Several hours had passed since Spoken, Carbel, Swredyes, and Cancer were captured. Aayam and Risa diligently gathered information, unaware of their comrades' failure. Amidst their interactions with the locals, only Aayam could comprehend the conversations, piquing Risa's curiosity.
In a calm tone, Risa questioned Aayam about his unique ability to understand the language. Aayam, uncertain of the reason himself, recalled a spell cast by Lilith that granted him the gift of communication with all beings. Keeping this revelation to himself, Aayam remained cautious.
As the time approached for the rendezvous with their allies, only Risa and Aayam arrived at the meeting point, puzzled by their companions' absence.
"Where could they be? Do you think they encountered some trouble?" Risa speculated.
"No, they wouldn't have been captured," Aayam affirmed.
They observed a crowd heading towards the south gate and inquired about the commotion.
"What's happening? Why is everyone gathering?" Risa asked.
"Have you not heard? The summer heroes have returned from their mission! We're off to greet them!" a passerby informed them.
"Really? They might overhear us," Aayam whispered in disbelief, realizing that some of his classmates were present in the city. "Risa, those heroes could be their trump card, their secret weapon against us."
"Hmm... alright, we should investigate. These heroes could pose a significant threat, so gathering information is crucial," Risa agreed.
Upon reaching the east gate, a bustling crowd awaited the heroes' return. "These heroes must be quite renowned for drawing such a crowd, don't you think, Aayam?"
"Hmm... possibly," Aayam responded thoughtfully.
"What do you imagine they look like?" Risa inquired.
"I picture them as seasoned warriors in their prime, covered in battle scars and clad in formidable equipment," Aayam speculated.
"Haha, that seems plausible. Ah, look, they're here," Risa pointed out as a group of six high school students entered the city, greeted by cheers and applause.
*************
"It feels good to be back," one of them remarked.
"That mission dragged on longer than expected," another agreed.
"We spent three days in the woods, battling demons and extinguishing the forest fires. Managed to capture eight demons, though," a third member explained.
"Why are we bringing them back with us?" someone asked.
Another answered, "Commander Will wants to extract their magical energy to create mana pills for the soldiers."
"Mana pills? Ah, right. Those boost magical power. I'm glad we caught them," the team member acknowledged.
"I can't wait to return to the city and unwind. How about you, Haruto?" the leader inquired.
"I just need some rest," Haruto replied.
"Sara, what are your plans?" the leader asked.
"I have to care for my pets; they've been working hard," Sara responded.
"That's thoughtful of you, Sara. Let me know if you need a hand. Hina, Riku, Ajax, what about you three?" the leader asked.
"I'm going to feast on all the food!" Hina exclaimed.
"I'll chat with that female knight from the second division," Riku stated eagerly.
"You don't stand a chance," one challenged the other.
"What?! Say that again!" the other retorted.
"I said you have no chance at all," the first reiterated.
"Do you think you do!?" the second one shot back.
"I sure do!" They were about to fight when Ajax intervened, halting their dispute.
"Hina, Riku, cut it out," Ajax commanded.
"Fine," they muttered in unison.
"And you, Ajax, what's your plan?" the leader inquired.
"I heard Kosuke arrived in the city with some of our classmates. I'm thinking of catching up with her," Ajax revealed, prompting grins from Hina and the others at the mention of Kosuke.
"How sweet. Missing your girlfriend, are you?" they teased, but Ajax remained unfazed, his thoughts consumed by memories of Kosuke.
As he reminisced, Ajax's mind drifted back to the day they first met. Transferring to a new school due to his family's financial struggles, Ajax faced bullying and isolation at his previous school. Despite the hardships, he found solace in a special bond that blossomed between him and Kosuke.
As Ajax lifted his gaze from his desk, his eyes met Kosuke's warm smile, brightening his world with color. Since meeting her, his life had taken a new turn. His classmates welcomed him into their group, transforming his school experience. Not only that, but his family's financial situation had improved significantly, bringing them comfort and stability. Ajax fell for Kosuke, and he had planned to confess his feelings after their high school graduation. However, with their sudden transportation to this new world, Ajax felt a sense of urgency to express his emotions to her before it was too late.
"Ajax, can you hear me?" Hina's voice broke Ajax's reverie.
"Oh, what? Did you say something, Hina?" Ajax responded.
"I said, there's the city wall," Hina pointed out, drawing Ajax's attention to the imposing walls of Sigilla.
"Look, everyone, it seems like a welcome party awaits us. Just look at the crowd at the gate," Ajax exclaimed, a smile spreading across his face as he observed their friends gathered at the southern gate.
"Welcome back, heroes!"
"Glad you made it back!"
"Hey, Haruto, let's train together soon!"
Excitement filled the air as the soldiers greeted the returning summer heroes. Still, their joy was short-lived as General Marcus approached Ajax and the group, his somber expression hinting at troubling news.
"It's good to see you again, General Marcus," Ajax greeted him.
"I'm happy to see you all as well. However, I need you to come with me," General Marcus informed them, his serious demeanor signaling urgency.
Meanwhile, a reunion was taking place in the city lord's chamber.
"Kaito, Eiko, Himari, you're here," the city lord acknowledged.
"After you left, we trained even harder to support you better," Himari expressed.
"Thank you, Himari. And thank you too, Eiko and Kaito," the city lord responded warmly.
"Mmm?" Eiko looked puzzled, prompting further discussion.
They spotted some classmates and Soda eagerly inquired, "Did Kosuke join you, or is it just the three of you?"
"Sorry, Ajax, she's still training hard to get stronger," came the reply, casting a shadow on Soda's face.
"Don't be too down, Ajax. Kosuke might join us next month. Hinata is here with us now," another friend chimed in, trying to uplift the mood.
Riku seized the opportunity to ask about Hinata's whereabouts. "Where is he currently?"
"I can't say. We haven't seen him since this afternoon," was the response.
The room's door swung open, revealing three men entering. Thor's somber expression hinted at troubling news. "Earlier today, enemies infiltrated the city," he began, shocking the students. The conversation then shifted to Hinata.
"We managed to apprehend the intruders thanks to Hinata, but he sustained severe injuries in the battle. He's currently receiving treatment at the medical center," Thor explained.
Upon hearing about their friend's condition, the students rushed out to check on him, unaware that someone overheard their conversation from outside.
*****************
"Hinata! Hinata! Are you alright?"
"......."
"Hey, answer me! Will he recover anytime soon?"
"Please, calm down. Sir Hinata is not awake yet. We've treated his wounds, now you must wait until he wakes up," the healer said. The news brought some relief.
"Hey!" a loud voice interrupted as the three generals entered the room. "Are you satisfied now, seeing your classmate?" they asked. The students nodded. "Good!" Without warning, they reprimanded the students with a series of quick strikes.
"Aaaahhh!"
"Why did you do that, Commander?"
"You fools! Running off before our meeting is finished is one thing, but disrupting Hinata's recovery with your noise is unacceptable. Control your emotions and actions," the Commander scolded, silencing any protests.
"We understand, but emotions can't be easily suppressed," the students admitted.
"Now, what did you want to tell us?" the Commander inquired.
"Sigh... We suspect there may still be spies in the city," the revelation stoked the students' anger.
"To ensure your safety, I will assign guards to watch over you," the Commander stated.
"No."
"Absolutely not."
"We can't risk these demons escaping and causing harm to others," the students protested vehemently.
"Rest assured, if their goal is to gather intelligence, they will learn of their captured comrades and attempt a rescue. We will set a trap to apprehend them," Kaito explained, calming the group, though reluctantly.
Despite their discontent, Kaito, Eiko, Himari, and the others knew they had to comply with the plan, as it was a necessary precaution.
**********
After an hour, the medical team left the room, allowing Hinata to rest. Soon, unfamiliar figures entered, with one approaching his bedside and calling his name.
"Hinata... Hinata... Hinata..." the voice persisted.
"Am I hearing things... Aayam?" Hinata questioned, uncertain.
"Yes, it's me," Aayam confirmed.
Hinata expressed disbelief, assuming it was a hallucination. Aayam praised Hinata for his valor in defeating four demons single-handedly.
"They were no match for me," Hinata replied confidently.
Aayam, masking his bitterness, acknowledged Hinata's prowess, playing along with the situation.
"Our classmates were genuinely concerned about you," Aayam informed Hinata.
"Who?" Hinata inquired.
"Aayam mentioned Himari, speculating that she would be both worried and upset to see him in such a state.
"Haha, those were the days."
"You and Himari have been close since birth, right? Our parents were old friends from college, and we even lived in the same neighborhood."
"I remember when we were kids, Himari would get jealous when we hung out. She'd cling to you, claiming loudly that you were hers."
"Haha."
"Hinata, where do you think the soldiers will take those demons you defeated?" Aayam inquired, noticing his old classmates drifting off to sleep.
"Probably... to the... stronghold... with the others," were Hinata's final words before falling asleep.