Omniscient POV
When Tobio opened his eyes, he found himself in an unfamiliar sickroom. He was lying on a bed with an IV drip in his arm. As his consciousness returned, he slowly sat up.
His memory was hazy, but he could still recall some of what had happened in that state. While he was lowering his head, a voice addressed him.
"So, you've awakened, Ikuse Tobio."
Looking up, he saw a man sitting on a stool a short distance away. The man closed the book he had been reading and spoke.
"I will introduce myself again. I am Azazel, the leader of those who watch over the children of God—the organization known as Grigori."
'…This man was the Governor-General, Azazel, leader of the Grigori…'
Azazel continued.
"My organization studies various supernatural phenomena, measuring them, and one of our primary areas of research is Sacred Gears. We study everything from their abilities to their users."
His gaze shifted to the far side of Tobio's bed. Following his line of sight, Tobio saw a large black dog curled up, sleeping. He immediately recognized it as Jin.
Azazel made an announcement while staring at Jin.
"Your other self—the true nature of Jin—is one of the Sacred Gears we call Longinus, one of the God-Slaying Weapons. Its official name is Canis Lycaon, the Dog God of the Black Blade."
"Longinus…"
"There are only thirteen of them, each possessing the power to slay a god. What you wield is something that, at least theoretically, can even kill a god."
'Kill a god…?' The thought was beyond extraordinary.
"Natsume's and Samejima's Sacred Gears… are they different?"
"Yes, they may appear similar, but they are distinct. However, one of Canis Lycaon's abilities is that it attracts Sacred Gears of the same wavelength."
"Then… does that mean the abilities of those two—Jin… No, I—unknowingly caused them to awaken?"
'Minagawa Natsume, Samejima Kouki, the other Four Fiends who had yet to appear, and even his classmates… Had all of them been dragged into this because his ability had summoned the Four Fiends…?'
Azazel spoke to Tobio, who was being tormented by guilt.
"It does seem that your ability summoned them. However, the ones who exploited that were the people from the Utsusemi Agency."
"…But I had the Himejima bloodline from the beginning."
Tobio lowered his head as he spoke, prompting Azazel to sigh and scratch the back of his head.
"Your ability is one that can break the world's balance. Naturally, you were under strict surveillance.
In cases like this, eliminating you to seal that power would have been necessary. That's how dangerous your ability is.
Moreover, because you were born with it, the potential to disrupt the world's balance was only growing stronger.
If things had gone as expected, you would have been erased in infancy."
Azazel looked out the window as he continued.
"…However, both of your parents and your grandmother chose to let you live. That decision was not a small thing.
And at that time, I happened to lay eyes on you when you were very young.
Ikuse Ageha, out of love for you, placed a seal on the dog's power. It was nothing short of remarkable."
'…Baa-chan.'
Memories of his strict yet warm grandmother resurfaced. She had raised him with care and devotion until the day she passed. Her kindness still lingered deep in his heart.
And now, from what this man was saying, he had finally come to understand something that had puzzled him since childhood.
"…So, you were the one from back then?"
In response, the man unfurled twelve black wings from his back.
Indeed, this was the black angel he had encountered by chance.
The black angel—Azazel—smiled bitterly as he ruffled Tobio's hair.
"Yeah, that was me, kid. To be honest, it was a big deal.
I am what they call a fallen angel—one who was exiled from Heaven for embracing wickedness…
You don't seem particularly emotional about meeting an angel."
Tobio shook his head.
"No, after seeing the Utsusemi, demons, and magicians, it's not surprising that angels exist. It would be weirder if they didn't."
"There are many miracles in this world beyond your imagination."
Azazel spoke matter-of-factly.
"Our organization studies Sacred Gears and observes their wielders. When we discover someone with a powerful Sacred Gear, they become a subject of observation.
The reason I met you as a child was that there was a possibility you were a Longinus possessor.
If someone were to abuse a Sacred Gear—especially one with your potential—eliminating them would often be the best course of action.
All for the sake of maintaining the world's balance. Wars have been fought over this…
I owe a few apologies."
Tobio, taken aback by his straightforwardness, asked,
"Then… I was supposed to be eliminated?"
Azazel laughed.
"Originally, yes. But for two reasons, that decision was overturned."
He raised two fingers.
"One was your unique ability. Cases of people naturally born with the power to disrupt the balance of the world are extremely rare.
In the past thousand years, only a handful have existed. Except for you, all of them perished before we could even confirm them.
Yet, you lived in peace for years, thanks to your relatives' protection. That was fascinating."
Azazel lowered one finger, now holding up just one.
"As for the second reason… well, other Longinus wielders pleaded for us to change our approach.
One of them was a student of mine. The other was a magical girl sent by an acquaintance of mine. If I had refused their request, I'd have regretted it for the rest of my life."
Azazel let out a sigh.
"For now, we're keeping an eye out for all of the Four Fiends. We need to gather the rest of the Four Fiends."
It seemed that things weren't settled yet. The ones who had pleaded on his behalf… They must have been the silver-haired girl and the blonde girl.
He was still alive. However—
Tears welled up in Tobio's eyes.
"…I… Sae…! I couldn't save her…!"
The last moments in the outlook room replayed in his mind. He saw Sae embracing Jin, the blade protruding from Jin's head piercing through her chest.
He had been unable to save the person he cherished most—
As Tobio's tears streamed down, Azazel scratched his cheek and spoke.
"…Well, I think it's time."
At his words, the sickroom door opened.
Sitting in a wheelchair beyond the doorway—was Sae.
Tobio, at a loss for words, could only whisper a single name.
"…Sae?"
Hearing his voice, Sae covered her mouth with her hands.
"Tobio…"
Azazel addressed Tobio, who was struggling to believe what he was seeing.
"…You remember the prayer beads your grandmother gave you?"
Before the school trip, Tobio had given a string of prayer beads to Sae as a charm.
"Those beads carried a protective spell from your grandmother. When the time came, they activated their one-time effect, taking the damage in her place.
Though she was pierced by Jin's blade, her body suffered no harm. The prayer beads shattered and disappeared afterward."
'…Baa-chan's prayer beads had protected her.'
Even after her death, she was still watching over him. Over both him and Sae.
Overwhelmed by his grandmother's love and Sae's safety, Tobio couldn't hold back his tears.
Azazel continued.
"…As for the students of Ryoukou High, they are undergoing treatment. Once the Utsusemi are removed, they will be released along with their families. Their memories of this incident have been altered.
They won't remember us, the agency, or anything supernatural. Strict surveillance will ensure those involved won't dare to repeat their actions."
The relatives of his classmates had been rescued from that hideout. His classmates were now under Grigori's protection. It was better this way. Ignorance would allow them to live normal lives.
Azazel added one last thing.
"…However, this girl refused to have her memory altered."
'...!!!'
Tobio was speechless. Sae had chosen to remember everything.
"Well then, I'll leave you two alone."
With those words, Azazel left the room.
Tobio and Sae remained. Using the wheelchair, Sae moved closer and took his hand, tears in her eyes.
"…Tobio, I'm sorry… Was it painful? I… we (other students) couldn't fight back… I'm so sorry…"
"It's okay. As long as you're safe."
Tobio pulled Sae into his arms, lifting her from the wheelchair.
"...Welcome home, Sae."
"…Tobio, I'm home."
Finally.
At last, she had returned from her long journey.
*
*
*
"You were safe, huh, Ikuse!"
Tobio was teasingly poked with a crutch by Samejima. Still recovering from his injuries, Samejima was relying on crutches for daily life. But in a short while, he was expected to return to normal.
It had been a few days since that battle, and they had gathered once more at their usual condominium.
Tobio, Natsume, Samejima, Lavinia, Kuroka, Valerica, and now—Toujou Sae had joined their group. Sae had not yet stopped using a wheelchair, and Samejima still needed a cane to walk.
Natsume spoke to Sae.
"You're choosing not to forget those memories... even though it would probably be easier. Isn't that tough?"
Like with Natsume's friends, she had also wished that the memories of those events could be sealed for everyone. Their trip had been covered with a carefully fabricated story. The same applied to Samejima's buddy—Maeda.
Among the former second-year students of Ryoukou High School, Sae was the only one, apart from those who possessed Sacred Gears, who knew the full truth.
"Uh-uh. After all, Jin-chan is so cute!"
Sae said this while Jin, now transformed into a large dog, licked her cheeks.
Despite the drastic changes he had undergone, he hadn't become more attached to Sae than Tobio.
It only seemed that way because she spoiled him more...
Unlike Jin, the Sacred Gears of Natsume and Samejima—Griffon and Byakusa—had reverted to their previous forms, a falcon and a cat.
Apparently, they had done so for convenience in everyday life, or so Azazel had informed them.
Looking at Natsume's appearance, Samejima smirked bitterly.
"Still, can you really say that while dressed like that?"
Natsume's outfit was a uniform provided by Akatsuki.
It was primarily black and purple, with a design slightly different from a standard high school uniform. There was even a black dragon embroidered on them.
Rather than a school uniform, it resembled an exotic military uniform, the kind often seen in anime and manga featuring special hero organizations for middle and high school students. At a glance, it looked like cosplay.
"It can't be helped, can it? Since I'm going to the school in the so-called Demiplane, I was told to wear this."
Natsume said this while glancing at her own appearance.
It was a school for special children, regardless of race, known as 'Gifted.' It served as a training ground for half-humans, magicians, Sacred Gear holders, and other children affiliated with Akatsuki, helping them hone their skills early.
Hearing that, Samejima's expression shifted to one of complete boredom.
"...Seriously? This is the uniform for that so-called school for gifted children?"
"But it looks good, nya. Why don't you try it too?" Kuroka said, snickering as she shoved in the male uniform toward the frustrated Samejima's face.
For Tobio and the others, who had seen the other side of the world—the supernatural—it was absurd to return to their previous lives.
It was decided that they would transfer schools. The problem now was whether they would join Grigori's or Akatsuki's school.
Both had schools for gifted people, but Akatsuki's 'Gifted' had more students of the same age, as Lavinia and Kuroka attested.
However, Azazel had also promised that they would get the chance to learn directly from Baraqiel, one of Grigori's Cadres, if they joined the Nephilim school.
There was also the fact that Azazel had Insurance for Tobio's Balanced Breaker if it ever went berserk again, as Valerica's Longinus was one of the safest countermeasures against it.
As a result, both organizations agreed to host them equally.
Of course, the main reason behind this was that Azazel was far too interested in studying Tobio's Longinus and didn't want to give up on it so easily.
Kouske, on the other hand, didn't want to give up on Tobio either, but he knew that Baraqiel would be of better help to Tobio than he could be at the moment as Kouske was too busy and lazy to coach him all the time.
So they would be moving to an apartment building that served as the student dorms for 'Nephilim.' Valerica also lived there. From there, they could travel to 'Gifted' or 'Nephilim' whenever they wanted.
While anticipating their new lives, they gathered once again in the room where they had first watched the Utsusemi video.
"There's no other reason for calling everyone here. I just wanted to explain once again about that magician organisation that supported the Utsusemi Agency."
Most of those magicians had vanished somewhere, leaving behind the agency's survivors that day. But they had captured Walburga. So they could possibly get to them.
Lavinia explained.
"This happened a long time ago. They had once belonged to a single magician association, one that was completely split in two due to a certain event.
One-half remained on Earth and has continued unchanged to this day. This group, known as 'Grau Zauberer.'
However, the other half created their own domain within the 'Dimensional Gap,' the space between worlds, using the organization's original barrier magic."
[A/N: Honestly, I had planned to include this information during Mephistopheles and Sakuya's meeting, but I just forgot to do so. So, I'm dumping the info here instead! 😅😂
There are so many things I forget to write, even though I intend to include them. Remembering everything and writing it all step by step is kind of tough.]
Lavinia took out a single book—a picture book. It seemed like something she wanted to show everyone.
"This book is…?"
Holding the picture book in her hands, Lavinia continued.
"The contents of this book serve as proof of the world they created. The author became aware of this world by chance, and it is undoubtedly the domain they established within the 'Dimensional Gap.'"
Then, she clearly stated:
"These wizards… they are the 'Wizards of Oz.'"
'...!!!'
Everyone was stunned by this revelation—except for Valerica, who remained unfazed, accepting the information without reaction.
'——The elderly woman and young girl magicians we had encountered in that vast underground chamber… they were called the Wizards of Oz? Wasn't that just a children's book?'
Lavinia went on.
"I—Akatsuki and even Grau Zauberer, along with the Grigori, had been tracking magicians who infiltrated from the magical society known as 'Oz.' They were working alongside a traitor within the Grigori, the leader-class Fallen Angel—Satanael."
Oz—
And, even more shocking—a traitor within the Grigori—'Satanael.'
While keeping an eye on the remaining students from the 'Four Fiends' project, Tobio and the others now had to watch out for this magician organization too!
"But don't worry. Grau Zauberer will probably launch an all-out attack on them if Walburga's interrogation is successful," Lavinia suddenly says cheerfully.
'..Oh.'
So, they didn't need to worry about them after all?