Let's cut to the chase.

Tiamat's arrival turned the tide against Grendel and his miniature dragons.

Grendel, tackled by Tiamat, Alice, and Miu, was a wreck—limbs severed, body in worse shape than after our one-on-one. He's still conscious, somehow.

The miniature dragons, likely familiars, were handled by the Occult Research Club's offense, with Sitri's support in mid and rear guard. All were obliterated to dust.

Asia's healing aura kept injuries minor.

Everyone's safe. That's what matters.

But the cost was steep.

"Pantsu…? Pantsu Dragon King…?" Tiamat muttered, mentally shattered.

Right beside me, crouched, mumbling to herself!

"Sorry… bad timing," Miu said awkwardly.

"Cheer up, Tiamat-san. You're a proper dragon king, unlike that pantsu freak," Alice comforted.

Our Queen and Bishop rubbed Tiamat's back, consoling her.

Miu, who called her at that moment, looked guilty.

"…Tiamat, I get it," Ddraig said.

"Fafnir wasn't like this before…" Vritra added, both clearly shocked.

So, Fafnir used to be normal? A legit dragon king?

"Tiamat, don't let it get to you. Keep being a proud dragon king, our dependable big sister, okay?" I urged.

Even if Fafnir's a Pantsu Dragon King, Tiamat's still Tiamat—our strongest dragon king!

But…

"Dragon pride…? Dragon king…? What's that, tasty?" Tiamat mumbled.

"Isseeee! Tiamat's broken!" Miu cried.

"She's talking like a foreign celebrity!" Alice added.

No way!

Why's this happening!?

It's chaos!

Asia's a Pantsu Sister, and Tiamat's a foreign talent!?

All because of that Pantsu Dragon King!

"Asia-tan's pantsu, sniff sniff," Fafnir purred, savoring the scent of Asia's underwear hooked on his nose.

"Stop sniffing!" I roared.

He's relishing it like a gourmet!

What's wrong with this dragon king!?

And don't call her "Asia-tan"!

Saji, exasperated, asked Vritra, "Was Fafnir really normal back then?"

"Aye. He loved gold and swords but wasn't this. He was slain by Gram, revived by Norse gods. Maybe a glitch happened then…" Vritra mused.

Right, Fafnir was killed by Gram, now Kiba's weapon. Norse gods, led by that pervy Odin, revived him. Makes sense.

"Or Azazel screwed up sealing him in an artificial Sacred Gear," Ddraig suggested.

"Totally plausible!" I agreed.

Knowing Azazel, he'd think, "Dragon king, sturdy, let's experiment!" and mess around half-jokingly!

Tiamat, still being comforted, suddenly stood.

"Tiamat? What's up?" I asked.

"So that's it…" she muttered.

Then—

"Azazel! He did this! Insulting dragons! I'll kill him!" Tiamat exploded, blue aura raging like a storm.

Cool-headed Tiamat's snapped!

"Stop her! Everyone, stop Tiamat! She'll do something crazy—Azazel's dead if she gets loose!" I shouted.

Meanwhile, Azazel-sensei

"!?"

"What's wrong, Azazel?" Rias asked.

"N-Nothing… just felt a massive killing intent aimed at me…"

"?"

"Probably my imagination… I think."

It wasn't.

End Azazel-sensei

"Huff… huff…" I panted.

We all restrained Tiamat, calming her down.

Terrifying. That's a dragon's wrath.

"Sniff sniff," Fafnir continued.

"Stop it, you pervert dragon king!" I snapped.

I'm done with this Pantsu Dragon King. Can't keep up.

A magic circle formed around the tattered Grendel.

"Two dragon kings were too much, huh? Done, Grendel? …Not that you can fight anymore," the robed man said.

"Tch," Grendel clicked his tongue, still eager to fight despite missing all limbs.

"The experiment succeeded. We got enough data. We're pulling out," the man said.

The circle glowed, and Grendel vanished.

The man removed his hood, revealing a silver-haired youth.

His face… familiar, like I'd seen him before…

"I'm Lucifugus. Eugrid Lucifugus," he declared.

Lucifugus!?

"You're… Grayfia-san's…?" I stammered.

"Yes. I'm Grayfia Lucifugus's brother," he confirmed.

That explains the similar aura.

"You're not the boss, are you? Who's uniting Khaos Brigade's remnants?" Saji demanded.

Eugrid only narrowed his eyes. "You'll find out soon enough."

Sona, piecing it together, said, "You infiltrated this town and brought the wizards. With an aura like Grayfia-sama's, you could bypass the barrier."

Right, that makes sense.

Eugrid spoke calmly. "Tell my sister, who stooped to being Gremory's servant: if she can abandon Lucifugus's duties to live freely, I have that right too."

With that, Eugrid Lucifugus vanished into a magic circle.

The field began crumbling, its purpose fulfilled, revealing a kaleidoscopic void typical of dimensional gaps.

After all that chaos, no surprise.

"This space is collapsing! Evacuate!" Sona ordered.

"Everyone, onto the circle!" Miu called, deploying a teleportation array.

Ravel cast a small magic circle toward the cultivation capsule. "At least let me do this."

"I see," Sona said, mimicking her action.

Marking spells.

As I realized, we were engulfed in teleportation light.

▽

We returned from the battlefield, having rescued our allies, to the old schoolhouse's Occult Research Club room.

Grendel's fight drained me, but that sudden pain exhausted me more. I lay on the sofa, resting.

Grendel's defense was unreal.

"Grendel withstood your attacks and dragon-slaying power, still standing. Something's enhancing him," Sona noted.

Dragon-slaying resistance? Is that possible?

And those familiar-like dragons from Grendel… and my reaction to them.

What was that?

The headache, chest pain, that voice…

Malice, murderous intent, raw anger.

"Ignis, do you know something?" I asked.

"It's her anger," Ignis replied.

Her…?

"You know what it is?"

"Yes. But you can't touch it yet. And… I'm not certain," Ignis said.

Not certain?

"Something that should've ended long ago… didn't. That's likely it. But why…?" Ignis mused, lost in thought.

She knows something, but it's vague.

Something that ended but didn't…?

"Issei-sama, I bought tea," Ravel said, entering with Koneko-chan, holding vending machine tea.

I took it. "Koneko-chan, where's Gasper?"

"With the medics, with Asia-senpai and the others," she replied.

"Sona and the others are meeting with Underworld and Heaven staff. Alice and Miu went in my place," I said.

I can move now, but they insisted, "Lie down!" Pretty forceful.

A brief silence.

"I can't forgive them," Ravel said firmly.

Her eyes shone fiercely, unlike when she cried seeing the rogues' "factory."

"Absolutely unforgivable," she added.

"Same here, Ravel. I'll always back you up," Koneko-chan said, squeezing her hand with a smile before leaving.

Just me and Ravel remained.

I bowed. "Sorry I was late to save you."

Ravel might've learned about the Phoenix clones eventually.

But this time, the situation was brutal—kidnapped with classmates as hostages, filled with fear, then hit with cruel truths.

I wanted to save her sooner… before she was taken.

"I was happy," Ravel said.

Happy…?

Blushing, she continued, "I was happy… that Issei-sama watched over me, protected me…"

She touched her left wrist, where a small magic circle glowed, matching one on mine.

A marking Miu made to track Ravel and swap places with me. Normally hidden, it surfaced when activated.

"Oh, that. Miu might've told you, it's insurance. Mephisto said rogues were targeting Phoenixes, so just in case. Worked this time," I explained.

"Yes… that's why I was happy. Knowing Issei-sama protected me…" Ravel's eyes glistened.

"No big deal. You always help me, and protecting you's my job," I said.

My precious junior, manager, and now family living with us. Of course I'd protect her.

"Want to remove it? Miu can erase it," I offered.

"No, I'll keep it… as a memento of Issei-sama saving me," Ravel said, blushing harder.

Haha, a memento?

If she's cool with it, fine. Miu can reactivate it for emergencies.

"It's like we're matching," I noted.

The same spell, obviously.

"Matching…?" Ravel asked.

"Oh, sorry, if that's weird—"

"No! It's an honor!" she blurted, cutting me off with fierce enthusiasm.

Clearing her throat, Ravel spoke again. "Can I… tell you an old story?"

"Old story?" I echoed.

She nodded, resolute. "As a child, I was thrilled by hero tales my butler read. I dreamed of being a woman who supports such heroes. But as I grew, I forgot that dream… until I saw Issei-sama. Passionate, caring, fighting for what you protect—your shining figure was the hero I admired."

She continued, "I want to stay by your side. It's my selfish fantasy… coming here was my choice. But being your manager makes me so happy… I want to keep working with you."

I was stunned. That she'd say all this.

But I was happy too. That she wanted to stay with me.

"I want you here, Ravel. I want you as my manager forever. Can you do that?" I asked.

"Of course! I'm ambitious to make things even bigger!" she declared.

This petite heiress is unstoppable!

"But first, we'll crush those who disrespected Phoenix! No more of their nonsense!" I vowed.

"Yes! As the Phoenix heiress, I won't forgive them!" Ravel agreed, pulling out a memo with magic circles and runes.

"Those are… from there?" I asked.

"Runes from the capsules and machines in that field. I've shared them with Underworld, Heaven, and Phoenix staff. They reveal a lot. Sona-sama and I marked the capsule. It's likely adrift in the dimensional gap now, but with our mana, we can track it. No matter how long it takes, we'll uncover their plans. The Phoenix family will pursue their goals relentlessly!"

Those final circles were markers. She's sharp!

Khaos Brigade and the rogues don't know.

Ravel's an immortal Phoenix, her spirit growing as unyielding as her body.

Capturing her was their mistake.

SLAM!

The door burst open.

Raiser stood there, panting. "Ravel! You okay!?"

"Onii-sama!?" Ravel gasped.

"Came as soon as I heard! Any injuries!?" he demanded.

"I'm fine! Calm down!" she huffed.

Raiser's a great brother. Ravel's back to her usual self—good to see.

-------------------------------------------

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