During breakfast one morning:

"Yuto, Xenovia. Come train with me later," Maurice said, biting into his bread.

"Understood," Kiba replied.

"Count me in," Xenovia added.

I watched the old man invite Kiba and Xenovia to spar, a daily routine at the usual plaza.

It had been a few days since our encounter with Rossward. Stunned by his overwhelming power, we were desperately searching for a way to counter him. Sensei, with Lisha and Rossweisse as assistants, had been hopping between research facilities, diving deep into analysis.

Lisha's expertise in magic and Rossweisse's mastery of Norse runes gave me hope they'd find something, but…

I glanced at Sensei, sipping coffee beside me.

"Any progress, Sensei?"

"Nah. Nothing significant yet. We're still analyzing, but…" He shook his head with a sigh.

Guess it's too soon since the fight. Plus, we're still short on info.

Alice, sitting across from me, chimed in.

"If only we knew someone who had info on that guy."

"If we did, we wouldn't be struggling. Even Gailpain's elder didn't know anything," Maurice said.

"Yeah, true. Miu, your dad never mentioned anything, right?" Alice asked, turning to Miu.

Miu swallowed her bread and nodded.

"Nope. Dad never talked about anything like that. Nothing relevant in his belongings from Ulm either."

So, even Sirius, a former Demon King, had no clues…

Sigh.

Like Alice said, if only we knew someone who had intel on Rossward.

"If we could find where he was sealed, that'd help," Sensei said. "A being that powerful would leave traces of the seal. Analyzing those could give us a breakthrough."

The place where he was sealed, huh?

How the hell did someone manage to seal that monster? I'm dying to know who did it.

He also mentioned being "created" and called the gods fools.

Did something happen between him and the gods?

Gods…

Created…

Legends…

Divine Realm…

I pieced together the keywords in my head.

…Wait.

Hold on—

"AAAAAAAAHHH!"

My scream echoed through the room.

Crash!

My chair toppled as I shot to my feet.

Who cares about that!

That's it!

There is someone who might know!

How did I forget until now?!

Everyone covered their ears, staring at me in shock.

"Hey! What's with the yelling?!" Sensei smacked my head with a paper fan he pulled from nowhere.

Ouch!

"What's wrong, big brother?" Miu asked, looking puzzled.

I chugged some water to calm myself, took a deep breath, and sat back down.

Man, I should've remembered sooner. Could've saved us some headaches.

Stupid, stupid me!

"I-Issei? W-What's going on?" Alice asked.

"There is someone…"

"Someone? Who?"

"Someone who might know about Rossward!"

"WHAT?!"

Everyone gasped.

No surprise there. We'd been nearly out of leads, and now this.

I was shocked myself.

Sensei grabbed my shoulders.

"For real?! Why didn't you say so sooner?!"

"I just remembered!"

"You idiot! Spit it out! Who is it?!"

"My… Master."

At the edge of Ast-Ade lies an island, shrouded in forest.

A place unknown to its inhabitants.

Probably only I know of it.

Why?

For one, the seas around it teem with powerful magical beasts. They're no match for Rossward, but each one's strong enough to challenge an entire army.

Neither demons nor humans dare approach.

Then there's the mist.

A white fog envelops the island, disorienting anyone who enters, making it nearly impossible to reach.

Some say you never come back once you're caught in it.

That's why no one, not even Alice and the others, knows about this place.

I know it because I've been here before. After losing Light and parting with Alice's group, I came here alone during my training journey.

Thought I was gonna die.

I had to dive underwater to avoid the fog, all while dodging the beasts.

It took over a month to reach the island, with barely any food or water.

Honestly, it's a miracle I survived.

Sheer grit, maybe?

This time, I came alone again, partly because of a promise I made.

"Wasn't as tough this time," I muttered, trekking through the forest.

I blasted the beasts with Tianwu Xenon and cleared the fog with Tengeki Eclipse's barrage.

Made it here pretty easily.

"Talk about overkill. The old you couldn't have pulled that off," Ddraig said.

Yeah, well, I was in a hurry this time.

Emerging from the forest, I reached a wide grassland. At its center stood an ancient stone temple, resembling the Gate of Transference.

This was my goal.

"The entrance to the Divine Realm. Found it."

This temple was the gateway to the Divine Realm. It worked last time.

I stepped inside, a faint nostalgia washing over me as I looked around.

After a short walk, I reached a wide chamber. The walls were plain, but the floor bore a circular pattern etched with ancient runes and strange symbols.

First time I saw it, it creeped me out.

Standing on the circle, I channeled my aura into it.

Light traced the patterns, glowing brightly.

Looks like it's working.

"Hope you don't pass out this time."

Oh, yeah, I fainted last time, didn't I? Master had to drag me out…

Eh, it'll be fine.

I'll manage.

The pattern flashed intensely.

A pillar of light descended from the ceiling, swallowing me whole.

"Partner… Wake up, partner."

Ddraig's voice roused me.

I opened my eyes to a world blanketed in white mist.

Familiar.

This was…

"Looks like it worked. That strange power in the mist—this is near that old geezer's place."

Knew it.

Master's cabin should be nearby, then…

I stood slowly, scanning the surroundings.

Nothing but white. Even my demon vision couldn't pierce it.

No choice.

I activated Ring-Vigor Technique, probing for qi.

Even in the Divine Realm, where gods dwell, qi flows through all things. Gods are no exception.

After a few moments:

"Found it. This way."

I moved toward the qi, pushing through branches in the forested realm.

"To think we'd meet that geezer again. Honestly, I'd rather not…"

You really hate Master, huh?

"He's not bad, but… that pervy old man turned you into what you are."

I was always like this! Master's got nothing to do with it!

"Right… sniff… I forgot…"

Oh, come on, Ddraig's crying again…

Sorry, sorry! Don't cry!

After about ten minutes of banter, I reached a small cabin atop a cliff.

A typical log cabin, smoke curling from its chimney. Someone was home.

"Nostalgic."

Yeah, no kidding.

We owe this place a lot.

Those hellish training days feel like yesterday…

Getting kicked off this cliff…

Sniff. I'm tearing up…

"Ugh… sniff…"

Why're you crying now, Ddraig? Still hung up on earlier?

"No… Remembering how I had to endure you two perverts' nightly talks… sniff…"

That, huh?

Sorry, Master and I are both like that.

Guess I'll head in.

I slowly opened the cabin door.

And there—

"Woo-hoo! What a rear! Those thighs! Hyo-hyo-hyo!"

Master was glued to what looked like a TV, cackling with a pervy grin…

So, Issei's back in the Divine Realm!

The master mentioned in the prologue (Chapter 3) finally appears!

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