understand each other with just a look.

That’s because Kobayashi Ichirou is — Hinomori Ryuga’s “Friend Character!”

“Tie, hurry back! You need to handle the entirety of Shiyuu!”

I shouted toward Taotie, then called out to Tao.

“Tao, switch out with Yukimiya! It’s her turn to take the stage now!”

“After that, I raised my voice to give the final order.

“Yukimiya! Aogasaki! Elmira! Turtle! You all go and coordinate with Ryuga! Only you can
handle this task!”

That’s right. In the end, the ones who will decide victory are them.

This story’s protagonists, no matter how you look at it, are Hinomori Ryuga and the “Four
God”, so the one to land the final blow on the Last BOSS can’t be the a “Evil Spirit”, nor the
“Three Stars”, and it certainly can’t be me—it has to be them.

This is how I envision the conclusion of the Final Battle!

“Although I don’t fully understand, I get it! There’s no way I can ignore an order twice!”

“Now that I think about it, I haven’t switched back to Shiori! I accidentally went ahead!”

Luckily, even ‘Evil Spirit’ and the others seriously followed my command.

Over there, the ‘Heavenly Gods’ main heroines had quickly sprung into action, though
Yukimiya’s eyes briefly stopped on the current spider-like figure in front of her.

‘Sebastian...’

‘Miss Shiori, the battle has entered its final stage. Please, proceed ahead.’

Yukimiya said farewell to Renier and dashed forward. She wasn’t a typical damsel-in-
distress, and it showed why she held the position of main heroine.

The four notable characters gathered around Ryuga, aligning their focus on both Qiongqi
and Agito.

“Everyone, are you all ready?”

The four of them nodded in unison.

“Hinomori-kun, I, the ‘Shrine Maiden of Fortune’, will summon my strength to support you
to the very end.”

“I am the ‘Swordswoman of the Beheading Dance’. Ryuga... I am your sword.”

“And don’t forget me, the ‘Blood-kin of Eternal Darkness’. I’ll show you my true power.”

“And me! The ‘Barrier Guardian’ is Ryuga’s shield! Made to bash guys like these!”

As expected, this was indeed the classic Final Battle dialogue from Part 1. Only the turtle’s
line seemed like a new addition.

Agito struggled to lift his head, clutching his abdomen, while Qiongqi put up one last
desperate resistance, emitting a tremendous dark aura.

Meanwhile, Ryuga’s group unleashed a wave of spiritual energy. They were preparing their
strongest finishing technique.

“Let’s end this once and for all! Divine Power Unleash — ‘White Tiger’!”

“A battle that has persisted since ancient times will conclude right here! Divine Power
Unleash — ‘Blue Dragon’!”

“Now we’ll finally bid farewell to our shared fate! Divine Power Unleash — ‘Vermillion Bird’!”

“I’m starting to feel sleepy! Divine Power Unleash — ‘Black Tortoise’!”

“This final strike will contain all our feelings! Divine Power Unleash — ‘Yellow Dragon’!”
“The five of them shouted in unison, their five-colored spiritual energies transforming into
beasts.

Then, each of them merged with their respective Guardian Gods, turning into a beautiful
five-colored comet that soared into the sky, and then… it combined into a gigantic comet.

‘There it is! That’s Ryuga and her team’s ultimate finishing move! It’s the same technique
they once used to defeat Hundun and Taotie, their strongest and most powerful hidden
card!’

I explained this with all my energy, my emotions swirling within me.

Ah, all this effort has truly paid off…Being able to narrate this scene here as a friend is truly
a blessing.

“Disappear, ‘Evil Spirit’ Qiongqi! Return to Hell!”

With the protagonist’s fierce roar, the comet spiraled downwards, headed straight for ‘Evil
Spirit’.

“Ugh, this is really bad... I never expected such a huge gap in the script.”

Qiongqi gazed at the rapidly approaching comet, scratching its mask. It had already
sustained considerable damage from its earlier solo fight with Taotie.

Facing such peril without wavering is admirable for a Last BOSS. You’ve given your all and
added so much excitement to the story.

“Agito, can you still move? They’re targeting me, and if you stay here, you’ll get caught up in
this too. You should get out of here, quickly.”

“Qiongqi, are you serious?”

“Yes. To think that I, once relegated to a supporting role, have now been pushed to this point
by Hinomori Ryuga... I can’t find a single excuse left. In other words, my greatest mistake
was not realizing that “even in this era, girls can be the heroes”.’

‘Evil Spirit’ spoke, standing at the brink of its demise.

Indeed, Qiongqi, in this era, even girls can stand on the battlefield. If you watch TV on
Sundays, you’ll understand just how fierce they can be.

“It’s been great fun, bringing this story to such a climax. I’m satisfied.”

“Is that so? However, it’s deeply regrettable that you couldn’t fulfill my wish. I overdid it
trying to entertain you and the others… I trusted too much, and this is the outcome.”

“In other words… you graduated from being the obedient puppet?”
“That’s right. Next time, I will fulfill my wish by myself.”

Agito straightened his body as he spoke. The comet was now dangerously close.

“Qiongqi, I won’t be your vessel anymore—this is goodbye.”

In an instant, Agito left ‘Evil Spirit’ behind and escaped on his own.

The Evil Spirit passed on the command to relinquish its vessel... To switch hosts, ‘Evil Spirit’
must first gain acceptance. In other words, with those words, Agito severed his connection
with Qiongqi.

That guy Agito actually fled... But there was no other choice. No matter how extraordinary
his abilities were, he was still human, bound by human limitations, and couldn’t be killed
on a whim.

“Kobayashi-kun, this time you’ve won. I’ve been through countless battles up until now, but
this time was particularly interesting. I almost feel it’s a shame to go back to sleep.”

Looking towards us, ‘Evil Spirit’ seemed to smile faintly.

And in the next instant, Ryuga’s group unleashed a collective ‘boom’ onto Qiongqi’s body.

The resulting burst of light illuminated the night training grounds as if it were day, the
shockwave causing the windows of the school to rattle, accompanied by an ear-splitting
explosion that echoed all around.

Qiongqi’s faint death moan was fleeting.

This marks the end of Third Part ‘Evil Spirit’ Qiongqi’s main volume conclusion.

Our protagonist, Hinomori Ryuga, finally achieved victory.

Soon after, the five-colored light disappeared and the field of vision gradually became clear.

Qiongqi’s figure completely disappeared, and there was only a large and deep crater where
she had stood before. I apologize to everyone in the sports club.

I turned my head and saw that as the producer, Qiongqi, was knocked down and his skill
was raised, his entire body also disappeared.

“Nee〜 nee〜, not quite like that. We were so close to finishing it off,” Hundun grumbled.

“You did great! I didn’t even get a chance to step in before it was all over!” Taotie added,
clearly annoyed that he didn’t get to participate.
Both Hundun and Taotie sighed in disappointment, stretched their bodies, and returned to
my inner self.

On the other side, Shizuma and the others had also finished their battle.

Now that Qiongqi was defeated, the remaining enemies lost all will to fight. Some were
frozen in fear, others knelt down in surrender, and a few, for some unknown reason, were
digging through the ground as if trying to find something to take home... Their reactions
varied widely.

The five members who defeated the Last BOSS approached me.

“It’s over, Ichirou,” Ryuga smiled, her eyes slightly wet with tears.

The other heroines, all feeling the same emotions, seemed teary-eyed as well, and even I
could feel my own eyes heating up.

“Aah, Ryuga, that was incredible. As expected of you, the Heir of the Golden Dragon, after
all.”

“This is thanks to everyone. I couldn’t have done it alone,” Ryuga humbly replied, bringing
smiles to the faces of the four companions who fought by her side.

“We… finally did it.”

“Yeah, it still doesn’t feel real yet.”

“Kyaa〜 ha — I’m starving!”

In short, this was a perfect ending. It was Ryuga and the ‘Heavenly Gods’ who brought
Qiongqi’s end, marking the peak of this epic story.

What delighted me the most, however, was that I had barely anything to do with it. That we
made it to the final battle with little involvement on my part was a huge relief.

Everyone was immersed in the aftermath of victory. Suddenly, Ryuga gently patted
Yukimiya on the shoulder.

“Shiori, you should go see Sebastian.”

“Huh…?”

“Today’s battle was for his sake too. Go and tell him, ‘Welcome home,’ alright?”

The “Shrine Maiden of Fortune” nodded, saying, “…Right!” and then dashed off towards
him.
In the battlefield where Shizuma and the others had been fighting, Renier’s remaining
army—about 100 soldiers—were still there, kneeling before the great spider. They were
being scolded harshly.

(Yukimiya’s personal drama continues to dominate, even at the very end...)

The only thing I regret is that little detail. Thanks to that, even though I’m the main host, I’m
once again facing some difficulties.

“Well, I’m going to check on Mion and then head into town for a little shopping spree.”

“I need to go check on poor Shizuma. Ah, but first, I’ll take care of Kiki; she really threw up
a lot.”

“I’ll go see Miss Hebizuka and get a breast massage!”

The ‘Swordswoman of the Beheading Dance’, ‘Blood-kin of Eternal Darkness’, and ‘Barrier
Guardian’ each went their separate ways. Watching their backs as they walked off, the stars
twinkled brightly above the night sky, leaving just me and Ryuga alone.

The moon was so beautiful tonight. We had been fighting so intensely earlier that we hadn’t
even noticed it.

“Hey Ichirou, back when we went to Mount Chigayama and stayed at Rina’s mansion, we
also looked at the night sky together like this, didn’t we?”

“Yeah, we did. The stars were even more beautiful that night.”

Ryuga and I, under this starry sky, almost kissed… I guess death still seems like a more
suitable option, after all.

“Ichirou, from now on… I might just be able to become a normal girl again.”

While we were talking, Ryuga discreetly held my hand.

There’s no mistake. After being freed from fate, Ryuga no longer needed to pretend to be a
man. She had also taken the opportunity to reveal her true identity as a girl to Yukimiya and
Elmira, which wasn’t a bad thing.

“So, do you still want to go back to being a girl?”

“Of course. By the way, I have a suggestion... How about we all go on a trip to China during
the winter break? I want to properly introduce Ichirou to my parents ——”

It seemed like Ryuga’s casual invitation was about to be interrupted.

Suddenly, my phone rang.

I pulled it out and glanced at the screen—it was an unfamiliar number. However, I had a
feeling... I already knew who was on the other end of the call.

“Kobayashi, can you hear me?”

As expected, it was Agito.

Earlier, he had abandoned Qiongqi and fled from the Last Boss battle.

“Agito, how did you get my phone number?”

Ryuga’s eyes widened at my words. She already knew that Agito had escaped because her
finishing move had been aimed solely at Qiongqi.

“During the school festival, I learned it from someone in your class. I’m currently on my way
to the parking lot... The injuries I sustained in the fight earlier are still severe, and I’m
exhausted. I can’t run anymore, so don’t bother chasing me.”

On the other end of the phone, Agito, the defeated villain, spoke with a calm but defeated
tone. Seriously, he called just to say this?

“What’s this about, Ryuga’s attack was quite powerful. Are you regretting your actions?”

“What a ridiculous thing to say. I’ve fallen in love all over again with Hinomori Ryuga, the
girl. Next time, I’ll make her fall completely different way.”

Despite his handsome appearance and sharp mind, why did his words sound like
something from an old, sleazy middle-aged man?

“Agito, have you realized what you’re saying? We’re still basking in our victory. Why would
you threaten us now — —”

“I have just one thing to say. The battle might not be over yet.”

“...”

“For me, whether it’s a ‘Evil Spirit’ or an apostle, they’re just lingering amusements. Our
battle, revolving around Hinomori Ryuga, is just getting started.”

It was similar to what he had said before when he fled. “I’ll fulfill my wish,” he had declared
back then.

“Are you still plotting something? Qiongqi’s gone, and there won’t be any more apostle
following you. What do you plan to do against us?”

“In the near future, you’ll find out. At that time, will you still be able to remain a ‘friend’? Will
Naama choose you again... I’m looking forward to seeing it.”
Agito ended the call after saying those words. Who is Naama?

“Ichirou, did Tenryouin say anything…?”

Ryuga was quite concerned about that. Without needing to hide anything, I conveyed
Agito’s message to her.

—It seems that this story is not quite finished yet, leaving a few loose ends.

—That guy doesn’t seem to have given up on Ryuga yet.

—If I don’t send Tenryouin Agito down to hell, this story won’t come to a proper conclusion.

After hearing this, Ryuga unexpectedly showed an expression of agreement, typical of a

protagonist.

“Kyaa~ Speaking of which… Tenryouin hasn’t apologized at all. No problem, he can try, I
can always be his opponent at any time. I can see through all his moves!”

So she really intends to return to being a girl? Ryuga ended the conversation with a cheerful,
open smile.

To be honest, Agito’s escape didn’t bring joy to the viewers. From the script’s structure,
Ryuga and Agito’s battle would only be fully concluded after their last clash.

I glanced over at my companions.

They were engaged in a lively discussion, each with their own unique style.

“Mion! What are you talking about? You can’t just say that on a day like today!”

“While hugging, I can’t be squished against you! Your chest is like a balloon! Clearly, I won,
so why do I have to feel the sting of defeat right now?”

“Come on, hurry up and get up, Kiki! We want to go to Shizuma’s place!”

“I can’t... I can bear it, but I still vomit...”

“Miss Hebizuka, I want to ask! Does a bigger breast size means more milk? Is it a lot?”

“The size of breasts and milk doesn’t necessarily have a direct relationship; the most
significant factor is the number of mammary glands...Kurogame, is that really something to
ask right now?”

“Sebastian! Welcome back! Let me speak, Sebastian!”

“Shiori, please wait a moment... You still don’t feel ashamed to call me your subordinate!
You’re usually so charming that you can betray your classmate, Tao! Just roll away, Soul
Dreamer!”

“Ah-re? Lord Tie? Where is Lord Tie? Obviously, he want that adult to enjoy my breast in the
principal's office after the battle is over!”

“Shut up, Shima. Pressing against me like this is not right.”

On the other side, they were fully immersed in a humorous situation, with more than half of
the topics revolving around breasts.

(Forget it, I won’t complain...Everyone is doing their best today; I doubt they even feel it.
Besides, I don’t have the strength to complain about all of them.)

Looking at him as he shouted “Hey, Hey” and put Shizuma in and out of the troop
commander trio, I sat cross-legged next to Ryuga.

“By the way, Ichirou, I have one last thing I want to ask you.”

“What is it?”

“When Qiongqi was dealt the final blow, why did you need to ask the ‘Heavenly Gods’ to
stand by you?”

“…Huh? What do you mean?”

I was momentarily at a loss for words; Ryuga continued with a hint of dissatisfaction.

“What I wanted to convey with my eyes back then was, ‘With our love and strength
combined, we’ll defeat Qiongqi!’ Did I not get that across?”

Did you have that intention in your eyes back then? Did you want to call me?

I truly regret not realizing it; our eye contact didn’t achieve the effect it needed to.

(My practice as a friend is far from enough. and……)

About what she wants to express, I want Ryuga to reflect on it.

This kind of atmosphere shouldn’t have required my help; I never intended to participate.
Your attempt is as bad as Qiongqi.
 5. Epilogue

Up until now, Ryuga and the “Apostles of Hell” had reached a complete stalemate in their
battle.

This time, the victory held a profound significance, as the entire war had been centered
around distinction since ancient times. Not only had they repelled the entire “Tremendous
Beast” faction this time, but also, among them, Hundun, Taotie, and Tao had reached
reconciliation.

(Although only Qiongqi could not reconcile, this was still a significant achievement.
Previously, the singular entity of ‘Evil Spirit’ had awakened in great turmoil; now, it had
resolved four matters in one go.)

Hinomori Ryuga successfully protected humanity from unprecedented danger.

From now on, there would never again be any occurrences that led to bizarre events.

In the future, after Qiongqi wakes up, she might have to once again act as the bridge
between the two worlds, but for now, there was no need for unnecessary worries.

Because there were now three bodies of the ‘Evil Spirit’ that had become part of humanity.

At the same time, on some day, Ryuga’s descendants would have to venture forth.

(Please ensure that this descendant is not also my descendant... The bloodline of the
Hinomori family mixed with that of the Kobayashi family could be terrifying... Ryuga is well
aware of this, right?)

Looking back, our first meeting was during our high school entrance ceremony.

Hinomori Ryuga appeared, continually seeking out a worthy ally to support the “main
character” that existed before me.

After that, I became her friend character, and through our arguments, we arrived at today,
having passed a year and seven months...

I am currently celebrating, reminiscing about my past while sipping fruit juice.

“Ichirou, what do you want?”

A boy in a neat school uniform approached.

She had long hair tied back with a black ribbon at the nape of her neck, a petite and delicate
figure, her clothes were neat and tidy, and her face radiated a bright, cheerful vibe, exuding
a particularly charming aura.
This is indeed Hinomori Ryuga.

It is truly a joy to have saved humanity; we are the main characters.

“Yo Ryuga, aren’t you going to chat with everyone?”

“I’ve already talked with everyone; I’m just here with you, Ichirou.”

As we spoke, Ryuga leaned against the wall beside me, and we both looked at the lively
gathering in the hall.

We are currently guests at Yukimiya’s upscale residence.

Two days had passed since the decisive battle with Qiongqi, and today is Saturday.
Everyone gathered in a room at Yukimiya’s estate at 6 PM to hold this small celebration.

Here are members from our side, including Ryuga, the ‘Heavenly Gods’ heroines and
Kyouka.

The Apostles on one side of the meeting include “The Three Talents” with Shizuma, and the
“Eight Talents” Renie, Shima, and Saihiru. Taotie and Hundun are also present.

(This scene gives me a sense of the true conclusion...)

Aogasaki and Mion are engaged in a trendy autumn fashion exchange.

Elmira and Kiki are preparing dishes for Shizuma.

Every few seconds, Yukimiya exchanges words with Tao, causing Jyuri and Renie to feel
bewildered.

Taotie was being pressured by Shima regarding the marriage registration form, which he
slyly passed to Saihiru. By the way, where do you plan to hand in this registration form?

Hundun was being attentive as Kyouka spilled her juice. The uncle was moving around
within three meters of me.

(Although this wasn’t the original intention, I still ended up enabling the ‘Evil Spirit’ to
manifest its powers, resulting in the uncle and Tie coming out with me. My potential is
terrifying... and it's very regrettable...)

Ryuga was currently close to me, gently observing the others, “I never would have dreamed
this day would come”, she murmured with deep emotion.

The situation, where we had once been in conflict, had now turned into close bonds, which
is the greatest praise for Ryuga.

Their relationships hadn’t transformed overnight; I had continuously told her.

“Rina and the three captains are coming soon; all the members from the Final Battle are
gathering. This is a rare opportunity; the security team should also participate in the
meeting as best as they can.”

“They are all on priority duty, and their seriousness is at a high level, unlike that Shima’s
subordinates. Speaking of which, where did Kurogame go? Today is Saturday; she should
have returned home by now after all her classes.”

“When I went to look for her, she was sound asleep as usual, saying, ‘I’ll be fine soon; you
can go ahead!’”

Even now, she clearly still arrived late, and I had to concede. In the end, I couldn’t control
that turtle; as a supportive character, I hadn’t gone far enough.

The three captains would be a bit late as they were still dealing with the remaining Qiongqi’s
faction members’ responses from the other world.

Furthermore, more than a thousand of them had fled, suddenly pledging allegiance to
Taotie, waiting for the “Three Evil Spirits” below; they were currently in the other world,
undergoing a self-reflection that the three captains were handling specifically.

“It’s almost seven o’clock; let Hundun open the door.”

I was also greatly looked after by the three captains and wanted to share a drink with them
no matter what. Shizuma would definitely want to share her joy with the three of them.

“No problem, kid, I’ll open the door.”

Hundun raised a hand, and a door appeared right before him.

Looking at Hundun, I suddenly remembered “him,” so I asked Ryuga.

“Ryuga, after Agito contacted you that day, he said—”

As I was saying this, three members from the other world burst through the door, crashing
down into the canteen.

“Oh, what a struggle…”

“We finally managed to retreat. How annoying...!”

“Seriously, hanging by a thread here!”

I was waiting for the three captains.

However, the situation seemed a bit off. They looked as though they had found a way to
survive while panting heavily, and their bodies were covered in injuries. One of the members
even had a hole in his head, with blood flowing continuously.

“You guys, what happened? Did something happen over there?”

Shizuma was anxiously asking about the captains, rushing over to inquire about the
situation. Yukimiya also immediately rushed over to provide treatment.

Everyone, either curious or shocked, gathered to ask what had happened. The three
captains opened their mouths to respond.

They brought shocking news that swept away the atmosphere of victory.

“We’re in trouble! An army from another world is attacking!”

“The number of opponents exceeded 10,000 and it was threatening! In an instant, they
seized Ling City, even halting Hell Castle! Apologies for the trouble!”

“Even though we organized the counterattack, we suffered a complete breakdown!

Everyone was scattered, and we instructed them to temporarily hide for safety!”

... Wait a moment, what on earth is happening? What are you all talking about?

Attacked by the enemy? Who is the enemy? Haven’t they been eliminated already?

“The officers involved have proven resilient beyond imagination... Perhaps even more than
the princesses. Moreover, they still seem to have transformed into human forms...”

“Currently, it’s confirmed that there are more than ten officers! And their leader—without a
doubt, it’s that young man! It’s Tenryouin Agito!”

“That handsome guy who calls himself the ‘Successor of Solomon’! He also declared, ‘I’m
declaring war between the other world and the human world!’”

We were thrown into chaos.

The enemy officer is Agito? Is this happening so quickly? What does being the “Successor
of Solomon” mean?

(Have you ever left this kind of foreshadowing before!? That said, don’t you know that this
story is almost over!? Talk about opening the second season without permission!)

We had momentarily glimpsed peace, only to have it shattered, leaving the canteen in
silence. Ryuga and I, along with everyone else present, were at a loss for what to do.

A few seconds later, the pink-haired vampire girl broke the silence.
“Clearly, it’s Solomon? In other words, those accompanying Tenryouin Agito are—72 pillars
of demons? If that’s the case, then their ability to transform into humans makes sense...”

Elmira, you must have known this from the beginning! Quickly tell me! What is that guy truly
about!?

As I opened my mouth to ask, the three captains continued their interrupted report.

After listening, I finally learned that the earlier group hadn’t been as insignificant as it
appeared.

They went on to share the shocking revelation that left us stunned today.

“Listen, General. Among those officers... there’s one you’re familiar with.”

“Though Tenryouin Agito referred to her as ‘Furcas,’ there’s no doubt she is…”

“One of the ‘Heavenly Gods’, the ‘Black Turtle’ Kurogame Rina!”

“...”

“....What?”