Naturally, Bokue couldn't agree to Ophis's request.
While he certainly wasn't afraid of this so-called Great Red, he wasn't such a bleeding heart that he'd immediately help anyone who asked.
Hence the firm refusal.
Five minutes later, Bokue returned to the VIP observation box below.
By now, Runeas and the others had finished catching up with Azazel's group.
Not that there was much to catch up on. During their active years, the tension between their factions had rivaled outright racial warfare. No negotiations, no compromises—just kill or be killed.
An opportunity to sit down and chat peacefully like this was genuinely unprecedented.
"Oh, Bokue—you're back."
Noticing the young man's return, Rias—who had been standing beside her mother, grandmother, and ancestor since entering—immediately moved closer and whispered.
"Perfect timing. Grandmother and Lady Runeas are almost done talking with my brother. We should be heading back to Gremory territory soon."
"That fast?"
Bokue paused slightly in surprise.
But thinking about it, that made sense. They'd only come to register, and to fulfill his promise to fight Sairaorg.
Oh wait—speaking of the promise to Sairaorg...
As if remembering something, Bokue suddenly changed course.
"Actually, you all go ahead. I have something to take care of—I'll catch up later."
"Huh? Why?"
Rias looked puzzled.
"Is there something else you need to do?"
"Yeah. I promised Sairaorg I'd look at his mother's condition. That 'Sleeping Sickness' thing."
Bokue explained.
"I might be able to help."
"Oh, really..."
The crimson-haired girl blinked.
"In that case, let's all go together."
❁❁❁❁
And so, moments later, Bokue's group—having parted ways with Sirzechs—arrived outside the coliseum's medical ward.
Just like the Kengan matches on Ganryu Island, this coliseum in Lilith also had a fully equipped medical facility, designed to minimize combat fatalities as much as possible.
Inside the medical ward, Sairaorg—who had been carried off on a stretcher earlier—now lay on a bed.
When Bokue pushed open the door with Rias and the other girls in tow, they saw the Bael family heir—who had been standing on the arena in golden armor brimming with fighting spirit just moments ago—now completely wrapped in bandages from head to toe. At first glance, he looked like a mummy lying in bed, surrounded by his peerage.
"...Is this some kind of memorial service?"
Realizing his timing might be slightly off, Bokue paused briefly at the doorway before walking in anyway.
He pushed through the crowd to reach the bedside, looking down at Sairaorg—who resembled the Second Tsuchikage with only his eyes and nose visible—and spread his hands.
"I know this might seem poorly timed, but I really don't have much time to spend in the Underworld. Remember what I promised you earlier?"
"Mm?"
With his mouth bandaged shut, Sairaorg let out a muffled sound of confusion at the young man's words.
But only for an instant. The next second, realization dawned. Though he couldn't move with bandages binding his entire body, those purple eyes—identical to his ancestor, the First Generation Bael—instantly lit up. His throat produced muffled sounds as his whole body began to shake.
As if desperately trying to break free and sit up.
A blonde girl from his peerage hurried over to calm him.
"Sairaorg, please stay still! Your injuries are still severe. If you keep moving like that—"
"I said step aside. I've got this."
Bokue raised a hand to push her back while pressing his other hand against Sairaorg's chest.
[Magnetic Field Rotation]
[Cellular Reconstruction]
In an instant, a familiar surge of powerful energy flowed into Sairaorg's body. Wherever it passed, broken bones reconnected and damaged tissue repaired. In mere moments, all the pain vanished as if it had never existed.
The next second, Sairaorg—who had been completely immobilized by bandages—suddenly sat up. The bandages tore apart under the force of his movement, falling away in strips.
For a moment, it looked like confetti was raining down beside the bed—white cloth scattering everywhere.
The last piece was the bandage that had been securing Sairaorg's jaw. He easily pulled it off with his now fully healed fingers, then let out a long breath.
"Whew~ That's... truly miraculous."
"I told you I could've just healed everything at once."
Bokue spread his hands.
"But you had to be dramatic about it."
"Ah, you're right. My apologies."
The restored Sairaorg didn't even bother putting on a shirt. He got off the bed bare-chested, speaking eagerly.
"Alright—let's go right now."
"Mm."
Bokue nodded, and the glow of magnetic field energy simultaneously lit up beneath his feet. In the blink of an eye, it formed a massive teleportation array that encompassed everyone in the medical ward.
The next second, the array activated.
A flash of golden radiance swept past. When everyone opened their eyes again, they found themselves in a forest far from Lilith, filled with birdsong and fragrant flowers. A small, exquisite wooden cabin nestled among the trees stood before them.
"This is..."
Sona pushed up her glasses. Something about the surrounding atmosphere felt familiar.
But before she could think further, Serafall sidled up beside her, pouting as she pinched her little sister's pale cheek.
"Mou~ Sona-chan's been in the Human World too long. Don't you even recognize your own home anymore?"
"Huh?"
"This is Sitri family territory~ Sairaorg-chan placed Aunt Misla here to recuperate in peace, so she wouldn't interfere with his competition for the Bael family headship. Didn't you know, Sona-chan?"
Sona: "..."
Okay, fair enough. She really had been in the Human World too long—she'd completely forgotten about this.
While the sisters were talking, Bokue had already reached the cabin door.
A gentle push, and it swung open.
Looking inside, at the far end of the cabin, a woman with a somewhat gaunt, withered face lay quietly on a bed, eyes closed in deep slumber.
That was obviously Sairaorg's mother—Misla Bael.
"Well then—let's give it a try."
Bokue stepped inside and approached the bed. He gently lifted a corner of the blanket, drew out the woman's hand, and held it.
[Magnetic Field Rotation]!
[Cellular Reconstruction]!
The same procedure as before.
A few seconds later, the lips of the woman who had been bedridden for over a decade suddenly trembled.
"Sairaorg... my child..."
"Mother!"
Sairaorg—who had been hovering anxiously at a distance—rushed forward the instant he heard that faint voice, dropping to his knees beside the bed.
It was a genuinely touching scene.
However, at that same moment, Venelana's feelings were rather complicated.
She subtly glanced at Runeas behind her—who was still looking around at the scenery like a curious bystander—and couldn't help but sigh helplessly.
According to the ancient agreement, whenever the First Generation Gremory awakened, the current Gremory main family was responsible for "pleasing" her. It was already approaching afternoon, and they hadn't satisfied this First Generation at all.
And if Runeas didn't go back, that meant Chysis wouldn't go back either.
Which meant tonight she couldn't... be with Bokue. After all, if her mother-in-law found out about that sort of thing, it would be a disaster.
Oh my, what to do~
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