Gorou remained frozen in stupor after glimpsing Stanford Pines... in the DxD universe.
The probability of such an event occurring was so infinitesimal that it should have been considered impossible.
And yet, reality stood before him.
Stanford Pines was indeed in Japan, on a hill overlooking Kyoto.
The only logical explanation... is that the dimensional portal had been manipulated without following the Journal instructions.
A grave mistake, considering the portal's dangerous nature.
Because if Alpha had made the slightest error... then there might not even be a DxD universe left upon his return from the Dragon Ball world.
But beyond this realization, another detail made Gorou's eyebrows furrow even more:
Stanford's inappropriate remark about his ethnic origin.
'What's wrong with being Asian?'
Many are unaware, but racism toward Blacks isn't the only ethnic hierarchy plaguing human society.
Asians are also victims of it...
And Gorou, though poorly informed on this subject, knew it deep down.
However, observing Ford's surprised face more closely, he understood that his words were probably not deliberate contempt.
The scientist was probably just confused... by the idea of having an Asian alter ego.
He had simply used inadequate words.
Deciding to postpone this matter for later, Gorou turned his attention away from Stanford Pines.
His eyes settled on Alpha.
"I think... you can explain this to me, can't you?" he said in a strangely composed voice.
His tone carried no apparent threat.
Neither Asia nor Stanford felt direct danger. But...
'Wh-... what's happening?'
The thought flashed through both humans' minds.
Because even though they weren't the target of Gorou's murderous intent, directed toward Alpha,
the hostile aura was so overwhelming that their bodies reacted despite themselves.
Their biological instincts began screaming, like prey facing a natural predator.
Their hearts raced, their muscles trembled, while their consciousness refused to accept such a terrifying truth.
They would die if Gorou wanted it.
"I-... I can explain everything!"
Alpha staggered while staring at her biological father.
Gorou's shadow projected onto her, immense, oppressive...
Like Batman dominating a simple thief trapped in a Gotham alley.
Unlike Stanford, she was the direct target of his murderous intent.
Of course, her reaction was immediate.
Her legs gave way under her own weight, and she collapsed without resistance toward the ground, unable to stand.
"Oh really? Then explain to me why a civilian is reduced to this?"
Without her understanding how, magical energy burst from Gorou's body.
The magical energy enveloped Alpha, forcing her to stand like a marionette.
The smell of urine infiltrated the laboratory's cold air... a detail that everyone, in the tense atmosphere, pretended to ignore.
"Go ahead, Alpha. I'm waiting." he pressed for an answer.
The albino woman bit her pale lips, then clenched her small trembling fists.
She slowly raised her head, daring to plunge her eyes into her father's.
'Oh... She really thinks she can plead her case? Ridiculous.'
In reality, it wasn't Stanford Pines who had angered Gorou.
The American scientist was just one factor among others.
The real reasons were much heavier:
• Rei's death.
• Miki's safety, left in Asia's hands alone.
• Soki Okita's absence from Kuoh.
• And especially... the dimensional portal's alteration without respecting the Journal guidelines.
This last point had absolute gravity.
Because such an error risked attracting Bill Cipher's attention to this dimension.
Or even worse...
Maybe it was already the case.
Gorou had already made his decision: Alpha would suffer her punishment. No excuse, no plea could now alter the verdict engraved in his mind.
"I-I just wanted... I just wanted... to bring you back... is that a reason for such treatment?"
Toward the end of her sentence, Alpha had a surge of courage.
Her black eyes, like a bottomless abyss, stared at Gorou without fear, while her magical energy tried to fight against her father's.
Unfortunately, her attempt resembled throwing eggs at a huge rock.
A vain act.
"So... you didn't notice?"
Gorou's question gave Alpha a bad feeling, but she didn't waver before her father.
"Notice what? That I just tried to do my best and be a good leader?" she said, frowning.
"No... that you failed... at everything. Sigh... Rei is dead, you altered the dimensional portal without authorization, Okita left his post, and Miki was protected by whom? Asia?"
Gorou released Alpha from his magical power, then cleaned her with his Namekian origin magic before moving away from her.
He walked slowly toward Stanford Pines, without paying attention to the teenager.
"Th-that's impossible! Rei wouldn't have died so easily against stray devils... no powerful creature would dare penetrate so far into Shinto faction territory... a-as for the portal, I had no choice!"
Alpha's death followed a certain logic, since Kuoh city is located around several yokai or divine territories of the Shinto faction.
It seemed technically illogical for Rei to die facing a high-class level individual.
But she was wrong.
Rei had indeed died in a territory situated right in the middle of Japan, when the Shinto faction would never have tolerated the presence of a being like Sizchen without explanation on their soil.
An anomaly that Alpha could never have predicted.
A testimony to her ineffectiveness when faced with the unexpected.
At the end of her sentence, Alpha grabbed Gorou's hand.
This stopped him before he reached Stanford Pines.
"Tear It's impossible... that I disappoint you, isn't it? I'm your daughter... You often said I could surpass you... Answer tear... are you going... to stay there without saying anything?"
Gorou didn't respond for a few seconds, before sighing while looking at his daughter.
His eyes contained several emotions: exhaustion, disappointment, anger and, finally... a resolution that Alpha couldn't understand.
"I wanted to 'use' this later as an excuse for Rei... but might as well 'punish' you at the same time."
The scientist's words weren't addressed to Alpha.
It was rather a monologue, which he was in the habit of making during his experiments or when he was alone.
This act, which Alpha had often observed from a corner of the room, was the last element, beyond the various emotions in her father's eyes, that broke the young girl's heart.
"I... I just wanted... t-to help!"
Alpha was immediately enveloped by a phenomenal amount of energy, lifting her slightly off the ground.
Anyone in Japan capable of sensing magic immediately became aware of an anomaly emanating from the vicinity of Kyoto city.
Yet, only Kyoto citizens possessing a certain mastery or understanding of magic could glimpse a column of pure energy forming before their eyes, connecting earth to sky in a dazzling flash.
Alpha wasn't alone in this chaotic energy. A translucent silhouette appeared at her side during the transfer process.
Rei was called back among the living by the effect of a wish that Gorou had formulated using his magic.
At first, he felt confused, but soon, his gaze fell on Gorou in front of him. Without hesitating, he tried to join him, but hit an invisible wall preventing him from advancing.
Alpha herself found herself facing the same barrier.
[Are you sure, host? Subject Alpha's error isn't serious enough to justify such "punishment"...]
"I know. But any serious error, even without immediate consequence, would only generate other problems... she also needs some fresh air."
Gorou's words weren't empty. The unique skill [Creator] reacted powerfully to its owner's will.
He wanted Alpha to go to a world where she could develop what she lacked most: empathy.
If she acquired this quality, she would never disappoint him again like now.
Alpha had not only failed with Rei, but also in the mission Gorou had entrusted to her.
She had proven to be a bad leader in crisis situations, an error that could partly be attributed to Gorou himself.
Why? Because he hadn't sufficiently analyzed the "regent's" personality in his absence.
Gorou considered Alpha's errors as his direct responsibility. He had to repair, punish, and protect to avoid other tragedies.
Previously, he would have simply deleted Alpha and continued his life as if this "error" had never existed.
But now... he knew one essential thing: Alpha loved her "papa."
As a certain racist ninja said: great love carries the risk of equally immense hatred.
Each of Alpha's acts was born from twisted love for him. Gorou had to assume the consequences. He would repair her.
As for using this year's available wish to bring back only Rei's soul in the magic circle? Gorou judged it profitable. He could finally resurrect him... but in another universe as "compensation."
The summoning magic for "heroes" (people from another world) isn't a secret in the Tensura universe.
Gorou doesn't use the pure version of this art, as Leon Cromwell had spread it throughout the human nation.
He combined this art with the unique skills of Great Sage and Creator to send Rei (soul) and Alpha to a "suitable" place.
'Don't hesitate anymore, [Great Sage]. Use the unique skill [Creator] to send Alpha and Rei to the most appropriate universes... Alpha to grow, Rei to be rewarded.'
[... As you wish. But it's a shame to use the annual wish only to bring back Rei.]
A certain Longinus could indeed bring Rei back to life, but Gorou would have to expose himself too much to obtain it. A counter-productive action for his current "model's" evolution.
'You're asking too many questions lately, Great Sage. Have you by chance reached a certain level of autonomy?'
[...]
Faced with this question, the unique skill remained silent. Gorou ignored this silence and turned his attention back to his two creations: one crying, the other shouting something toward him with a... happy expression.
However, he didn't let himself get distracted.
Could he decide to listen? Yes. But according to him, it would be too painful for everyone at this moment.
Not only had he made his decision, but it would also be too cruel to drag things out.
[Original magic: artificial reincarnation... loading 1%]
The magical energy, already impressive due to magic touching the boundary between worlds, amplified under the effect of Great Sage's calculations and Gorou's desire, serving as a guide to orient the flow toward accomplishing the unique Creator skill.
Finally, the spell reached a critical moment.
"From now on, you can listen to me... so pay attention, because this might well be the last time we see each other."
Gorou's calm voice stopped the actions of the two teenagers in front of the translucent barrier.
Gorou sketched a "sorry" smile to each, before pronouncing his final words.
"This might be a goodbye... or farewell? Everything will depend on your actions and abilities, when I see you again."
He didn't indicate whether they would be conscious of his presence or identity at their next meeting.
A detail that Alpha quickly understood.
Obviously, this only increased the teenager's despair facing the translucent barrier.
Gorou took a short pause, then looked directly into Rei's golden eyes.
"I... no... let's forget the apologies. That would only drag things out... [Your Name] is Rei... Rei Hyoudou... that's the only reward and the last whim I allow myself toward you. As for you, Alpha... I wish you to evolve toward the intelligent creature I desired at the time... have a good trip, both of you."
At that moment, Alpha understood... Rei had received something deeper than a simple biological sample in common with Gorou.
He had received his recognition.
Something she had taken for granted but...
'No matter where you throw me, father, I'll come back... stronger... smarter... and I'll show you who truly deserves that recognition.'
No tears flowed now on her pale face, while her physical body broke under the spell's power.
Only immense determination remained on her face.
[Original magic: artificial reincarnation... loading 100%]
[World meeting the criteria: Dandadan and Fairy Tail...]
...
Author's Note: +1980 words. I posted late because I was rewriting this chapter (I wasn't satisfied with the original version in my chapter stock, haha). But because of that, I'll have to alter the other chapters I've already written… Sigh. More work… I should have just kept the old version with Alpha's death at Gorou's hands, but I really like the yandere idea, and Asia is here… Poor thing would be too shocked (I also didn't want to make this story too dark…).
I'll post the bonus chapter at 100 stones, so throw your stones!