――While Azuma and Mibu were engaged in battle, Asakura, who remained in the grand hall, leaned against the wall, taking a brief rest.

Recently, there had been a lot to do, and it was starting to take a toll on his aging body, now in its late sixties.

After confirming that Tsugumi and Chidori were talking about something, Asakura quietly relaxed his shoulders.

Even if they were discussing an escape, as long as they were wearing the restraints that had been lent to them by Nemesis, there was no way they could flee from here. The restraints, given by Nemesis, couldn’t be easily destroyed by human strength. As long as he knew they were there, there was no need to watch them too closely.

With nothing much to do until sunset, Asakura absentmindedly reflected on everything that had happened until now.

――If one were to describe a man like Asakura in a single phrase, it would be fitting to call him someone who lost everything.

He had lost his family to a demonic beast attack, been cast aside by the organization he once served due to differences in ideology, and had personally torn apart the relationship with a friend who once meant so much to him. The status he had built over many years as a doctor would undoubtedly crumble once this incident came to light.

But such things no longer mattered to Asakura.

The man who had once lived as a decent human being had died, consumed by the flames on the day of the great fire.

Perhaps it was because he still wanted to see the continuation of that dream that the Asakura who lived as if he were dead decided to lend a hand to Azuma.

From that day of the great fire, there hadn’t been a single day he didn’t wish the ritual had succeeded. Unable to forget his regret from that day, Asakura found himself aligning with Azuma’s goals.

――From the moment he met Azuma, Asakura’s life completely changed.

He spent his days gathering the remaining documents related to the ritual, scrutinizing their contents, learning alternative methods from Nemesis, Azuma’s contracted god, and the golden goddess who was acquainted with Nemesis, and at times, he even took Azuma on trips to help alleviate his impatience. It had been a period of intense activity.

…Looking back now, that was probably the most peaceful time.

There were moments when he wondered if this was what it would be like to have grandchildren, but he never voiced those thoughts, feeling it would be presumptuous of him. After all, the current Asakura was nothing more than a tool to fulfill Azuma Suou’s wish.

――To get to this point, he had sacrificed and trampled over many things.

He had repeatedly justified his actions by claiming they were for the greater good, but deep down, he knew that even if the ritual succeeded and he managed to control Kinojin, the lost lives would never return.

Even if the descent of the god was successful and the demonic beasts could be controlled, the voices of resentment from the victims would be inevitable.

Moreover, he would have to deal with the crafty, old government officials vying for control over the god’s vessel, as well as selfish individuals trying to gain power from the situation. He would be forced to witness humanity’s uglier side up close, whether he liked it or not.

――Though he didn’t want to think about it, no matter how things turned out, Azuma’s future would not be a bright one.

Knowing this, Asakura still chose to cooperate with Azuma, and as an adult, he intended to take responsibility for his actions. But deep inside, he desperately wished that the child who had been burned by the flames could remain within the dream, never waking.

If necessary, he would take all the blame upon himself, claiming that Azuma had been manipulated by him. But he knew not how far such an excuse would get him. This was something he could only wait to see, quietly awaiting the judgment of time.

…If he had been a proper adult, he should have stopped Azuma, no matter the cost.

Azuma’s ideals, his quest for revenge, and his methods were no longer justifiable in this modern age. Asakura should have tried to convince him of that.

However, as Asakura wavered over whether to persuade Azuma, Nemesis whispered softly to him.

――Inside the child who was meant to be a sacrifice, the soul of Sagon lay hidden, retaining its consciousness from its previous life.

Upon hearing that, what welled up inside Asakura was unmistakable joy.

…Despite their differing opinions, Asakura had respected Sagon as an excellent leader.

Sagon’s leadership moved forward as if guided by divine will, and her words were as sweet as sugar. Following her gave one the sense that everything would work out perfectly, as if she were omnipotent. Though no one dared say it aloud, Sagon seemed like a living deity, so perfect was she as a leader.

Sagon always maintained her dignified demeanor as a high priestess, and even with Asakura, one of the original members, she never displayed any casual familiarity.

…The only time Sagon had ever asserted her personal opinion was regarding Tsugumi—the change of the sacrificial offering.

At first, the other believers of the Star of Dawn cult were reluctant to change the sacrificial offering, but after speaking with Sagon for just a brief moment, they all changed their minds. “After all, blood relatives are important,” they said, which, if memory serves correctly, came from Azuma’s mother. How ironic.

But it was Asakura who firmly opposed it.

If it were only about changing the sacrificial offering, perhaps he could have accepted it. But the one Sagon brought in to replace Tsugumi was none other than the grandchild of his dear friend, Yatsuru.

Chidori being chosen made sense. She was the daughter of Sakurabeni Akane, a pure and innocent seven-year-old girl who lived in seclusion at the foot of the mountain—an ideal vessel for a sacrifice.

But even then, Asakura couldn’t accept it.

The sudden change in plans made him anxious. The idea of his friend’s grandchild becoming a sacrifice disturbed him. And above all, he couldn’t bear to see the high priestess he had worshipped with all his heart behaving like an ordinary person—sacrificing someone else’s child for the sake of her brother.

Stubborn in his opposition, Asakura was ultimately excluded from the ritual, which ironically saved his life.

――If, at that time, he had taken Chidori and fled back to Yatsuru, or if he had obediently followed Sagon’s commands, or if he had successfully persuaded Sagon to proceed with the original plan, surely, the future would have turned out differently.

…Well, it’s too late to say such things now.

“To think that after all this time, I would end up back here. Even Saguren-kun probably never imagined this. …I wonder, what would you say if you saw me like this?”

Asakura murmured softly to himself.

Nemesis, seeking to comfort Asakura, who was burdened by the guilt of harming innocent people, had said something reassuring. If Tsugumi Nanase was cornered both mentally and physically, Saguren’s consciousness would inevitably resurface. With her dear younger brother once again facing the threat of being sacrificed, Saguren would surely appear before Asakura. That was what Nemesis had told him.

Holding on to those words alone, Asakura had made it to this day.

――Ah, go ahead and laugh at me, call me a foolish man.

Asakura couldn’t help but wish for it. Even after more than ten years, the image of that girl—the goddess or devil of his memories—remained burned into the back of his eyelids, and he longed to meet her once more.

If that wish were to come true, Asakura wanted to ask Saguren one thing:

――Was this child, Tsugumi, really worth sacrificing everything to save?

As this thought lingered in his mind, suddenly, a loud thud echoed through the room.

Startled, Asakura glanced over at the dais where the two stood. He saw Chidori staring down at Tsugumi with a ghostly expression.

――Bringing Nanase Chidori to this place was, half as Asakura had explained to Azuma, out of goodwill, and half with the intention of breaking down Tsugumi’s mental state by bringing Chidori here. The more cornered Tsugumi became, the higher the chance that Saguren would emerge.

For that purpose, betraying a friend and kidnapping his granddaughter—trampling over a long-standing friendship—had been easy.

Initially, Asakura had written off their conversation as disappointing and had turned his attention elsewhere, but seeing this scene now, it seemed their relationship had soured as planned.

While Asakura observed them, Chidori silently, but suddenly, kicked Tsugumi hard in the stomach.

As Tsugumi groaned in pain, Chidori stared down at her and, again and again, repeatedly kicked her.

At first, Asakura silently watched, but when he saw Tsugumi, now curled up on the ground, cough up blood, he realized this was getting out of hand and raised his voice.

“Hey… Chidori-kun? I think that’s enough, don’t you? A little restraint, perhaps? It’s a problem if she dies…”

Even as he said this, Chidori ignored him and continued kicking Tsugumi relentlessly. Growing anxious, Asakura rushed over to her and wrapped his arms around her from behind, restraining her.

“That’s enough!! I understand how you feel, but any more of this and it’ll interfere with the plan!!”

“No!! Let me go!! …This, this one… killed my mother!!”

Thrashing about like a child throwing a tantrum, Chidori shouted, her voice breaking. Tears welled up in her eyes, and she looked as if she could start sobbing at any moment.

…Indeed, Asakura had hoped for this kind of outcome, but this was clearly going too far. Tsugumi, repeatedly kicked in the stomach, was now curled up, coughing up blood. She might have suffered internal injuries.

Seeing that Chidori was still struggling to get to Tsugumi, Asakura, though reluctant, reached into his pocket and gripped a key tightly. At that moment, Chidori clutched her throat and fell to the ground in pain. It was one of the effects of the restraints provided by Nemesis. By intentionally gripping the key, the restraints tightened around the target’s neck, suppressing their movements.

…It was a good thing he had taken precautions by sealing Chidori’s magical abilities and attaching the restraining collar when he abducted her.

Ignoring the fallen Chidori, Asakura began walking over to examine Tsugumi when suddenly, Chidori, who had collapsed on the floor, reached out and grabbed Asakura’s right foot. He stumbled, trying to pull his leg free, but Chidori clung to it with all her strength, refusing to let go.

“Chidori-kun, enough of this—”

As he spoke, irritated, he looked down at her and noticed something odd.

――Why is she… smiling in this situation?

Chidori, tears streaming down her face, was smiling. And then, in a hoarse voice, she quietly said to Asakura:

“You’re such a fool. As if I could ever hate Tsugumi.”

――At that moment, Asakura frantically turned his gaze towards Tsugumi.

Tsugumi, lying in a pool of her own blood, had managed to sit up without using her arms or legs. Her chest and the white hospital gown she wore were smeared with crimson blood, clearly indicating the severity of her injuries.

――With a slow, unsteady movement, she lifted her head.

And Asakura realized, with horror, that Tsugumi was holding something in her mouth—a red, rod-like object.

The instant he recognized it, excruciating pain overwhelmed his body, and Asakura’s consciousness was swallowed by darkness.