~ Support & Read 60 Advanced Chapters on Patreon
~ Bonus Chapter every 200 Powerstones!
<><><><><>
"Since you've arrived, come in and sit."
While Azazel still lingered at the meeting room entrance, Bokue at the main seat inside spoke.
The young man's voice wasn't loud—even his tone somewhat light.
But Azazel—having just reached the meeting room entrance—immediately terminated conversation and turned back, waving with a happy smile like seeing family.
"Yo! So Bokue already arrived too. Sorry, sorry—truly made everyone wait. We're coming right now."
With that, he took the lead entering the meeting room. Behind him, the cold-expressioned silver-haired youth and taciturn middle-aged man followed closely.
...Hmm?
Bokue had already withdrawn his gaze, waiting for Azazel to be seated. But just then, he suddenly felt a gaze falling upon him.
Carrying traces of scrutiny.
??
Out of curiosity, Bokue directly followed that scrutinizing gaze backward.
What met his eyes was the taciturn middle-aged man who'd been following behind Azazel since entering.
Bokue wasn't the type who'd think others sought death from a single glance.
But using scrutinizing gazes on a never-before-met person at first meeting—what was this?
Furrowing his brow slightly, Bokue directly stopped Azazel—who'd been preparing to circle behind him toward the meeting table's other side to sit beside Michael.
"Azazel."
"Hmm? What is it, Bokue?"
Called by name, Azazel immediately stopped.
"Nothing. Just somewhat curious."
Bokue leaned his upper body back against the chair, hands interlaced before him. Raising his head toward the Fallen Angel Governor positioned directly behind him, his gaze swept past to glance at the middle-aged male Fallen Angel behind.
"Is it necessary bringing this many bodyguards? Both White Dragon Emperor and this person..."
The young man deliberately drew out his tone slightly here.
Azazel immediately understood, smiling: "Oh, actually it's like this. Sorry—kept forgetting introductions. Originally I planned only bringing Vali. As for this person, he's one of my capable subordinates named Baraqiel. Coming to Itogami Island with me this time isn't to be my bodyguard, but because of other matters."
Then he added another line.
"Ah, if Bokue thinks it won't work, I can also have him wait outside first. Signing a treaty should finish quickly anyway."
"No need."
Bokue made an "oh" sound, withdrawing his gaze and shaking his head.
"Just asking. Sit down."
"Then I'll respectfully comply."
Smiling again, Azazel circled to the meeting table's other side, coming beside Michael to pull out a chair and sit comfortably. While sitting, his mouth still muttered continuously.
"Oh my, truly nostalgic, Michael. We haven't sat at the same table for who knows how long."
"Eh? Really?"
The golden-haired twelve-winged Archangel looked puzzled.
"My impression is last month when you came discussing peace talks with me, we just..."
"Oh, saying it that way is true too."
Azazel slapped his forehead with a laugh.
"Though truly surprising. Previously everyone fought tooth and nail daily. Never expected we'd ultimately still have a day sitting down shaking hands reconciling."
"Though true, doing this is indeed the solution most aligned with our respective interests."
Michael's face still radiated gentle smile.
"Exactly so."
Words just falling—Sirzechs, who'd been silent since earlier, also spoke.
"After all, besides us, this world still has many other mythological systems. Prolonged war benefits none of us—only gives others opportunities to exploit."
"Precisely! If constantly fighting wars, definitely I'd have no time filming magical girl series! Your sister takes this seriously!"
Serafall clenched her small fists earnestly, mind still dwelling on her beloved magical girl series.
Haah~
Bokue covered his mouth, yawning silently before lightly snapping fingers.
Snap.
Like magic—with the snap, a contract materialized from thin air in the young man's hand under [Matter Reconstruction]'s power.
Plus, four ballpoint pens appeared simultaneously.
"Next, just sign your names on it."
Bokue tossed ballpoint pens along the tabletop—one per person rolling before the other four. Then he pushed the contract toward Sirzechs.
Though the contract hadn't reached his own position, currently not one person at tableside was weak. With Azazel's eyesight, forget across one table—even separated by kilometers, he could still clearly see the paper's text.
Only one short line: [May the Underworld, Heaven, and Fallen Angels coexist peacefully hereafter.]
"This... truly quite a simple contract."
Azazel stroked his chin's short beard teasingly.
"Plus, the wording feels slightly soft. Feels like it could be more forceful, then add more stipulations and such. Otherwise, if accidentally exploited for loopholes later..."
The Fallen Angel Governor's words stopped here—suddenly no longer continuing.
Because he discovered Bokue at the main seat looking sideways at him.
"Want to try exploiting loopholes now?"
"Mmm... no thanks."
❁❁❁❁
The Three Factions conference continued. Meanwhile, at the Keystone Gate's peak in central Itogami Island—Yasaka Shrine.
Autumn morning's bright sunlight transmitted through paper windows into the Japanese-style room. Yasaka—originally holding Female Physiological Knowledge while conducting bridal training for her daughter—suddenly felt inexplicable fluctuations. She couldn't help stopping her explanation, raising her head somewhat stunned.
"What's wrong, Mom?"
Kunou had been listening with great interest. Seeing her mother suddenly stop with some vigilance, she also puzzledly looked around.
But Yasaka didn't immediately answer. Just muttered puzzledly.
"Strange, why did the barrier suddenly..."
Then the golden-haired beautiful woman suddenly rose, setting down her book and walking to the room entrance. Pulling open the door, she raised her voice slightly toward another bedroom directly connected through the outside corridor interior.
"Sister! I have urgent business—must immediately go to Bokue's side! Please watch the house first!"
After speaking, as if extremely urgent, unable to wait for Hagoromo-Gitsune's reply, she vanished from the shrine in a flash.
Scene switch—the second after leaving the shrine, Yasaka had already appeared in Saikai Academy's meeting room.
The golden-haired beautiful woman's sudden appearance made Bokue—originally at the meeting table's main seat waiting for Michael and others to sign the contract one by one—instinctively direct his gaze.
"Eh? Why did you suddenly come over, Yasaka-neesan?"
"Problem occurred. For unknown reasons, my barrier originally covering all Itogami Island was suddenly infiltrated just now..."
Yasaka rapidly came beside the young man. Having walked too urgently, she even accidentally bumped into Kuroka—also standing behind Bokue.
This made the nekomata girl immediately furrow her brows slightly. Her two cat tails behind swayed displeasedly.
"Hey hey, don't push me. First come, first served, understand..."
Words unfinished—outside the meeting room window, the sky instantly darkened.
Massive spatial magic power fluctuations spread above Itogami Island. Countless teleportation magic circles simultaneously deployed in the sky above, blocking out sun and sky.
<><><><><>
~ 60 Advanced Chapters Available on Patreon
https://p-atreon.com/dragonnx
(Just remove the hyphen to access Patreon normally.)