Seiryuu City, DesuMachi Planet…
After the interrogation courtesy of Mei and Ruan Mei, what was supposed to be a simple dinner had turned into a welcoming feast for Tinasha and Nana.
Mei threw herself into the kitchen without hesitation. She called Lulu, Patricia, the maids, and even the villa's head chef. By the time she was done, the dining hall was filled with an extravagant spread that felt more like a festival than a meal.
It was her way of coping.
After hearing Tinasha's story, Mei could not remain indifferent. A girl torn from her family. Sold as a slave. Saved—only to be betrayed. Reunited with her father—only to discover he had become a Demon Lord just to save her.
Mei understood that kind of pain.
Though their circumstances were different, she, too, had once lost herself, had once walked a path she never intended to take. And just like Tinasha, she had found her true salvation in Hachiman.
Because of that shared understanding, the two women grew close far more quickly than anyone else.
As for Ruan Mei, since Mei no longer objected and Kagura clearly liked Tinasha, she accepted the situation as well. That did not stop her from giving Hachiman a sharp pinch at his side and pouting at him.
The sight was far too adorable, so unlike her usual aloof self, that Hachiman couldn't help but give her a little extra attention in that moment.
Her small pout was gone, replaced by red cheeks and a satisfied smile.
When the others learned the full story, the mood changed as well. Hachiman had explained that the play they had watched earlier that afternoon was, in truth, based on Tinasha's family.
With the scenes still fresh in their minds, the locals—Zena, Auna, Iona, Lilio, Ruu, Yukel, and Liza—fell silent.
Even Auna, who normally condemned demons without hesitation, found herself unable to hate Zen. A father who chose to become a Demon Lord just to protect his last remaining family… she could not bring herself to call him evil.
Mia, the very victim of Zen's attack, could no longer bring herself to condemn him. In the end, he was just a desperate father searching for someone strong enough to end his suffering and save his daughter. He had never truly intended to kill her; he had only used her to access the facilities within the Maze of Trazayuya, hoping to draw out the hero capable of defeating him.
The children reacted more honestly.
The crying Sora, Arisa, Lulu, Pochi, Tama, and Fran gathered around Tinasha and refused to leave her side. They clung to her hands, her sleeves, even her waist.
Tinasha, overwhelmed but warmed by their affection, simply smiled and let them.
At the moment, Hachiman was standing alone on the villa balcony, enjoying the evening breeze.
Inside, laughter filled the hall. Sora had taken out several board games from her storage for everyone to play with, and even Kagura's bright giggles rang clearly through the noise.
When Hachiman heard Tinasha's genuine, hearty laugh for the first time that night, a small smile formed on his face.
It felt like a weight had finally lifted from his shoulders.
Then his terminal rang.
He opened it and was immediately greeted by the usual liveliness of the crew's group chat.
Hajime posted a photo of himself and the rest of his group back on his home planet, his fiancées meeting his parents and sister for the first time. Anisphia was clearly flustered, making a fuss about being completely unprepared to face Hajime's family, which immediately earned an outpouring of support from Lavinia, Euphyllia, Sona, and Sagiri.
Alice, having already met the Nagumo family before, handled it easily. She offered advice to the others, while the rest of the girls(Star-pulse and Slash/Dog) chimed in with their own sympathy and encouragement for Anisphia and the others.
Soon, Kiana, Elysia, Lumine, and Sirin began sharing their own stories of meeting Noah's parents, siblings, and grandparents. They told their newer additions (Nanoha, Fate, Hayate, Herta, and Gabriel) about what to expect.
And most importantly:
[Kiana: No matter what you do, never displease Granny Mitsuki!]
[Elysia: Unless you want to meet Granny Evernight instead~.]
As if wanting to change the topic or perhaps to show how they are doing, Noah posted a photo as well. It was a selfie of himself, Sirin, and Hayate inside the Hyperion, along with familiar faces, captioned:
'A Selfie With A Red Hair Me.'
Hachiman nearly choked.
His eyes widened, and judging by how the chat suddenly went silent for three full seconds, he wasn't the only one.
Standing beside Noah was someone with the exact same face and build. Same height. Same expression. Same presence.
If the other Noah hadn't had red hair, golden eyes, and a white sailor uniform topped with a hat labeled 'Captain,' Hachiman would have genuinely believed they were twins.
Then Elysia casually uploaded another image.
It was Noah activating the 'Sun' power within his bloodline.
His eyes shone like twin suns. His hair turned red.
The chat exploded.
Ignoring the flood of messages from the Star-Pulse ladies screaming 'Two Captains!' and 'Double Noah?!' Hachiman finally typed:
[Hachiman: Who the heck is that guy?!]
[Noah: Ahaha! It's a funny story actually~.]
And it was quite a story indeed.
Apparently, Noah, Sirin, and Hayate had been chasing an interdimensional entity named 'Doordoormo'—according to Sirin.
[Lumine: ...It's Dormammu, Sii.]
A tired Lumine corrected Sirin immediately.
The being was attempting to swallow the reality of the world they were currently visiting. They confronted it, but after taking a beating from Sirin, the entity chose to escape instead of finishing the fight.
Feeling frustrated about the unfinished fight, Sirin immediately chased after it. Of course, Noah and Hayate wouldn't let her go alone, so they followed her without hesitation. And just like that, the trio began hopping from one dimension to another, relentlessly pursuing Dormammu.
That chase was how they ended up meeting the other Noah—the one who was, just like him, the captain of the Hyperion—traveling alongside familiar faces through the Dimensional Sea, or as they called it, the 'Sea of Quanta.'
"How should I put it…" Hachiman muttered under his breath, rubbing the bridge of his nose. "If trouble comes looking for me, Noah is the type to chase after it instead."
He could already feel the headache forming just imagining his brother's adventure.
After that, Hachiman updated them about their own situation. Although Noah(their captain), Lumine(Deputy of the Crew), Belfast(Head of the Maid team), and Patricia (Deputy of the Maid Team) already knew about Nana, he still hadn't told Tinasha to them, much less to the rest of the crew.
As expected, the teasing about him acquiring a 'third wife' arrived instantly.
He ignored it, of course.
Instead, he focused on how the crew warmly welcomed Nana and her sisters into the Maid Team. The discussion quickly went to how the Maid team's workload would be lighter with the new additions.
Seeing that, Hachiman glanced back into the hall. Patricia was already speaking gently with Nana, explaining something while Nana listened attentively.
'Looks like this decision of mine… wasn't a bad one after all,' he nodded to himself, secretly feeling proud.
Then he remembered something else from his conversation with Zen.
His eyes went inside the hall.
Mei, Sora, Tinasha, Ruan Mei, and Kagura were playing board games with Fran, Tama, Pochi, Liza, Arisa, Lulu, Lilio, Ruu, Auna, Yukel, and Iona. Their joyful laughter can be heard clearly.
His eyes stayed a little longer on Arisa.
A reincarnated person… just like Zen.
After a brief hesitation, Hachiman chose to speak up in the group chat. His concern for the family he had here outweighed his old habit of carrying everything alone.
He told Noah and the others about the thoughts that had been circling in his mind since that short exchange with Zen—the so-called unique skills, the violet flames that gave him a cold, unsettling feeling, and the growing suspicion that the "Gods" of this world might not be as benevolent as they were portrayed.
He pointed out how convenient the Demon Lord ascension and Hero summoning system felt. And how the color purple—violet—was treated as an omen of ill fate.
[Hachiman: I might be overthinking this, but… I can't shake the feeling that the Demon God and the Seven Pillar Gods are connected. After all, why would the Demon God cooperate with his enemies to protect this world from the Legion 50,000 years ago if his true goal is destruction?]
[Hachiman: And according to Akon Kagura… they rely on people's faith to maintain the barrier that hides this planet from the rest of the universe. There's even an active defense mechanism that erases anyone who threatens that absolute faith in the gods.]
[Hachiman: I suspect that… they need something—something that will make humanity cling to the gods. And what better way than an enemy that threatens them with extinction? The Demons. The Demon Lords.]
His words were like cold water poured over the warm and cheerful mood from moments ago. The mood of everyone in chat became heavy.
[Hachiman: I've always believed that a common enemy is the easiest way to unite people. And that makes the demons—and the Demon Lords—the perfect target.]
[Hachiman: When humanity stands on the brink of destruction, unable to defeat them, they will inevitably turn to the gods. And the gods will answer… by summoning a Hero. Conveniently, the only one capable of opposing a Demon Lord—because both sides are "blessed."]
[Hachiman: Demon Lords carry the blessing of the Demon God. Heroes carry the blessing of Parion—one of the Seven Pillar Gods.]
[Hachiman: Zen was reincarnated. He had a unique skill. He became a Demon Lord. And when he was defeated… those violet flames appeared. They spoke as if this was just another round—'You won this time, Hero.' 'Another failure.' And in this world, violet is treated as an omen of ill fate.]
[Hachiman: Piece by piece… everything connects. So I can't help but think… this might all be nothing more than a stage set by the gods of this world.]
A cold silence followed.
[Noah: Tsk. I expected this world to be complicated… but not to this extent.]
[Noah: Good thing we left Hii, Kii, Gabby, and Ellie there as insurance. That decision just proved its worth. ]
[The Herta: Hmph.]
[Kiana: …Now I'm really glad I stayed on the Express instead of insisting on going with you three, Captain.]
[Gabriel & Elysia: Yeah…]
[Hajime: So what's the next move? Based on Hachi's analysis, the people of that world are nothing more than victims of those so-called gods.]
[Hajime: Do we intervene… and just take the whole world for ourselves?]
[Hajime: Wouldn't be a bad gift for our niece.]
The suggestion wasn't made lightly.
[Noah: Normally, I'd say only the people of that world have the right to choose their own fate…]
[Noah: But right now… I won't deny I'm considering your proposal, Hajime. Consequences be damned.]
[Noah: Still, that decision is not ours to make. Hachi, tell us. What do you truly think? I'll base our next steps on your answer.]
Hachiman tightened his grip around his terminal. His expression hardened.
He had thought about it too—about conquering this world before it could be manipulated any further. About securing it, stabilizing it… and one day, when Kagura was old enough, letting her fulfill her role as its Dragon God.
But then another thought followed.
How would those gods react?
What desperate measures would they take once they realized they were being challenged?
If Zena… if Auna… if the friends they had made in this world were caught in the crossfire—
He closed his eyes briefly.
With a heavy breath, he answered.
[Hachiman: Personally… I agree with Hajime. Taking this world for ourselves and letting Kagura manage it in the future would be the most welcomed outcome for us.]
[Hachiman: But I can't stop thinking about how the gods would respond. And that part… is what makes me hesitate.]
[Hachiman: They're already cold enough to use reincarnated people as pawns, manipulating the masses and putting chains around the necks of Heroes just to keep this little game of theirs running… So how much worse would it be if they became desperate once we strike?]
[Hachiman: And if the innocents—the very people we want to protect—end up suffering because of our own selfish judgment… because of what WE think is right… Wouldn't that mean we've already strayed from the meaning of Trailblaze?]
A heavy silence followed his message.
[Noah: Explore. Understand. Establish. Connect. That is our creed.]
[Noah: It's the philosophy we rely on whenever we decide our course of action.]
Those four words settled firmly in the chat. They weren't just slogans. They were what shaped the Nameless—what kept them from becoming tyrants in the name of justice.
Reading that, Hachiman slowly exhaled.
And he decided.
[Hachiman: Which is why our team—Team Ash-Born First Steps—will focus on learning about this world first.]
[Hachiman: We'll uncover why the gods act the way they do. What the Miasma truly is. Who the Demon Lords really are. And what the gods' ultimate goal might be.]
[Hachiman: Once we know the full picture… then I'll decide whether we free this world from them—or take everything into our own hands.]
[Hajime: Hah! I like how "letting them continue as they are" was never even an option!]
[Hajime: Either they step off the stage… or we take over and manage it ourselves!]
[Noah: Putting Hajime's battle-freak comment aside… if this is how you want to proceed, Hachi, then that's fine. As you said, this is your First Steps. Your own expedition. So go and see it for yourselves. Feel it. Hear it. Understand how the people of that world truly live. Then come back and tell us the story you experienced. From that… whatever path (Trail) you choose is what we will follow (Blaze).]
[Hajime: Oi! I'm not a battle-freak!]
[Everyone: Yes, you are!!!]
[Noah: Hahaha. Go on, Hachi. Take those steps with confidence. We'll all be here—every step of the way.]
[Hachiman: Thanks, Noah… everyone. We won't disappoint you.]
[Noah: Ahahaha! I'm not worried about that at all!]
[Noah: Oh, right—before I forget. Congrats on finalizing your team name, Hachi.]
[Noah: So in my capacity as the Captain of our crew, Team Hachi-Mei-Sora is officially renamed Team Ash-Born and would be properly recorded in our logs!]
[Noah: Unfortunately, Ellie, all of your suggested names are denied. Please remove them from the logs and replace them with the official one.]
[Disappointed_Elf_Elysia: Muuu! And here I was, so excited to name them Twilight Current!!]
'Thank Akivili… I made it in time,' Hachiman thought, wiping imaginary sweat from his forehead as he remembered Elysia's proposed names.
[Disappointed_Elf_Elysia: Team Ash-Born sounds sooooo plain! It feels so unromantic!!]
Hachiman's cheeks twitched at Elysia's dramatic complaint.
[Noah: Actually… that team name is quite romantic, you know, Ellie. It fits Hachi, Mei, Sora-chan, Ruan Mei, and Kagura-chan perfectly.]
[Disappointed_Elf_Elysia: Ehh? Really?]
[Noah: Of course. The name reflects their story.]
[Noah: It speaks of them being born from the ashes of their former selves.]
[Everyone: HUH?! REALLY?!]
[Noah: Yes. Hachi was reborn as a Memetic Entity. Mei rose from being a herald of Honkai to who she stands now. Sora-chan, who lost her past, was reborn into who she is today. Ruan Mei shed her distant self and became a caring mother and partner to Hachi and Kagura-chan. And Kagura-chan reincarnated from being a Dragon God into a Herrscher and an Aeon Candidate.]
[Noah: Each of them left behind who they once were and embraced who they have become. That acceptance… that transformation… is what "Ash-Born" represents. A fitting name for the Nameless, who leave their past behind to step into the unknown of the universe.]
[Everyone: …]
Reading Noah's explanation and how speechless the rest are, Hachiman scratched his cheek in embarrassment.
He had chosen the name for exactly that reason.
"Well… It's also fitting for Tinasha," Hachiman added with a small smile. "Her old life has ended. Now a new story is about to unfold for her. A new beginning just for her."
[Humbled_Elf_Elysia: Hachiman, I, Elysia, take back everything I said! The team name you chose has outdone eveeerything I imagined! It is the most romantic name I have ever heard! Please accept my deepest apology!!!]
[Hachiman: …Please don't worry about it, Elysia. I really don't mind.]
[Humbled_Elf_Elysia: Thank you for your boundless forgiveness! I shall immediately edit the logs and ensure that the name Team Ash-Born is properly etched into the glorious history of the Nameless!!!]
[Hachiman: Please… just make it normal…]
[Humbled_Elf_Elysia: That won't do, Hachiman! Such a romantic team name deserves an equally romantic narration! Leave it to me!]
[Hachiman: …]
Hachiman felt more exhausted imagining how Elysia would write their mission reports than climbing and fighting his way through a 200-floor maze in just an hour.
"Haaa… Just when I thought I saved us from an embarrassing team name… now we have to endure a 'romantic' narration in the logs… I just hope Kagura never reads those when she grows up." Hachiman whispered.
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=========== OMAKE ==========
XX years later. Astral Express. The Lighthouse...
A twelve-year-old Kagura had sneaked aboard the Express with her 'cousins' and siblings. The moment they reached the databanks, she eagerly pulled up the old mission logs, specifically looking for the entries about her parents.
Once she found it, she eagerly read it, ignoring her younger siblings who were as excited as her.
But just after reading a few paragraphs.
Her expression froze.
And immediately shut the screen.
"Huh? Why did you close it, Onee-chan?" a blonde-haired little girl with a star in her left eye pouted at her older sister.
"Is something wrong with it, Nee-san?" a little boy—identical to the girl except for the star in his right eye—asked curiously.
"A-Ahaha! N-Nothing! I just… think we're still too young to read those logs!" Kagura said quickly, her face turning bright red. "So let's save that for later and go find Akkun, Vivi, and the others instead!"
Under the confused stares of her younger siblings, the flustered Kagura gently but firmly pushed them away from the databanks.
'I… I don't think I can look at Daddy and our Mommies the same way ever again…!'
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