Next Morning
Leone and Chelsea lay tangled in exhaustion. Nanashi was gone before sunrise.
Leone groaned. "Ugh... Can you change back? Mine's face staring at me is weird."
"Oh—right."
Chelsea deactivated her Gaia Foundation power.
"You're nuts. If Mine finds out, she'll kill you."
Chelsea smirked. "Only if you tell her. But what about you? Are you sore here?"
She gave a firm slap making Leone winced.
"Ow! Be gentle!"
"Weren't you screaming just hours ago?"
Leone turned red. "Nanashi's too good."
A devious idea lit her eyes.
"Next time, let's invite Sheele."
Chelsea's eyes widened. "If Mine finds out, she'll unleash her romantic turret on us."
Leone winked. "If we don't say it, who will?"
...
In another world,
Nanashi had taken the day off from school.
He sat between Shinobu and Kanae in a quiet room overlooking the wisteria forest.
The wind rustled blossoms like violet waves.
Shinobu poured tea with delicate grace.
Nanashi took a sip. "Delicious."
Kanae gently wiped his lips.
Shinobu smiled. "As long as you enjoy it."
She reached to pour more, but he stopped her.
"This time, I want imported tea."
"Imported...?"
Before she could question further, Kanae giggled, picked up the cup, drank it herself, and leaned in for a kiss.
"Gulp."
Shinobu blinked.
So this was imported tea.
"Nana...shi!"
Suddenly, an excited voice came from afar.
Kanae had already taken the initiative to distance herself when she heard the voice.
Through the wisteria forest, under the dappled light, a pink blur darted past the trees and straight into Nanashi's arms.
Thankfully, he was strong enough to catch her without stumbling.
"Nanashi! I missed you so much!"
Mitsuri clung to him, nuzzling close as she inhaled his familiar scent.
"I missed you too, Mitsuri," Nanashi said, holding her gently.
She looked up at him with sparkling eyes—and of course, he didn't turn away.
"Mmm~!"
Overflowing with emotion, Mitsuri kissed him passionately, completely ignoring the presence of Shinobu and Kanae beside them.
There was no hesitation. No restraint.
Just unfiltered joy.
Shinobu and Kanae exchanged a glance… then silently stood up and walked toward the door.
They closed the double doors behind them.
…
Meanwhile, Kanao quietly made her way through the wisteria forest toward the Butterfly House.
Her purple eyes fell upon the closed door as faint sounds drifted through the wood.
Her gaze shimmered with subtle emotion.
Silently, she sat down on the steps outside.
A single purple butterfly flitted past and landed delicately on her fingertip.
She didn't speak.
She simply sat there, listening to the sounds of happiness from within.
Nanashi tested Mitsuri's training progress.
She did not disappoint.
Her muscle density was now eight times that of the average person.
Mitsuri was a natural when it came to physical combat. She had mastered both the Six Styles and Haki, to the point where she could take on three opponents at once through sheer willpower.
It was worth noting—Haruno and the others had only advanced rapidly after becoming Angels of Redemption or Apostles of Sin.
But Mitsuri? She'd achieved all this through nothing but determination and hard work.
This time, Nanashi had also transformed both Shinobu and Mitsuri into angels.
The spacious grounds of the Butterfly Mansion were now officially under Shinobu's ownership.
Mitsuri had moved in as well.
With no one around to interfere, they could train freely—unlike the congested cities, where even finding a place to spar was a challenge.
During a casual conversation, Nanashi also tested Mitsuri's learning results.
Once that was done, he pulled them both into a warm hug.
Then they talked about everything that had happened on their end.
From Shinobu, Nanashi learned the current state of the Demon Slayer Corps.
First, the Butterfly Mansion had been permanently entrusted to her.
Mitsuri, Kanao, and Aoi Kanzaki were now living there as well.
The Demon Slayer Corps was slowly disbanding.
Under the guidance of Ubuyashiki Kagaya, its members were gradually returning to ordinary lives in society.
Nanashi absentmindedly played with Shinobu's hand as he asked, "How's Kagaya's condition these days?"
Shinobu smiled sweetly, her voice soft and sincere. "Ever since Muzan's tragic passing, the Lord's health has been steadily recovering. He's getting better little by little."
"Huh? Seriously?"
Nanashi hadn't expected that.
Could his illness really have been the result of a curse?
Still, it was merely an interesting tidbit to him—not something worth dwelling on.
Just as the conversation was about to continue, Nanashi was alerted by a notification in the group chat.
He opened the window and saw that Lemuel had tagged him.
Lemuel:"Nanashi, Nanashi, I think I've run into a real problem here!"
Nanashi:"What kind of problem?"
Lemuel:"There's been a natural disaster in Chernobog. The whole place is frozen in place, and both Rhodes Island(R.I. team) and I are stuck here."
Lemuel:"I think I can hold out against the disaster, but after what you said before... I'm not sure if I should act."
Nanashi:"I'll handle it."
Lemuel:"Okay. Please come quickly."
Nanashi:"Yeah."
March 7th:"Remember to stream it live!"
Nanashi gave Mitsuri a gentle pat on the head.
"Woo-woo?" she tilted her head (What's wrong?).
"I've got something to take care of."
"Oh, okay!" Mitsuri nodded and let him go, wiping him clean with practiced hands.
Nanashi didn't bother putting on clothes the normal way.
With a flash of golden light, he was instantly dressed in a sleek blue tracksuit.
With the power of prayer.
Changing clothes was as easy as blinking.
[You have applied for Lemuel travel authorization across dimensions!]
[Temporal transit permission granted!]
[Crossing channel has been opened!]
"Nanashi, do you need me?" Kanae asked gently.
Nanashi smiled. "No need. Get some rest. I'll be back soon—and we'll pick up where we left off."
A wormhole opened behind him, swirling with cosmic light.
Without another word, Nanashi stepped inside.
…
Moments later—
"There's… someone at the door," came a hushed voice.
Kanae heard it and gently tapped Shinobu on the shoulder.
Shinobu quietly slipped out, modestly covering herself as she went to answer the door.
…
Chernobog.
A mobile city once belonging to the Ursus Empire—now a lifeless shell in a field of ash and bone.
The city was engulfed in flames and ruin.
The entire area had fallen to the Integration Movement.
Destruction, fire, looting, murder—this was the reality of Chernobog now.
Corpses littered the streets. Blood and torn flesh stained the walls.
Crying echoed through broken alleys.
Wailing filled the air.
The city itself—scarred by war and chaos—seemed to grieve.
Above Chernobog, black clouds hung heavy in the sky, suffocating the very spirit of the place.
Spiraling vortexes spun like tornadoes, layered across the heavens.
Fine Originium dust clustered around a thick spiral stormcloud.
Blinding golden lightning cracked and roared within.
And descending with it… something even more terrifying than war.
A true natural disaster.
A force capable of wiping out mobile cities—bringing absolute destruction upon mankind.
Dobermann stared solemnly at the storm. "Amiya. It's coming."
"What should we do, Doc?"
Ceobe, her golden ponytail swaying and shield at the ready, looked between Amiya and the cloaked Doctor.
Dobermann grit her teeth. "The Doctor's memory hasn't returned yet."
The hooded figure, their voice low but steady, replied, "I'm sorry."
Ceobe's eyes widened in disbelief. She turned to Amiya, the rabbit-eared girl who led Rhodes Island.
Amiya's eyes softened with sorrow as she looked over the city.
Pain. Panic. Desperation. Despair.
All of it flowed into her like a tidal wave.
She wanted to save everyone.
But right now… they could barely protect themselves.
Hunted by the Integration Movement.
Threatened by an unstoppable calamity.
Each danger was like a blade pressed to their necks.
"Have you made up your mind?" Texas asked, her wolf ears twitching slightly. "Our mission is complete. We won't be taking any further risks with you. We need to find shelter from the natural disaster, then evacuate the City immediately."
Behind her stood Lemuel and Croissant, the stout bread-loving warrior of the Plentyhoo tribe.
"I agree," Dobermann said, nodding in support of Penguin Logistics' decision. "Now's not the time to worry about the City. The safety of our people must come first."
Amiya remained silent for a moment. Though young, she was still Rhode Island's leader—and far from foolish. She knew when to stand firm, and when to adapt. The fate of everyone in Rhode Island hinged on her choices.
She took a deep breath, regaining her composure. "Understood. We'll seek shelter first and decide what to do after surviving this natural disaster."
"Rhode Island, where exactly do you plan to run to?"
"Watch out!" Croissant suddenly shouted. She rushed toward Lemuel and slammed her shield into the ground with a loud clang.
Her arm went numb from the impact—but it had worked.
A nearly invisible crossbow bolt had just been deflected.
They were under attack.
The voice that had spoken came from atop a pile of rubble.
There, standing calmly, was a white-haired boy wielding a black staff with an odd design. His gray hair fluttered in the wind, and though he appeared young, his presence immediately put everyone from Rhode Island and Penguin Logistics on high alert.
Ace, Ceobe, and Croissant instinctively stepped in front of the group, shields raised.
They weren't just facing one person.
Emerging from the rubble around the boy were twisted, humanoid creatures—grotesque distortions of human forms, moving with an unnatural stiffness.
"Rhode Island, huh? So that's the one who climbed out of the sarcophagus?"
The boy narrowed his eyes. His tone was manic—almost childlike in its confusion.
"Hey... could you hand him over? I really want to have a proper chat with that free man. Maybe I'm jealous of how carefree he is… how nothing seems to bother him. What a life. Must be nice..."
His gaze locked onto the hooded Doctor, even through the wall of grotesque figures.
"The enemy's target is the Doctor!" Ace barked. "Protect the Doctor!"
He moved in front of the cloaked figure, standing firm like a fortress.
"Doctor...? Faust, do you know what that means?" the white-haired boy mumbled to the air.
"I don't know, Mephisto," came a faint reply—from thin air.
No... not thin air. A figure slowly materialized, their form previously cloaked in invisibility.
Green hair. Pale skin. A crossbow in hand.
Croissant's expression turned grim. "That's the one who shot at us!"
"Who the hell are you people?" Texas demanded, her twin lightsabers humming to life.
"Who are we?" Mephisto chuckled, eyes wide with madness. "Let my herd show you the answer!"
His staff pulsed with green light, and the distorted monsters shrieked and charged.
"Prepare to engage!" Doberman snapped, cracking her whip.
"They... they're all human!" Amiya's voice trembled in horror. Her eyes widened, disbelief written across her face.
"So much pain... I can feel it! You turned them into this! You're desecrating life!" she cried, black lines of power surging around her.
"Life? What life?" Mephisto sneered. "They're just tools—my herd. My life is real. God says I'm innocent."
His words were unhinged, rambling nonsense—but the message was clear: he didn't see the herd as human.
"God says you're innocent?" a new voice interrupted, smooth and scornful. "Well, I say you're guilty."
Two hands landed lightly on the shoulders of Mephisto and Faust.