Yoruichi soon entered the room where Ais just had her consultation and noticed the weird mood that Kisuke was in, "What's wrong?"
Kisuke sighed and told her what happened with the consultation and Ais's inner world.
"What did she give you?" Yoruichi asked with a dumbfounded expression.
"It's just as she said it was, the culmination of her magic and her whole life's effort. As a High Spirit, part of her magic is compressed into an orb that has everything she has ever learned."
"That's impressive." Yoruichi then furrowed her brows, "But at what cost?"
"A few seconds after she passed it to me, her condition hurriedly degraded to the point that she could only speak for just a minute more. For the entirety of that minute, she just begs me to take care of her daughter. Before, she still had the leisure to watch her daughter's life from the inside, but this time, all of her remaining energy is focused on suppressing the Black Dragon's connection to Ais which still influences her to this day." Kisuke sighed again as Aria's act made him remember about his mother in this life which had already become one of the most important existences in his life.
Yoruichi also felt regrettable regarding Aria but she's still curious about one more thing, "But why did you tell Ais that it's better if she doesn't get stronger? Doesn't she have to face her mother, now in the form of the Black Dragon, somewhere near the future?"
"She does, but the way she's right now, she'll only fall into the Black Dragon's control."
"Why is that?"
"You see, the way Aria-san is suppressing the Black Dragon's influence is diverting the subject to another. In other words, the feelings that the monster is sending can't be changed, however, it can be diverted."
Yoruichi thought about Kisuke's words for a moment before certain information entered her mind and her eyes widened, "Her unusual hate of monsters, more specifically, dragon-type monsters."
Kisuke nodded at her, "Yes. The influence that the Black Dragon is giving Ais is the hate for people of the earth like a normal monster under the Dungeon's influence would. Aria-san was able to divert that hate to the monsters themselves."
Yoruichi understood Kisuke's point, however, she still asked, "But I still don't understand why you asked her not to get stronger."
"The stronger she becomes, the stronger the influence becomes too, and sooner or later, it would be too much for Aria-san to handle. Now it's become more dangerous due to the fact that she became weaker. She wasn't joking when she said that she's taking a big gamble."
"Couldn't you sever this connection?"
"I can, but it's actually very hard to do that and would need time to research it and you know we don't have that kind of time. Although the Zeus and Hera Familias were successful in extracting Ais from the Black Dragon, a part of her soul is still fused with the monster so it isn't just as simple as severing the connection."
"But you've already thought of another way, right?"
Kisuke nodded at Yoruichi's question, "Yes. Although not as reliable as me researching and putting time to it, it's more efficient, effective, and has a more positive effect on her in the future."
"And that is?"
"For Ais Wallenstein to overcome the demon inside her and acknowledge it as a part of her."
"Hoh? You mean to say something like how the Vizards overcome their inner-Hollow to gain its power?"
"Yep. Doing so is easier than cutting off something that's already a part of her soul."
"And how do you plan to do that?"
Kisuke then let out an evil grin and said, "Of course, we prepare her. Once she's prepared, I'll push her off the cliff at the right time."
After seeing Kisuke's expression, Yoruichi couldn't help but chuckle, "I see that our hero is already making his preparations to save the troublesome princess."
"Please don't call me that and I'm correct that this is more troublesome than just being a caretaker! If not for the payment that I already received, I wouldn't have accepted this shit-tier job."
"Yet you're still doing it properly."
"Of course! Rather than saving her over and over again whenever she's in trouble like I promised, I'll just teach her how to save her own ass."
Aria was right. Although Kisuke is not a good person, he's a kind one.
Yoruichi could only shake her head at his words. "So, what's the plan?"
"For starters, we have to change her views regarding the monsters, or at least, make her doubt her feelings of hatred for them."
"What about the Black Dragon? If it's you, you probably already found its location through the connection it has with Ais."
Kisuke nodded. "I did. Although not the specific location, I know the general area where it might be hibernating right now. And I'll say it again, this isn't our place to step in. Ais has to deal with that thing by herself to have a proper closure. Rather than the Black Dragon, I'm more worried about another thing."
"The Dungeon that created such a monster, huh..."
"Correct. And I've got a feeling that we'll get involved with it in the future."
"Right... About that, I also have something to tell. These past few days, I was able to communicate with Byakko, albeit, only a little bit. And one thing it said caught my attention."
"And that is?"
"Be wary of the Dungeon."
"..." Kisuke thought carefully as he stayed silent. A few minutes later, a large grin came to his face again, "I guess we could think of it as our challenge as we transcend."
Yoruichi's eye's widened at his angle of view, but a few seconds later, she also started laughing, "Hahaha~! I guess that's one good way to think about it~. Looks like we have to put more effort into things~."
.
.
.
The next day, when Aika, Sona, and Koneko were about to reach the Tower of Babel for their usual dungeon diving, they came across the golden-haired beauty who seemed to be a bit dejected.
The trio knew that it had something to do with what happened yesterday, but Kisuke refused to tell them anything. For starters, Sona came up to her and greeted her, "Good Morning, Ais-san."
Ais turned towards the group and returned their greeting, "...Good Morning. Are you going to the Dungeon today?"
"Yes. We have to test everything we learned yesterday in a real-life situation to make use of it effectively. What about you?"
"...Same. I want to go to the Dungeon to test some things. Want to go together?"
Sona smiled and said, "That would be great. Since you already promised that you won't reveal anything regarding us, I think it would be fine to show you our usual activity."
However, before they could leave, a half-Elf Guild staff came to them, "Um, excuse me. Good morning. I'm Eina Tulle, an Adventurer advisor from the Guild. It may be sudden, but could you please listen to my selfish request?"
Place where the speaky happens:
28th00: I wonder how that sense would react to Ophis-sama popping up? She far outclasses every other Black Dragon in both worlds after all. Also, PLOT ARMOUR COMES FOR THEE BELL-KUN!
Alexander: The curse will come to an end because of confusion. After all, THERE IS NO WAY THAT SOMEONE COULD HATE OUR OVERLY CUTE OPHIS-CHAN. If someone thinks otherwise, please come forward to be judged by the gentlemen court.
Garan: Hestia will feel threatened by the loli dragon leading to a loli fight. Also, I can totally see Ophis punching Kisuke for randomly leaving, then going up to him requesting candy with a blank stare.
Goyya: I want to see Ophis go up against Ottar… Using a building-sized sledgehammer.