The moonlight bathed the Sullivan mansion in a soft glow as Iruma stepped down from the ornate horse-drawn carriage, holding the two Akudol concert tickets carefully in his hands. The silver lining around the tickets glistened in the lamplight as he stared at the date printed on them:
"1 week from today – VIP Access: Backstage and Performance and meet with Kuromo."
He couldn't help but smile softly. A concert we will both go, Ameri... in just a week.
The front door swung open with a gentle creak. Standing there, arms wide and grinning far too brightly, was Sullivan.
"My grandson… as beautiful as ever!!" he exclaimed dramatically, eyes shining like stars as he looked at Iruma's disheveled but elegant Hanfu.
Iruma, flustered, bowed his head quickly. "G-Grandpa… please don't exaggerate…"
Sullivan spun theatrically, holding his heart. "And yet you left this poor old man without saying a word! Where did you go? Did you run off to get married!? Did you elope!?"
"N-No! It was just… just a small outing with a friend…" Iruma said quickly, trying not to meet his grandpa's teasing gaze. "With Ameri-san. From the Student Council."
Sullivan froze for a second… and then slowly turned to Opera with an ominous grin. "Opera… that girl will steal my Iruma away! We must prepare! I should start planning the wedding before she does!"
Opera, standing nearby with arms crossed, said with a calm but sharp tone, "You're late, Iruma-sama."
Iruma straightened, guilt flashing in his eyes. "Ah—sorry, Opera-san. I lost track of time."
Opera raised an eyebrow. "You're still recovering. Staying out for so long under the moonlight without proper rest… You must take better care of yourself."
"I understand." Iruma bowed again, sincere. "I'll be more careful."
Later that evening, the three sat together in the grand dining room. The meal was peaceful, warm, filled with light chatter—mostly Sullivan fantasizing about his "adorable grandson's romantic future," while Iruma tried to hide his flustered expression behind a spoonful of soup.
Eventually, dinner ended, and the mansion grew quiet.
Opera walked Iruma to his room, as he often did.
"Goodnight, Iruma-sama," he said, flicking off the enchanted lamp beside the bed.
"Goodnight, Opera-san," Iruma replied softly, slipping under the covers.
The door clicked shut.
A light swirl of smoke puffed out from the Ring of Gluttony. From it, Ali-san emerged mid-yawn, floating upside down above Iruma's head like a lazy ghost.
"Iru-boy~ That was a lovely day, wasn't it?" he hummed, spinning in the air. "Watching you two flutter around like romantic birds. Hoohoo~ I haven't seen you blush that hard since you met Ameri the first time."
Iruma's face went completely red.
"A-Ali! D-Don't say weird things! She's just a friend who knows I'm… y'know."
Ali snickered. "Sure, sure. Just a friend. That's why your face turned beet red when her hand touched your lips?"
Iruma groaned and pulled the blanket over his head. "Enough! Stop reading my emotions like a manga!"
After a pause, his voice emerged from under the covers, more thoughtful this time.
"…Ali, is it possible to… change my Susanoo's shape? Like… say, make the arm stretch longer or bigger? Maybe shape it differently if I focus?"
Ali's expression shifted from teasing to intrigued. "Oh? That's an interesting thought. Technically, yes—you're manipulating chakra and magic simultaneously. If your mind is focused and your control stable, you could alter the form. But it'll be draining. You're still adapting to the merge. But if you can do ? You can make a Dragon also"
Iruma peeked out from beneath the blanket, nodding slowly.
"Alright… I'll try working on it when I train again."
Ali floated down gently, circling once like a sleepy cat, then settled on Iruma's pillow.
"You're growing up fast, Iru-boy. Keep steady."
Iruma mumbled something faint in reply, already slipping into slumber.
His breath evened out. His hand relaxed. The tickets lay neatly on the nearby desk.
Ali watched him quietly for a moment, then whispered, "…Sleep well, Iruma. Big day today. Bigger days ahead."
He yawned, curling up beside his partner, and soon drifted into sleep as well—just as the moonlight faded behind a curtain, ending the night on a peaceful note.
Next Day – Babyls Demon School: A Celebration Begins… A Threat Brews
The grand courtyard of Babyls buzzed with energy. Banners fluttered between the towers, food stalls began lining the walkways, and music echoed across the school grounds.
In the staff tower, two voices clashed.
"It's obviously my battler with the most promising first-years!" Suzy shouted, pointing dramatically at Dali.
"Ridiculous! My recruits can out-perform yours with a single claw behind their back," Dali snapped, flipping his clipboard with flair.
Behind them, the teachers gathered, some amused, some already annoyed.
Balam quietly sipped tea in the background, chuckling softly, "This… feels nostalgic."
Finally, someone with flowers on his cloak and a sparkle in his eye raised his hand:
"Now, now~! Let's all play nice!" chirped Robin-sensei, twirling slightly as he spoke. "The Battler Party is all about our adorable lil' first-years showing off their growth! Not for us to start a turf war!"
The room stilled. Suzy pouted, then huffed.
"Fine. But everyone will know whose battler shines brightest!"
Courtyard – Battler Party: Day One
Colorful stalls, magic-based games, and performance stages filled the space. The courtyard, nestled in the heart of the three towers, transformed into a festival ground. Demon children and their families wandered through, proud parents snapping pictures with enchanted cameras.
Iruma stood near the perimeter, his hands in his pockets, quietly taking it all in.
"So this is a Battler Party…" he murmured, eyes scanning the rows of enthusiastic first-years.
Nearby, Alice and Clara were mid-argument over how to angle the firework cannon.
"No, no, Valic, you don't sit inside the cannon!" Alice scolded, holding a blueprint.
"But how else will it shoot the biggest firework—me!?" Clara protested dramatically.
Iruma chuckled softly, stepping in to adjust the fuse mechanism with precise care. His demeanor calm, but his eye twitched slightly. "So much chaos... but they're trying hard. Just like me."
A group of excited first-years ran past them, pointing to a nearby performance stage, where other battlers rehearsed dance routines and spell demonstrations.
"They're all so fired up…" Iruma observed, his tone almost nostalgic.
Elsewhere – Within a Secret Room
Far from the laughter and celebration, a hidden chamber beneath the school glowed with eerie green light.
Kirio stood before a massive, rune-etched machine. The air thrummed with unstable mana.
He pressed his gloved hand to the side of the device, a slow grin crawling across his face.
"Gabu-ko is almost ready." His voice carried a sickly reverence.
From the shadows, Baal stepped into view, his long coat sweeping the ground behind him.
"Good," Baal said coldly. "We need chaos. We need attention. When the crowd is thickest—when the noise is loudest—then we strike."
Kirio tilted his head, eyes wide and twitching. "And the first-years… they'll all be gathered there, celebrating. Laughing. Just perfect."
A door creaked open behind them.
"Kirio?"
Iruma's calm voice echoed into the chamber.
Kirio froze.
Iruma stood in the threshold, his eyes sharp despite his neutral tone.
"What are you doing here?" he asked, eyes shifting from Kirio to the machine.
For a moment, silence hung thick.
Kirio turned, his grin plastered on. "Oh! Iruma-kun! You startled me." He stepped forward, subtly trying to block the machine from view. "I was just… working on a project. A surprise battler showcase prop! For the party!"
Iruma's gaze lingered on the cables, the smell of burning magic in the air.
"…Looks intense," he replied coolly.
Kirio nodded quickly. "Y-Yeah! You know me—always overdoing it."
Iruma didn't press further. He only narrowed his eyes for a second, then stepped back.
"We're setting up fireworks outside. Don't be late when the announcement begins."
As he disappeared up the stairway, Kirio exhaled—then grinned darkly.
"Careful, Iruma-kun… you're getting too close."