"…Looks like it's not my turn."
Within the misty barrier space, the greatest irregularity, a man, muttered to himself.
He had a weary air, like a dead dragon.
"This is the worldline Zepar told me about, right? The appearance of a Demon God means divergence is starting."
The history that should have been. Or perhaps, a history that could have been.
This place felt similar but wasn't his history—a world without Demon Gods, belonging to them. There was no place for him here.
No, there was likely no place for him in any world, any history.
After killing his red-haired devil master, he wandered eternity, unable to die. How long would that woman keep chasing him? There was no meaning, no value in it.
"The 'connection' is made. I'll escape to the next one, Ritsuka Fujimaru. …Maybe I'll meet a Zepar or Goetia I don't know, who don't know me."
He might even answer the Counter Force's call.
A fraud claiming to be a heavenly dragon, unable to fall or ascend—where would he end up? At least this wasn't the end, that much was certain.
"She can't follow me there, right? Asia."
With that, 'Hyoudou Issei' leapt to the next somewhere.
It was, as expected, an utterly unforeseen place. Where did he land?
"Honestly, Europe was a hard no. Same for its colonies—America, Africa. Cao Cao's name can't compete with the Holy Spear. Hardly any weapon could. It's a key relic of the world's largest religion. Saying 'I'm Cao Cao's descendant' with that spear just makes you 'some Asian with the Holy Spear.'"
"That's rough."
"And China's out too. Like I said, Cao Cao's fame is surprisingly low there. Sure, he's known locally, but high fame for him means high fame for other Three Kingdoms figures."
"Is that a problem?"
"Huge problem. The other side expects Liu Bei or Guan Yu to show up."
"Really?"
"Absolutely. I'd expect it. Like in the Fourth Singularity—Mordred versus the Black Spear Lion King was epic, right? Singularities summon heroes from any era or region, but local ones hit harder. …I looked, you know? For descendants or reincarnations of Lü Bu or Hua Tuo. Found none. With only Western heroes gathering, I avoided a European debut."
"I get it, If Kijyo Koyo had a monkey, dog, and pheasant, it'd feel… No, Kijyo Koyo's cool either way."
"Why give a Chinese hero's descendant the Biblical top-tier spear? Sacred Gears are random, sure, but give me a Chinese mythology one! …Though, no Chinese Longinus exists."
"None?"
"Dimension Lost feels like a Peach Blossom Spring or mirage, but misty otherworlds are common globally. It's a mixed bag. The Lion King's axe is baffling—uses Nemean Lion's soul, but not the one the original Heracles killed."
"? ??? ??? Huh?"
"Don't make that space cat face, Mash."
"Sorry. I understand Hydras, Cerberuses, and Minotaurs are species here, not individuals, so multiple Nemean Lions make sense. But the 'Nemean Lion killed by the original Heracles' exists, right? Why seal a different one in a Sacred Gear?"
"No clue."
"Any Japanese Longinus? This world's Shinsengumi met a similar end to ours, so no wielders, but Nobunaga's era—Sengoku warlords—might have one."
"I think 'Black Blade Dog God' seals Ame-no-Ohabari with Lycaon, the primal werewolf, losing its divinity."
"Huh?"
"Stop with that face."
×× was mid-conversation, but currently suspended—tied up with shimenawa rope like a manga character, dangling. The rope's end was held by a giant dragon, 'Sinful Tyrant Dragon' Grendel—not this worldline's Grendel, but one summoned from ××'s coffin.
How did this happen? Seizing ××'s terrified distraction, Azi Dahaka poured mana into the coffin, forcibly activating the Holy Grail and summoning Grendel as bait or a decoy. But the opponent was Asia. "Oh, Grendel-san, long time no see. Please secure the patient."
She and Grendel obeyed. Even Azi Dahaka who planning to escape alone complied.
The Hero Faction, minus Cao Cao, watched with dead-fish eyes. Cao Cao turned his back, physically and mentally averting his gaze.
"Hey, Cao Cao."
"Don't say it."
"Leader."
"I said don't."
"…Let's just leave."
"Yeah."
They left swiftly without glancing at ××. In a barrier space, Georg could use escape magic, so Cao Cao's brisk walk was purely to distance himself from that man.
Sensing this, ×× shouted after Cao Cao.
"Hey, you failure who couldn't even become a proper flop! Take my advice—improve that Balance Breaker. You'll embarrass yourself!"
"Every Singularity I used it…"
"Stop, Master, forget it!"
It was sincere advice, but Cao Cao ignored it. His original Balance Breaker, Polar Night Heavenly Wheel Holy King's Shining Spear, couldn't possibly be embarrassing.
In another worldline, this conversation occurred about Polar Night Heavenly Wheel Holy King's Shining Spear:
"—So, Cao Cao, how's it feel to wield a spear sealing the God of the Bible's will? If you've lost confidence with it, I'll allow you to sulk in the Temple."
"Feels clearer than expected, Goetia. No worries."
"Good. The more pawns we can use, the better."
"Naturally. I'd say I'll outshine you, but I'm not unarmed. Got a spare spear?"
"No issue. What kind… No, one close to the True Longinus for familiarity. …By the way, your spear reached Balance Breaker, right? What's its ability?"
"Huh? The True Longinus was modified with the Holy Grail and Cross, right? How don't you know?"
"To us, it was more a wedge than a weapon. Frankly, we weren't interested."
"Fair. Listen up, then. My Balance Breaker's name is Polar Night Heavenly Wheel Holy King's Shining Spear. It summons seven orbs, each with a unique ability. First, the Wheel Treasure, Chakkarathana—"
"—and that's it. How's that? Replicate it if you can. It's up to you Demon Gods, but I'll master it."
"…"
"…"
"…"
"What's with the silence? Don't all shut up!"
"Your handler was Baal, right? What's this mess?!"
"Mess?!"
"My mistake. I'll accept any punishment."
"What's wrong with my Polar Night Heavenly Wheel Holy King's Shining Spear?"
"Are you serious?"
"What's with this parade of mediocre abilities? Is this your trump card?"
"You're going that far?!"
"The 72 Demon Gods will now critique your overly long-named Balance Breaker. Listen gratefully."
"First, Chakkarathana—'only a skilled expert can counter it'? What's 'skilled' mean? Experts vary widely."
"Is it an excuse for when it's blocked? 'You blocked it, you're quite skilled'—are you a measuring stick?"
"You know it, so don't overlap abilities. Is your brain only attack-focused? Musclehead."
"Don't float on unstable orbs. You'll slip."
"Humanoid clone? If it doesn't match your skill, make it a versatile slime."
"Seven abilities, no elemental attacks? That's admitting you lack a specialty."
"It's strong, but each ability's self-contained. No synergy. No combos, in modern terms."
"No thought for team synergy. Uniform appearance to confuse enemies? That confuses allies too. Useless in group fights."
"Got it? Your needlessly long-named Balance Breaker holds every reason you failed as a hero!"
"Guh!"
"Mayday! Call Asia or Nightingale-sensei!"
"No, stop, I'm fine!"
"Goetia, ease up. You know our leader's a pain."
"I know. But if we don't make him understand, he'll demand a ridiculous spear. As top-tier magecraft, we can't make that…"
"And the Woman Treasure, Ittiratana—"
"Shut up, Zepar!"
"Have you no human heart?!"
"Don't prod his trauma!"
"Trauma?"
"No worries, Cao Cao. Except Zepar, we all get it."
"You've got a severe woman-related trauma, right?"
"Otherwise, you wouldn't make an ability to seal women's powers."
"Ittiratana's meaning—'a beautiful, fragrant, loyal, chaste queen'—is the opposite of your ability."
"We won't ask or dig. Forget it quickly."
"You didn't make this ability without trauma, did you?"
"If so, you're just a creep."
"…You don't have to tear me apart. Apologize!"
"Why should we apologize?"
"Just do it!"
"Sorry."
"Don't actually apologize! It's humiliating!"
"What do you want from us? What's the right answer? Someone tell me!"
"Humans are tough…"
Of course, neither ×× nor this worldline's Cao Cao knew this. Knowing wouldn't hold value, though it might spark some meaning.
"Hey, lousy dragon, let me go already."
"Huh? Why should we defy the princess's orders?"
Its draconic expression differed from humans, but everyone saw the mockery in its eyes. It was having a blast.
"That's not our worldline's Asia!"
Grendel's attitude flipped.
"We know! And you know we can't defy that princess!"
"I know! That's why I'm saying it's time to break that curse! You're not kids scared of needles—win against that fear! Aren't you ashamed as dragons?!"
"If we could, we'd have done it when alive! Well, 'alive' is tricky—killed, revived, sealed in a coffin as a Noble Phantasm part…"
"Fair point."
"Also, we knew it, but the princess grew up gorgeous, huh?"
"Totally."
"But scary. She's getting closer to the head nurse, isn't she?"
"Pure agreement. So, Master, can we escape?"
"Leaving that behind feels…"
Her gaze fell on Andromalius, pierced by scalpels like acupuncture.
"—Both patients' treatment complete. Good work."
The violent mana from Andromalius faded rapidly.
"This is my end. I end here. But, Ritsuka Fujimaru—our nemesis, our hatred, our fate. I'm not the only Demon God who fled the Temple of Time. Three others—Orias, Ose, Dantalion—chose escape. I don't know their goals, but they'll appear before you. That's our karmic bond, gyahahahaha!"
It never expected to encounter her in another world. Their bond was that strong.
"Gyahaha, haha, ha…"
The Demon God's laughter ceased, its distorted Dragon King form reverting to a boy.
Andromalius vanished. The scalpels in his body fell out with the sudden change.
"Saji!"
Issei rushed to the collapsed Saji.
"Hey, hang in there, Saji!"
"Quietly."
Doctor Asia commanded and raising her left palm to stop Issei from touching the unconscious Saji. Her right hand checked his condition.
"…Pulse and breathing normal. But we can't relax until consciousness returns. Is there a quiet place nearby?"
"Forget that—tell me who you are!"
"I'm Asia Argento, as I said—a doctor."
"…Huh?"
Everyone who overheard made an "Eh?" face, their gazes shifting to a certain girl.
"…Um, ××-san? Could she be…"
×× returned a strained smile.
"As you guessed, she's that girl's parallel-world counterpart. A joke, right? A chihuahua turned Cerberus. I only knew Asia after meeting Sensei, though. Seeing this Asia, I was like, 'Oh, that's her natural personality.'"
××'s expression was indescribable, but Ritsuka realized she wore the same one. So did Mash and the other Servants.
"Is the head nurse that intense, or did she have the potential…?"
"Probably both…"
Ignoring Chaldea's defeated tone, the devil-doctor conversation continued.
"Same name, same person…?"
"Now, your turn. Don't worry, I'll cure your illness."
"Illness? Like I said, there's nothing wrong with us…"
"You reincarnated as devils. That's a clear illness."
Issei backed away from the raised scalpel. A devil with the strongest dragon's power, yet he couldn't fathom why a small blade wielded by a seemingly pure human woman—not even Raynare, who betrayed and killed him—terrified him so.
"I call it light allergy for convenience. Something fine as a human but harmful now—isn't that an illness?"
"Being a devil isn't all bad!"
"Bad is bad. Imposing values is called evil, but justice is nothing but imposing values. Right things must be asserted by force."
"I'll cure you."
"W-Wait, Issei-san—"
"Anesthesia!"
"Eek! Ngh…"
Something too horrific to describe happened.
"Asiiiaaaa!"
"Anesthesia, second dose!"
"Guh!"
Why do people repeat mistakes? Though, they're devils, not humans.
"Let's begin treatment—tch!"
She drew a new scalpel to treat the unconscious Issei and others but leapt back.
The next moment, blood sprayed.
Not hers. A beast, a mix of multiple animals, bled and collapsed where she'd stood.
"What just happened?"
"Master, likely that beast used magical teleportation to attack her. She sensed it, dodged, and struck with her scalpel."
"That's a Nue, but not Kyoto's."
"That human's impressive. Dodging and felling it in one strike."
More than one Nue appeared, alongside various youkai—a veritable Hyakki Yako. At its center stood a swordsman in an asagi haori.
Okita Souji's face stiffened, perhaps at the haori, the monstrous aura, or instinctively recognizing the swordsman's identity.
"Who might you be?"
The swordsman drew his blade in reply.
"Sirzechs Lucifer's 'Knight,' Okita Souji."
"Understood. A new patient?"
***
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