Seiryuu City, DesuMachi Planet…
Hachiman's questions left the room in silence. No one immediately answered. The tea that had been warm moments ago slowly cooled, forgotten in their hands.
Mei was the first to speak, breaking their imposed silence.
"From what Akon Kagura told us, the Demon God once fought alongside her and the Seven Pillar Gods to repel the Legion's invasion fifty thousand years ago. And yet…"
Her brows drew together slightly.
"The way demons operate now mirrors exactly what you would expect from an enemy of the world."
Hachiman nodded slowly. "That's the contradiction, isn't it? How does the so-called enemy of the world cooperate with its protectors to save it?"
His gaze sharpened. "Unless Akon Kagura lied to us… which I doubt."
He exhaled, running a hand through his hair.
"Perhaps we should begin by investigating miasma itself," Ruan Mei suggested. She rose for her seat and reheated water to brew another round of tea.
"Based on what I reviewed from your journal entries, miasma is generated from negative human emotions. Demons consume it to grow stronger. The Eyeball demon you encountered was only able to construct the labyrinth after accumulating sufficient miasma from the crowd's fear and panic in the plaza."
Hachiman and Mei turned fully toward her now, listening without interruption.
"After being transferred into the labyrinth, hundreds of ordinary citizens, people with no power to resist or save themselves, were trapped inside as well. Their fear, anger, helplessness, pain, despair… all of it kept spilling out. The longer they remained inside, the more miasma accumulated for the demons to consume."
Her tone remained even as she continued.
"As time passed, the monsters within the labyrinth grew stronger. And in the final stage… that demon was able to summon—no—resurrect the Black Greater Demon."
"Wait… are you saying labyrinths were created to gather and harvest miasma in order to summon demons?!" Hachiman's dead-fish eyes widened slightly as the implication settled in.
"That is one possibility." Ruan Mei did not dismiss the idea. "Another is that it was merely opportunistic. Since a labyrinth naturally gathers miasma from humanity, the demons may have simply taken advantage of what was already present as an energy source."
She lifted the warm flask and carefully poured water into the teapot.
"Furthermore, because labyrinths can latch onto and siphon energy directly from the ley lines, demons may have developed a systematic method to extract information from them, allowing the repeated resurrection of their fallen kind."
"The stronger the individual, the more pronounced their data imprint within the core system," Mei murmured, recalling the records she had reviewed in the Express's databank.
Ruan Mei gave a small nod as she refilled their cups with the freshly brewed tea.
"I suspect labyrinths are nothing more than production lines… or perhaps natural power plants that generate miasma. The demons are simply exploiting what is already being produced inside."
She set four cups neatly on the low table. Hachiman picked up his cup and took a slow sip. The warmth helped clear his head, allowing his thoughts to settle into order. He mentally arranged everything they had learned so far before finally shaking his head.
"The information we have still isn't enough to draw a firm conclusion."
"Well, as a scientist, forming conclusions without proper study and sufficient evidence would be irresponsible. Even for a genius such as myself,"
Ruan Mei replied lightly, twirling her cup with confidence.
"Then our next step is to investigate this directly?" Mei asked.
"That's what I'm thinking." Hachiman looked at both Mei and Ruan Mei. "Is that alright with you?"
"Mhmm. I'm fine with it," Mei answered with an easy smile.
"I have no objections either." Ruan Mei nodded. "I am quite curious about how the demons utilize the labyrinth as a structured production system, and how they convert miasma into usable energy. Additionally, studying how the labyrinth extracts data from the ley lines may allow me to better understand access to the planet's core information system."
"Just… try not to do anything excessive, okay? If you're planning something, tell me first before you actually do it." Hachiman warned her, though his tone was more weary than strict.
"Mhmm, of course I won't." Ruan Mei gave a small huff, lightly pouting at him. "After all, it would be troublesome if our daughter's planet turned into something strange."
'Your reaction is cute, Ruan Mei-san… but your priorities are a little skewed,' Hachiman thought, his cheek twitching faintly.
"U-um… excuse me, Masters and Master's ladies…"
Arisa, who had remained silent during their exchange, raised her hand slightly to get their attention.
"As far as I understand, you are planning to investigate this miasma found in labyrinths, correct?"
"Well, that's right," Hachiman replied.
"Then… may I suggest going to Labyrinth City Celivera?"
"Labyrinth City?" Hachiman repeated, interest appearing in his eyes.
"Labyrinth City Celivera," Arisa nodded. "As the name suggests, it is a city built around a labyrinth. It is the oldest and largest active labyrinth in the southern part of the Shiga Kingdom. The kingdom uses it to harvest resources—magic cores and materials for crafting magic tools and weapons. And since it is located in the southern region, discrimination against demi-humans is far less severe there."
"I see. So it's not just that the labyrinth is older and larger, which will make it ideal for our investigation, but Pochi, Tama, and Liza will also be able to move around freely. That's a good suggestion." Hachiman nodded, clearly considering it seriously.
"Since we'll be traveling anyway, we can also use this chance to slowly change Pochi, Tama, and Liza's mindset," Mei added gently. "They shouldn't grow up believing that being a slave is the best path for them."
"If we are going," Ruan Mei said thoughtfully, "then I suggest strengthening the children first. It will put you more at ease during such a long journey."
Hachiman nodded. "I'll begin Fran's training tomorrow. Ruan Mei, could you check her health as well? And perhaps prepare some supplements to support her growth?"
"Of course. I don't mind at all." She agreed without hesitation.
Hachiman gave her a grateful smile before turning to Mei.
"Mei, could you prepare well-balanced and nutritious meals for all the kids? I want them to gain as much healthy weight as possible before we leave."
"Leave it to me," Mei replied warmly.
"Thank you, both of you." Hachiman offered them a small but sincere smile. "We'll leave Seiryuu City in ten days, once our preparations are complete."
"Okay."
"Sure."
The two women agreed without fuss, and Arisa blinked at how smoothly the three of them had already organized everything. With their next steps decided, the four eventually broke for the day and went their separate ways.
Arisa left first, saying she would go find Lulu and the others. Meanwhile, Hachiman, Mei, and Ruan Mei headed back to his room, where their daughter Kagura was sleeping peacefully. They pushed the door open carefully, making sure not to make a sound.
Kagura was still asleep on the bed, breathing softly. In the corner, Patricia sat with a journal in hand, likely drafting a report to send later. When she noticed them enter, she immediately stood and gave a respectful bow.
Hachiman gave her a small nod in thanks. Mei whispered, "Thank you for watching her," and Patricia simply shook her head as if to say it was nothing.
Mei and Ruan Mei moved to the bedside at once, gently checking Kagura, adjusting her blanket, brushing aside a stray lock of hair. Hachiman stood beside them, watching the two women fuss over their daughter. A faint smile formed on his lips.
'I just hope this peaceful life can continue,' he thought wistfully.
But reality quickly returned.
'Now then… we still have to deal with the Geass binding Arisa and Lulu.'
His brows drew together as he considered possible solutions.
'I guess I'll have to bother those guys for a bit.'
He stepped slightly aside so he wouldn't disturb the others, took out his terminal, and with a few taps opened the Astral Express crew group chat.
After a brief pause, he began typing his message.
[Hachiman: Guys, I need some help. I… kind of brought back some slave sisters who're cursed by a contract-type spell called Geass. It's binding them to their fate, and I can't release them. Any ideas on what I'm supposed to do now?]
—-----
[The Astral Express Family]
Team Star-pulse: …..
Team Reason: …..
Team Slash/Dog: ….
Mei: 🤦♀️
Sora: ??
Hachiman: Huh??
Hachiman: Why are you guys reacting like that?
Hachiman: I didn't say anything weird, right?
Hajime: Don't worry, Hachi. You didn't do anything wrong.
Tobio: We're just… processing how absurdly consistent you are with your character.
Hachiman: Haa? What does that even mean?
Kouki: Hachi, you truly deserve to be called a Hero.
Hachiman: ???
Noah (speech-to-text): To put it simply, it's you being the usual busybody who can't stop poking his nose into other people's business.
Noah (speech-to-text): And your natural talent for attracting trouble that has never failed you.
Hachiman: ….
Elysia: As expected from this season's main protagonist!
Elysia: Even off cam, you still manage to fish up some trouble!
Noah (speech-to-text): My Ellie is right!
Noah (speech-to-text): And the best part of this?
Noah (speech-to-text): I didn't do anything this time!
Noah (speech-to-text): Everything was Hachi's own doing!
Kiana: No! No! Both of you are wrong about one thing!
Kiana: Trouble comes to Hachiman even when he isn't doing anything!
Kiana: If the universe needs something to be saved, it will present it to Hachiman!
Kiana: Because he is the universe's BATMAN—no, wait… Eight-Man!!!
Elysia & Noah (speech-to-text): OH, YEAH!!
The Herta: How unscientific this is! And yet… How intriguing.
The Herta: Can someone truly attract trouble like this?
The Herta: Even if the Nameless are known for stumbling into chaos wherever they go…
The Herta: For someone to draw trouble to himself so consistently is simply hard to believe.
Hachiman: …
Hachiman: So.
Hachiman: Can you help or not?
Everyone: OF COURSE WE WILL HELP!
Noah (speech-to-text): How could we miss such an interes—ahem!—such a wonderful chance to help you, my brother?
Hajime: That's right. That's right!!
Tobio: Ahem…
Kouki: Well…
Hachiman: …
Hachiman: So, any ideas on how to cancel this Geass thing on them?
Noah & Hajime: NO IDEA!
Hachiman: OI.
Hajime: Hey, you know me, I'm more of a tech guy.
Hajime: When it comes to magic, I usually brute force it using my magic resistance or rely on Alice, Anis, or Euphy. 🤷
Noah (speech-to-text): I do have a rough idea… but I can't guarantee it'll work.
Noah (speech-to-text): That world's magic system and mine aren't the same.
Noah (speech-to-text): Still, I think there's a chance.
Noah (speech-to-text): After all, no matter the world, magic always follows the same fundamentals. Image, Intent, and Belief.
Noah (speech-to-text): If we can understand exactly how Geass works, we should be able to design a counterspell.
Mei: Thank you, Captain. That helps a lot.
Mei: At least now we have a direction we can go on.
Mei: Please give us a moment to look into it.
Noah (speech-to-text): No worries~.
Hachiman: While Mei is gathering information about the spell, Noah, can you please add Ruan Mei to the group?
Noah (speech-to-text): Huh? Why?
Noah (speech-to-text): This group is exclusively for the crew, okay.
Noah (speech-to-text): Although we do have a connection to Miss Ruan Mei, thanks to Hii, and we are thankful to her for a lot of things… She isn't a member of our crew, honorary or official.
Hachiman: Well… about that…
Everyone: ???
Sora: Geez! Hachi-nii, why are you getting timid over something like this?
Sora: Noah-nii, what Hachi-nii means is that Ruan Mei-nee is now part of our family!
Noah (speech-to-text): Oh!
Noah (speech-to-text): Wait…?
Noah (speech-to-text): What did you just say?!
The Herta: Little one, is what you just said true?!
The Herta: Ruan Mei didn't mention anything like that during our conversation yesterday!
Hachiman: Wait!!!!! Sora, calm down!!
Sora: It's true, Herta-nee!
Sora: I don't lie! Especially about something like this! 😤
Hachiman: Oh… crap…
Everyone: @Sora, tell us more!!!!
.
..
…
Noah (speech-to-text): Wahahaha!!! Oh, Hachi!! Your life is really interesting!!!
Hajime: Hahahaha! Good for you, brother!
Hajime: You now have two partners helping you raise a powerful child!
Tobio: Congratulations, Hachi. You now have wonderful partners you can rely on.
Kouki: Hachi-bro, congrats! You are truly miles ahead of both Captain and Hajime in the harem count.
Hachiman: Just let me sink into the deepest shadows!!!
Hachiman: Wait a minute, Kouki!!
Hachiman: What do you mean by I'm miles ahead against those two idiots?!
Noah (speech-to-text) & Hajime: Oi!!
Tobio: Ah… well…
Hachiman: ?? Tobio?
Tobio: Aside from your childhood friends, whom you care waaaay too much about…
Kouki: There are also those new girls who are gathering around you… Well, the dream-Hachi version, in your home world.
Hachiman: No! No! Aside from Mei, I didn't have any confirmed relationships with anyone!
Hachiman: Okay, maybe Ruan Mei is included now, but still!
Hajime: Didn't Sayanagi tell us before that you said she was your 'real thing'?
Noah (speech-to-text): Ahh, right! I remember that!
Noah (speech-to-text): She also mentioned that you're the future chairman of the Sayanagi Group?
Hachiman: I didn't say that!
Hachiman: I only told her about my desire to find the real thing.
Hachiman: She was the one who, on her own, said she could be that real thing!
Noah (speech-to-text): And you accept it, right?
Hachiman: Whaa..!
Hajime: Hahahahaha! He got you there!
Hachiman: SHUT IT!!
Hajime: Hmmp! If that is the case.
Hajime: How about that pink-haired girl you saved….well, stopped from stealing.
Hajime: Spent a lot of time with her, right?
Hajime: You even maxed out her Social Link.
Noah (speech-to-text): Mhmm. Mhmm!
Noah (speech-to-text): It's all thanks to her that you got a version of my Gabby as your Persona, right?!
Hachiman: Stop making it sound so scandalous!
Hachiman: Honami just feels indebted to me for stopping her from making a stupid mistake during junior high in Shujin Academy!
Noah (speech-to-text): But apparently, she's now your classmate at your new school. Sure, it's Dream-Hachi—but it's still you.
Noah (speech-to-text): Also, from what Sii and I saw through the Second Divine Key… both you and that girl are called the Father and Mother of your class?
Hachiman: THAT IS DIFFERENT!!
Hachiman: Our class is just full of good kids who would get eaten alive in this school!
Hachiman: I had no choice but to make sure they didn't get devoured by those monsters!
Hachiman: She's just helping me keep them in line!
Hachiman: WAIT A MINUTE!!
Hachiman: Did you just admit using the 2nd divine key to spy?!
Hajime: Then what about your childhood friend, the one who became an idol just so you could find her again and fulfill the promise you made to each other?
Hachiman: Mana and I are… fine now. You know that, right? We reconnected during my days at Shujin.
Hajime: Hell yeah! You went all out to save her—and to make sure she lived after that car crash.
Noah (speech-to-text): Ahem… "Noah, please help me save her! I'll do anything—just save her! Save Mana!!!"
Noah (speech-to-text): sniff! That passionate plea from that young man made all of us in the crew move heaven and earth to save Hachi's "friend."
Hachiman: I… I was… just…!
Hajime: There are also those three girls from your old days? The ones from that club of yours.
Noah (speech-to-text): Yukino, Yui, and your favorite kouhai—Iroha-chan!
Hajime: Let's not forget the girls from your previous team either!
Hajime: The Phantom Thieves of Hearts!
Noah (speech-to-text): Ann, Sumire, Kasumi~
Hajime: And last—but definitely not least!!
Hajime: Those girls from the 765 Production Million Theater project of Aunt Hiki, where you worked part-time… then 283 Production, where Uncle Hiki works… and Komachi-chan's school idol friends from Nijisaki!
Noah (speech-to-text): Ahh… should I even mention them all here? There are quite a lot, you know?
Hachiman: YOU BASTARDS!!
Hachiman: Are you looking for trouble or what?!
Hachiman: Okay! I admit there might be something with Arisu, Mana, and Honami—but, BUT nothing is confirmed with the rest you mentioned!!!
Hachiman: With Mana, it's because we've known each other since we were kids!
Hachiman: With Arisu, I can't help but care for her because of her health!
Hachiman: And with Honami, it's only because the dream version of me is in her class!
Hachiman: There is NO romantic relationship with most of the people you two listed!
Ms_Love_Elf: That won't do, Hachiman!!!
Ms_Love_Elf: You must not trample on the feelings of those lovely girls!
Ms_Love_Elf: I think you're simply too dense to notice their feelings!
Hachiman: An unexpected attack from nowhere—! And seriously, Elysia, was it really necessary to change your name just to say that?!
Ms_Love_Elf: Of course!
Ms_Love_Elf: Because I, Elysia the Herald of Love, must defend the feelings of those lovely ladies Hachiman so casually tried to dismiss!! 😤
Everyone: Ohh!!!!!
Hachiman: Since when did you become the Herald of Love?
Ms_Love_Elf: From the moment of my birth, of course!
Ms_Love_Elf: You can't write Elysia (爱莉希雅) without Love (爱)!
Ms_Love_Elf: Without Love, Elysia simply can't exist!!
Ruan Mei: Hmm… just as you said, Herta. The Nameless truly are a lively bunch.
The Herta: Hmph! I told you so!
The Herta: This group really can't stop making a fuss over everything.
Ruan Mei: And yet… strangely enough, I found it rather interesting to watch.
The Herta: …I won't deny that.
Let's_Be_Friends_Nanoha: Wow! Everyone sure gets along reeeaaaally well!
Please_Take_Care_of_Me_Fate: Mhmm, I agree.
Please_Take_Care_of_Me_Fate: But why does it feel like Noah is closer to the boys than to us?
Lumine: Don't mind it too much, Fii.
Lumine: Even us feel the same sometimes.
Kiana: Yeah… if you think about it too much, you'll start feeling like your charm as a girl is lacking compared to what they call 'bro-code.'
Lumine: Believe in Kii. She's the one who experienced it first…
Lumine: …Somehow, I'm starting to feel jealous of Hajime and Hachiman again.
Let's_Be_Friends_Nanoha & Please_Take_Care_of_Me_Fate: ….
Hajime: ???
Hachiman: Why are you feeling jealous of me?!
Hachiman: More importantly, can you please help me and pry Elysia off me?!
Kiana & Lumine: …
Kiana & Lumine: Go, Ellie! Make Hachiman realize how wrong it is to ignore the feelings of girls!!
Ms_Love_Elf: Leave it to me, my lovely sisters!
Ms_Love_Elf: I shall stake my name on it and surround Hachiman with a hundred girls—so he won't have any time to get closer to our Noah!
Noah (speech-to-text): ???
Hachiman: WHY???!!!!
Mei: I just went away for a couple of minutes, and you guys are already having way too much fun.
Hachiman: Mei!! My hero!! You're back!! 😭
Hachiman: Please stop Elysia!!!
Mei: ???
Mei: I… don't quite understand what's going on, but…
Mei: @Ms_Love_Elf Ellie, please don't bully Hachiman too much. He has a rather fragile heart.
Hachiman: Waaaahh!! Mei!!! My good Mei!! 😭
Mei: E-ehhh?!
Ms_Love_Elf: ??
Ms_Love_Elf: Hey, Hachiman—that's my line!!!!
Mei: A-anyway… @Noah Captain, here are the files we were able to find regarding the spell, Geass.
======