Under the enormous banyan tree.
Luo Shu carried the demon girl Kisara in his arms, while Chisato Nishikigi and Takina Inoue supported Ayano Kannagi, walking out of the cave beneath the tree alongside Ryuuya Kazamaki, who trudged alone.
Upon finally seeing the sunlight outside, the most excited one was the pale-faced Ryuuya Kazamaki:
"Thank goodness, we're finally out... Ouch!!"
His loud exclamation aggravated the wound on his abdomen, making him gasp in pain, tears welling up in his eyes.
Heaven knows how much he had suffered during this mission. As the dutiful vanguard, he had been mistaken for the main threat and ambushed by the enemy. Was that really necessary? Was it?
"Kazamaki-san, tone it down a little..." Ayano Kannagi, still weak, felt somewhat awkward seeing Ryuuya Kazamaki's tearful display.
It almost looked like she had bullied him, though no one could have predicted why the demon Mapa would mistake Ryuuya Kazamaki as the greatest threat. It was beyond anyone's expectations.
Meanwhile, Luo Shu, holding Kisara in a princess carry, asked:
"Takina, have the signals been sent?"
"The third wave has already been transmitted," Takina replied, supporting one of Ayano Kannagi's arms to prevent the toxin-weakened girl from collapsing.
"Good that the signals are out..." Luo Shu gently set Kisara down, keeping one arm around her while reaching into the bag Chisato was carrying with his free hand. He unzipped it, retrieved the flare gun, and fired a shot into the sky.
Biu—!
The flare exploded with a loud pop, spreading a massive pink smoke signal across the sky.
The group waited less than two minutes after firing the signal flare before the clattering sound of helicopter blades echoed through the air.
Soon, a large armed helicopter approached. Mizuki Nakahara, leaning out from the helicopter, shouted through a megaphone at the people below:
"Everyone alright down there?!"
The responses from below were loud but chaotic, drowned out by the helicopter's noise.
Seeing this, Mizuki felt somewhat relieved and called out to Mika in the pilot's seat:
"They all seem fine. Just lower the ladder directly."
"Got it." Mika exhaled slightly and pressed a button, deploying the ladder, which hovered near the banyan tree.
Below, Luo Shu glanced at the suspended ladder and turned to Ryuuya Kazamaki:
"Can you hold on?"
Ryuuya, clutching his bandaged stomach with a pale face, replied, "I can still use the wind to assist, but I'll need a moment to prepare..."
Hearing this, Luo Shu reminded him, "We're the only two men here, you know."
At those words, Ayano Kannagi, Chisato Nishikigi, and Takina Inoue all simultaneously fixed their gazes on the two, instinctively pressing down on their skirts.
Of course, as professionals, they all wore safety shorts beneath their skirts—but that didn't mean they were indifferent to the idea of being seen.
Ryuuya's lips twitched before he sighed. "...Fine, I'll go first."
As Ryuuya struggled up the ladder, slowly making his way to the top, Luo Shu secured Kisara to his back with several safety ropes, assisted by Takina.
Once he confirmed the bindings were secure, Luo Shu leapt up, grabbed the ladder, and called out to the others:
"I'll head up first. You three be careful."
With that, he swiftly climbed the ladder while carrying the still-unconscious Kisara.
"Wow, not bad stamina~"
Mizuki, watching from above, couldn't resist teasing him.
Then, she noticed the pink-haired girl strapped to Luo Shu's back and gasped.
"Is this girl...?"
"Yeah, the sealed High-Rank Demon."
Luo Shu casually explained as he boarded the helicopter, untying the safety ropes and scanning for an empty seat.
"Did you administer the sedative?" Mika asked sternly.
"Fed it to her three times. She won't wake up for at least two hours." Luo Shu's offhand reply somewhat eased Mika's concerns.
Meanwhile, Mizuki froze.
'Three times? The first dose could have been forced, but how did Luo Shu manage the other two while the girl was unconscious?'
Mizuki's eyes narrowed as she caught sight of the dampness at the corner of Luo Shu's lips, deciding it was best not to dwell on it.
Even if she strongly suspected Luo Shu had administered the sedative right in front of Takina and Chisato...
Best not to think too hard about it.
Mizuki leaned out again, helping the remaining three board the helicopter.
Meanwhile, Mika, still facing forward, pressed his earpiece and spoke to Luo Shu:
"Luo Shu, the Chief just ordered you to take the demon and meet her at sea."
"Huh?" Luo Shu looked up. "Just me?"
"Right, just you." After saying this, Mika paused, then added, "Don't worry about anything later, just tell the complete truth."
Luo Shu rolled his eyes at this. "Next time, don't be so cryptic."
Yet in reality, Luo Shu understood the implications behind Mika's words...
After all, Sharon wouldn't hide what had happened from him.
'The infamous Enchantress of America... Though I haven't confirmed it with my own eyes, if it's really who I think it is... This could get interesting...' Luo Shu's eyes gleamed as he fastened Kizuki's seatbelt, then sank into thought.
As Chisato Nishikigi and Takina Inoue dragged Ayano Kannagi aboard, Mika immediately shouted:
"Hold on tight!"
The armed helicopter ascended sharply, reaching a safe distance before revealing the air-to-ground missiles beneath.
"Ooooh!! Is it starting?" Chisato Nishikigi instantly grew excited. "Mika, can I press the launch button?"
"You're twenty years too early for that!"
As he spoke, Mika pressed the launch button.
Amidst the roar of combustion, the air-to-ground missile streaked toward the banyan tree. With a thunderous explosion, the towering tree—dozens of metres tall—collapsed in a blaze of flames.
"The link between the Abyss and the mortal world is destroyed. The rest is up to Logistics."
Having said this, Mika finally relaxed, his expression brightening:
"We're heading back!!"
Chisato Nishikigi immediately cheered. "Woohoo! I want sukiyaki for the celebration!"
"Barbecue!" Takina Inoue spoke up at the same time. Noticing the differing opinion, she doubled down. "We're having barbecue!"
"Sukiyaki!"
"Barbecue!"
"Sukiyaki!"
After several rounds of bickering, they both turned to Luo Shu in unison:
"Luo Shu, what do you think we should have?"
Caught off guard, Luo Shu froze.
'What does this have to do with me?'
After a moment's hesitation, he ventured, "Let's go with sukiyaki. We had barbecue last time."
"Yesss!!" Chisato Nishikigi flashed a triumphant V-sign.
"Hmph." Takina Inoue snorted coldly and fell silent.
"How noisy, these two." An exhausted Ayano Kannagi watched the rowdy group with exasperation before sighing.
'The hospital... take me to see a doctor first...' Ryuuya Kazamaki wept silently in his heart.
'At least give me some basic human rights, you bastards!'
'I'll never trust women again.'
...
Twenty minutes later.
Luo Shu, carrying the still-unconscious Kisara in his arms, boarded the white speedboat piloted by Hilda and arrived at the armed vessel anchored near the coast.
Upon boarding, he saw an all-too-familiar figure.
The pink-haired Songstress of Peace.
Lacus Clyne.