I’m sorry to all of you.”
While all of the members had become paralysed, Azazel continued his job of transporting Trihexa. Trihexa’s enormous body was slowly, yet gradually shifted into the hole that had appeared in the sky above them. At the same time, Azazel and all of the other god-class people in the surrounding area flew towards the centre of the hole. While looking down at Vali below him, Azazel said
“—The leaders of each faction will go there to contain Trihexa. In there, we will continue to fight until it is defeated. Of course, I, Michael and those from his side, as well as Sirzechs’ side all intend to bear this responsibility. The same thing is also happening in the other places which have been attacked.”
“W-Wait! Azazel!”
Despite Vali’s desperate cries, Azazel still continued
“In fact, we leaders had already made such a decision between ourselves a long time ago. The good news is that, no matter what happened, they all readily accepted my proposal. Odin and Zeus as well, they also agreed. After all, for the guys who are worshipped by humans, they also deeply love humanity. …No, it would be better to say that they understand that without humanity, their own mythologies cannot survive.”
Michael said
“Well, we’ve always allowed our own believers and the young Devils to do all kinds of hard work. A monster like this which can be described as a legend among legends ought to be up to us to deal with. Naturally, we can also reduce the potential damage this way.”
No. That’s not what I want to hear. In the end, why, why is it you—. Azazel looked at Vali, who had a bewildered expression across his face, and said while smiling
“That’s why I’m saying, Vali. This is just a temporary farewell. Here, I may be a Fallen Angel, but you are the successor of the Maou. We are all people with long lives, so there will come a day when we meet again. I’m quite sorry about not being able to let you and your stepfather Odin say farewell…but if it was that old man, he’d definitely leave behind a lot of words.”
Not this. Not only this! What I want to be told, and want to hear, is certainly none of this! Not only was he unable to move, but he was also unable to undo the restraining technique that was cast on him earlier. He clearly understood that right now, while his stamina and demonic energy were depleted, it was impossible to undo the technique. Azazel must have expected that this would happen long in advance, which is why he prepared for it. Azazel ignored Vali’s struggles and continued
“Give my regards to Ise and the others for me as well. I’m also leaving them a message. Under these circumstances, I’m unable to say goodbye directly—”
“It’s obviously possible that you don’t need to go!”
Vali interrupted Azazel’s speech, and shouted out loudly. …Why was it, if it was in the past, he definitely wouldn’t have been able to say something like that…meeting Hyoudou Issei and the others, and after seeing his own haha, Vali felt that a strange emotion was generated within himself. Azazel was currently with Michael and the others as they disappeared into the hole in the sky above along with Trihexa. It was also like this at that time—. Snow wafted downwards. Pure white snowflakes quietly floated down from the sky. Vali recalled the scene of that time within his mind. The memory of his first encounter with Azazel. Snowflakes were also falling at that time. Azazel gently said to Vali
“I, we, must do this. Various conflicts have been triggered over the past year, and it was us in the top brass who coerced you, the younger generation to resolve those issues. So at the very end, why not let us do something so that we can uphold our honour.”
In that moment, what he recalled were the memories of the times that he had spent together with Azazel. For the first time, he taught me how to read and write accurately. For the first time, he taught me how to use my power as a Devil. For the first time, I was able to have a conversation with Albion. For the first time, we went fishing together. For the first time, he took me for a drive. For the first time—. He taught me so many things, and did so many things for me, but in the end, I went off on my own. Vali could no longer supress the complex emotions within his heart. As Azazel gradually began to disappear into the barrier field that he would seal himself in, he said
“You’ll definitely be alright, Vali. You and your nakama. Even if I’m not around, there are still a lot of other things, right? Although you’re a battle maniac, haven’t you turned into a brat befitting your own age over the past year? Bikou, Kuroka, Arthur, and Le Fay, I’ll leave that guy in your care. Don’t judge him by his appearances, he’s actually quite lonely.”
“…Ah, I already knew stuff like that.”
“…Governor…this way of parting is too mean nya…”
“Leave the concerns of Vali to me.”
“…Uhh.”
He then faced Ikuse Tobio and the others as he said
“Tobio, Lavinia. Thank you also for your team’s work. Lavinia, please convey that to Mephisto for me.”
“……”
“…I don’t like such things.”
Ikuse Tobio bowed his head in silence. He…had always been in the care of Azazel. He probably had a thousand things that he wanted to say. Finally, Azazel faced Vali as he spoke his last words
“Vali! In your duel against Ise, in the showdown between the Two Heavenly Dragons, a clear victor must be decided between the rivals, okay? You and Ise are my last and also my best students!”
“Wait—”
“See you later.”
The holy radiance before their eyes instantly flashed brighter. Trihexa’s enormous body then disappeared into the hole entirely. At the same time, the god-class people, Azazel, Michael, and the others who were controlling the technique also disappeared—. Left behind were Vali and the others, as well as the white snow that quietly drifted downwards—. Japan — on the coast of the Pacific Ocean, the [DxD] Team and their allies who fought against the Trihexa which threatened Japan now bore witness to the scene before their eyes. Trihexa was gradually being dragged into the sealing field—. After a retreat was issued to return to this coast, all members received news of the final battle plan. The higher ups of each faction prepared themselves for an eternal battle with Trihexa, and then set out for the Isolation Barrier Field—. Once inside, unless they defeated Trihexa, regardless of whether they were a god-class being or a Transcendent Being, they would not be able to come out. In order to defeat Trihexa, which was capable of repeatedly regenerating itself, it would require several thousand years, or even—. Sona Sitri was standing on the coast in one corner while crying. She did not know that her ane, Serafall, would also depart for there. Not even a single word of farewell was conveyed to her. “…Onee-sama…no, I hate this…. Why did you leave me behind and go ahead by yourself…?