Chapter 299 - Kiba, pack him up
Mahiro's attempt to explain last night fell flat.
Rias, Akeno, and the others just smirked, thinking he was messing around.
No way they'd buy that he spent the night with Serafall.
Still, they seemed relieved.
With Serafall around, there was no chance Mahiro got too cozy with Sona—Serafall's obsession would've shut that down hard.
Still, they gave Mahiro an earful.
Getting plastered and crashing at Sona's had them worried all night.
He took the scolding with a shrug.
The next two days passed quietly.
Mahiro and the Occult Research Club kept busy, helping with final prep for the tripartite peace talks.
Kuoh Academy was on lockdown, ready for the big day.
When night fell, a shimmering barrier snapped up around the school, glowing faintly as it sealed off the outside world.
The magic kept normal people away, leaving the campus crawling with armed Angels, Devils, and Fallen Angels.
Squads patrolled the skies, weapons drawn, eyes sharp for any threat.
Inside, heavy hitters—Maou-class and above—filled the air with their auras.
The leaders of the three factions were here, and the stakes couldn't be higher.
"Time to move," Rias said, standing up in the clubroom.
Everyone was on edge, waiting for the signal.
As Kuoh's guardians, they had to show up for the talks, even if just as observers.
Rias adjusted her uniform, her face all business.
Mahiro glanced at the corner, where Gasper was curled up in his cardboard box, clutching a handheld game.
"Bring him along."
"Gasper?" Rias blinked, thrown off.
She'd planned to leave him here with Koneko to keep him out of trouble.
"Huh?!" Gasper's head popped out of the box, his eyes wide with panic.
"Me?!"
"Yeah, you're coming with us to the meeting," Mahiro said, his tone leaving no room for argument.
"Why? I'm fine here! I won't mess anything up!" Gasper's voice cracked, his fear of crowds kicking in hard.
He just wanted to hide in his box, not face a room full of scary big shots.
Rias frowned, and the others looked just as confused.
Gasper's personality made him a liability at a high-stakes meeting.
Even Rias was nervous about rubbing elbows with the top leaders from the Angels and Fallen Angels, let alone bringing her anxious peerage member.
Mahiro pointed at Gasper's eyes.
"His Sacred Gear's too dangerous. If someone with bad intentions gets to him, it could tank the whole meeting."
In the anime, the Old Maou Faction hijacked Gasper's Forbidden Balor View, cranking it to Balance Breaker and freezing time across Kuoh Academy.
Everyone except Sacred Gear users and Maou-class got locked in place, letting the faction's goons wreak havoc and wipe out chunks of the three factions' forces.
Mahiro wasn't about to let that happen on his watch.
Keeping Gasper close to the faction leaders was the safest bet.
No one would dare try anything under their noses.
"But the barrier's up, and the place is crawling with guards," Jeanne said, crossing her arms.
As a Hero Faction member still tied to the Angels on paper, she was also an observer.
"No one's breaking in here, right?"
Mahiro shot her a look.
Jeanne was playing innocent.
He'd deal with her later—maybe teach her a lesson, keep her from stirring up trouble.
"Barriers aren't foolproof," Mahiro said.
"Someone sneaky could slip through, and we might not have time to bail Gasper out."
"Better to cut the risk now."
"I'm not going! No way!" Gasper wailed, flailing in his box.
"Rias-senpai, please, let me stay! I'll be good!"
Rias pinched the bridge of her nose, clearly torn.
Mahiro had a point—Gasper was a ticking time bomb.
But dragging him to a meeting full of powerhouses?
He'd probably freak out and cause a scene.
Akeno stepped in, her voice smooth and teasing.
"Come on, Gasper, think of it as training."
"You've been working hard lately. Show us what you've got."
"You can do it, Gasper," Koneko added, her flat tone somehow encouraging.
Xenovia cracked her knuckles.
"Or we could just knock him out. Problem solved."
"Why do you always want to hurt me?!" Gasper yelped, clutching his game tighter.
"Enough whining," Mahiro said.
He zipped over to Gasper's box and tapped the back of his neck, knocking him out cold.
Rias, Akeno, and the others stared, jaws dropped.
"Seriously?" Rias muttered, half-exasperated, half-impressed.
"Kiba, pack him up," Mahiro said, nodding at the box.
Kiba gave a wry grin, stuffing Gasper's limp form into the cardboard box and sealing it shut.
He hoisted it over his shoulder like it was luggage.
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