As Kazuki grimaced in bitter frustration, Serafall stroked his cheek and smiled.
In the face of whatever insults, abuse, or impossible demands might await her, she could still smile like that—the sight stirred a deep sense of respect within Kazuki. No matter how much she played the fool normally, in moments like this, he truly felt that this woman was a Demon Lord.
"And that's why I'll be going. That's fine, right, Azazel-chan?"
"...Yeah, I got it. Sorry about this, Serafall."
Azazel muttered the words with a pained expression. But now, their party was set.
Kazuki stepped a short distance away from the group, activated his Guyver armor, and focused his mind to summon the "Chrysalis." Responding to his call, the Chrysalis materialized behind him.
"Let's go, everyone!"
As Kazuki boarded the Chrysalis, Artoria climbed in on his right, Rossweisse, clutching the medical capsule, on his left, and directly in front of him, Serafall pressed herself against him as if in a full-body embrace as she boarded.
"Kazuki! Saving the old man is your top priority, but get that barrier down as fast as you can! If you do, we can send reinforcements!!"
"Understood!"
"Senpai!!"
"Be careful, Kazuki! Don't push yourself too hard!!"
"Rias, I'm off! Issei, take care of everyone for me!!"
Answering the voices of Azazel, Issei, and Rias, Kazuki sealed the Chrysalis's hatch.
"To the Norse realm!!"
In response to his command, the Chrysalis launched into flight…
Having returned to their hideout and collapsed from sheer exhaustion, Vali had been asleep for a long while. Now awake, she sat up on the sofa.
"Oh? Are you awake, Vali?"
Arthur called out to her as she folded the blanket that had been draped over her.
"Yeah... Sorry for the trouble, Arthur. So? How are things progressing over there?"
"With the power of this Holy Ruler Sword, Excalibur Ruler, it seems manageable. However, its abilities come with restrictions, so Fenrir will be weakened to some degree, unfortunately..."
"A bit of a letdown... but well, if losing a little power means adding that Fenrir to our team, it's a small price to pay."
"Good grief, you really do have peculiar tastes."
That was precisely the reason Vali had proposed the joint front in the first place.
During a certain incident, she had stumbled upon the last missing Excalibur—the Holy Ruler Sword, Excalibur Ruler. With it, one could bring even the mightiest magical beasts under one's dominion.
Everything had been for the sake of obtaining Fenrir. Dealing damage to the beast to weaken its resistance and make it easier to dominate had gone according to plan, but even the power of Excalibur Ruler couldn't establish perfect control.
As a result, several restrictions had been placed, and Fenrir was weakened, a regrettable outcome.
"Yo? You're awake, Vali. Perfect timing—just got word from Cao Cao a bit ago."
Bikou entered the room, delivering his report.
"Bikou... What did that bastard have to say?"
"Hmm? To sum it up: 'We're gonna do things our own way, so don't get in our fucking business.' Something like that."
"That's my line. If he gets in my way, I won't show any mercy."
Vali's team and the Hero Faction led by Cao Cao both technically belonged to the Khaos Brigade, but that didn't make them comrades. Depending on their objectives, they could easily end up as enemies instead.
"Still, this whole mess leaves a shitty taste in my mouth... Well, we got what we wanted, so I guess it's fine."
"I have no words to defend myself either... I need to get stronger. So I never put on a disgrace like that again."
At Bikou's remark, Vali offered a self-deprecating smirk. Just then—
"Phew, that was a good bath."
Suddenly, Coriana strolled into the room, wearing nothing but a bath towel wrapped around her body, fresh from the bath.
"Pfft!? Coriana!? What the hell kinda getup is that!?"
"Ehh? What's the big deal? I just got out of the bath."
"Even so, don't go wandering around in nothing but a towel, dammit!!"
The pleasant post-bath scent wafting from Coriana filled the room, and Bikou's face flushed bright red—whether from anger or embarrassment was anyone's guess.
"Jeez, so noisy~. ...Oh-ho~, I get it. You got all hot and bothered seeing big sis naked, didn't you? You naughty little pervy monkey!"
"Wha—!? That's bullshit!!"
Honestly, Bikou was nothing more than a fun toy for Coriana. Though if she kept pushing him, he might actually explode.
"Alright, alright, that's enough, Bikou, Coriana. Coriana, go get changed, or you'll catch a cold."
"Okaaay, see ya."
When Vali intervened, Coriana backed off without a fuss and left the room.
"God dammit, that walking R-18 rating."
Bikou stamped his feet in sheer frustration at having been so thoroughly teased.
"I do wish she'd show a bit more modesty."
Arthur sniffed with visible displeasure. It seemed Coriana was decidedly not his type.
"Now, now. For all that, her abilities are the real deal. More importantly, what became of Odin after that?"
"Ah, right. Odin got fucked up bad by Fenrir's fangs. To save him, Guyver's apparently headed off to the Norse realm."
"...Is that so? To the Norse realm."
The injuries she'd taken from unleashing Juggernaut Drive while gravely wounded, combined with the damage from the Dragon-Slayer strike Kazuki Fuwa had dealt her, had Vali's body screaming in protest. It seemed she wouldn't be able to fight for a while.
But still…
'I will pay you back for this. Just you wait!'
The next battlefield: The Norse Realm…
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