Izumi left the collapsed Saikai Academy with Ophis quietly following behind him.
Whatever happened afterward was no longer his concern.
Rebuilding the school? That was a job for the administrators and construction teams—people who actually got paid for that sort of thing.
Right now, he had more urgent matters to deal with.
Specifically, the petite dragon god who had firmly latched onto him and showed no signs of letting go.
After Izumi casually led the girl away as if nothing had happened, a distortion of space shimmered at the heart of the ruins.
Minamiya Natsuki appeared atop the rubble.
The moment she saw the devastated landscape, her expression froze.
"…My school… is gone…?"
A surge of emotion nearly overwhelmed her.
Saikai Academy—her workplace, her responsibility—had been completely obliterated.
All because of that ridiculous Flame-Light Banquet.
And in the end, the only real victim was the academy itself.
Rebuilding… was inevitable.
But looking at the total destruction before her, even Natsuki felt despair settling in.
Even with magic, restoring the academy from this state would be a nightmare.
She pressed a hand to her forehead, sighing heavily.
"…I need to discuss this with the others. This is beyond me."
Muttering to herself, Natsuki activated a spatial spell and vanished from the scene.
And with that, the so-called Flame-Light Banquet ended—at the cost of a school.
Izumi hadn't fought the Three Progenitors.
The Fourth Progenitor had been reduced to her base form and ultimately joined Izumi's side.
Just like that, everything came to a strangely simple conclusion.
Izumi returned home, holding Ophis's hand while the small, sulking Avrora walked beside him.
Megumi Katou separated from the group halfway.
She'd finished watching the spectacle, evening was approaching, and—more importantly—her father had returned home.
After everything that had happened tonight, not going back would only make them worry.
Once they arrived home, Izumi asked Le Fay to take the dust-covered Avrora to the bathroom.
Asia joined them as well, leaving the house suddenly quiet.
Only Izumi and Ophis remained in the vast living room.
Izumi sat Ophis down on the sofa, gently holding her small hand.
"Alright, Ophis. What did you want with me?"
"You're not actually serious about wanting to have a kid with me… right?"
"That's not even funny."
Ophis nodded.
Then, with her ever-expressionless face, she replied:
"Yes."
"I will create the strongest offspring. Then defeat that one."
Izumi blinked.
"…Don't tell me. By 'that one,' you mean Great Red?"
Ophis nodded again.
No hesitation whatsoever.
"I cannot win."
"So I must create an offspring."
Izumi rubbed his temples.
"Why not just find allies? Or get stronger yourself?"
"And where did you even learn the idea of having a kid just to beat someone up?"
"Seriously…"
Ophis tilted her head.
"I saw it… in that thing."
She pointed at the television.
Izumi froze.
…How dumb and adorable could she be?
She saw it on TV and thought that was a legitimate strategy?
He nearly choked on the complaint rising in his throat.
At least she hadn't been tricked into joining some suspicious cult.
But it definitely felt like she'd absorbed some very questionable knowledge somewhere along the way.
Izumi sighed.
"Let's put the whole 'having a kid' thing on hold, okay?"
"But if you really want to deal with Great Red… I actually have an idea."
"It'll take time, though. I need to get stronger first."
"When the time comes, I'll help you beat that overgrown lizard up."
A strange glint flickered in Izumi's eyes.
He could more or less guess why Great Red kicked Ophis out.
Both of them were born in the Dimensional Gap—essentially siblings by environment.
Ophis, however… was hopelessly airheaded.
All she did was float around, doing nothing.
Any older sibling would lose patience eventually.
Or, maybe Great Red sensed danger from other worlds and was trying to protect her.
After all, Ophis had overwhelming power but zero combat sense.
She was far too easy to trick or manipulate.
Considering that, sending her into the human world might have been a form of safety.
It wasn't like Great Red would chase her out just because she was being a useless couch-potato.
Maybe she had tried returning once or twice, only to get booted out immediately.
Like an older sister forcing her shut-in little sister to go out and experience life.
…Or something like that.
Izumi wasn't sure.
He'd have to meet Great Red to know for certain.
Ophis's eyes shone with hope at his words.
"Truly?" she asked, staring up at him.
Izumi chuckled helplessly.
"Yeah, really. Once I'm stronger. You've felt the power inside me, haven't you?"
Ophis nodded eagerly.
If Izumi would help her punch Great Red, then that was perfect.
Pure-hearted as she was, she accepted his words without doubt.
Her earnest gaze made Izumi sigh again.
"Alright then. Until I get stronger… just stay here at my place."
"When I'm ready, I'll help you."
And honestly?
Having someone as strong as Ophis watching his back was extremely reassuring.
Ophis had no objections.
She drifted across dimensions with no attachments—living here was as good a place as any.
Besides, she could monitor Izumi's growth from up close.
Izumi smiled, patting her head.
"Looking forward to living together, Ophis."
Ophis nodded blankly.
Her emotionless reaction left Izumi helpless.
Teaching her how to communicate like a normal person was going to be a long-term project.
After they chatted for a while, Le Fay and the others returned from the bath.
Three blonde girls walked into the living room, chatting noisily.
Izumi waved at them.
"Let me introduce you—this is Ophis. She'll be staying with us from now on."
The moment she heard the name, Le Fay's eyes went wide.
Izumi hadn't told them the girl's identity on the way home.
So hearing it now, she couldn't stop herself from screaming.
"E-Ehh!? Ophis!?"
"THE Ophis!? The Infinite Dragon God!?"
Le Fay stared in disbelief.
The Infinite Dragon God… was a loli?
How did that make sense?
And why—why—was she asking Izumi to have a child with her!?