"So did you have a good stay, Touya?" asked Cid, taking a sip of his coffee.
"How on Earth can you drink that?" asked Touya, uncomfortable with the amount of sugar and milk he added to his coffee.
"I don't like bitter stuff!" said Cid.
"Then don't order coffee!" complained Touya, irritated.
"It is not a big deal. Your wives like sweet lattes instead of black coffee, right?"
Touya couldn't argue with that and continued drinking his coffee.
"So, I am sorry for attacking you back at Brunhild." said Touya. "When the members of the Cult... I mean, the bandits kidnapped Leen and Sakura, I lost my temper."
"It's cult. I had fun chasing bandits with Shadow Garden in your world. It's fun how, despite being all funds and games, the Seven Shades and the girls we've saved like to play along. You know? Sometimes I have a hard time following the intricate storylines they create, but it's kind of funny."
Touya did his best to mask his irritation with this idiot. But he knew it wasn't worth it.
Then the carriage finally stopped, and the door was opened by Gamma, who bowed before them.
"Shadow-Sama, Touya-Sama, we're here."
Touya and Cid nodded and jumped off the carriage. They were at the forest where Touya and his family first arrived when they got to Cid's world. Gamma followed the two reincarnations, but as soon as her heels touched the ground, she fell backards.
Ignoring Gamma, who was being helped by the other members of Shadow Garden, Touya reunited with his wives, who were holding the Black Rose on their hands. Also, they have several boxes courtesy of Shadow Garden and the Mitsugoshi Company. Boxes of coffee, chocolate, and of course, the latest models of women underwear. They also have a huge container full of slime suits, slime makeup, and even a couple of slime swords.
"Are you sure you want to give us all of this?" asked Touya.
"Thanks to you, Mochizuki-Sama, we have realized the true potential of the Wisdom of Shadows, and we are starting to apply it to the kingdom of Oriana, so queen Rose can be seen under a more positive light. We will never thank you enough," said Beta.
"Not to mention your attention to us as we were at your world was top tier. Cooperating with the government to chase the Cult instead of hiding in the shadows is a refreshing change, and the goal we will pursue in the near future," added Beta.
Touya couldn't help but feel a bit guilty. "It wasn't half as luxurious compared to what you have offered us."
"You helped us by introducing us with the rulers of your world, and listened to us when we warned you about the Cult. That is more than enough."
"I feel like we still owe you. Not only you helped us to save our world from those lunatics, but also saved us." said Leen. "Are you sure there's nothing we can do for you?"
"Then, give this to the person who designed the smartphone you gave us." said Beta, giving a folder to Leen. "It will be of great help in the future."
In the end, Leen accepted the folder and then activated the Black Rose to create a portal back to Brunhild.
They appeared right on the outskirts of the small nation, right at the same spot where they teleported to Kagenou's world. Also, in the same spot, they met Alpha, Beta, Delta, and Epsilon for the first time and had their first confrontation. The crack that Delta caused with her claws was still there, along with some trees cut in half, and such.
Then, Touya put all the gifts inside his 'Storage', and the group finally walked back to Brunhild. When they arrived in the city, the first things that Sakura and Leen noticed were the destroyed clock tower, destroyed houses, cobblestones ripped off the main roads, etc.
"What happened here?" asked Leen in disbelief.
"Great Duke, is everyone okay?" asked Sakura, worried that the Cult attacked after they left.
The other seven girls exchanged an uncomfortable look, as Touya looked down with his face hidden.
"That was me fighting with Kagenou," he finally admitted. "When you two got captured, I lost my cool and started to blame everything on him. I charged at him, and then..."
"If it wasn't for us, he would have kicked your butt, or worse, killed you." said Moroha, walking toward the group.
Touya sighed. "Yes, we have the same power, but he is the better fighter by far! Did something happen during our absence?"
Moroha shook her head. "Nothing worth mentioning. Just some rumors from Brunhild."
Touya groaned. "Of course! What type of nonsense are those idiots spreading now?"
"Oh, no, no, no, don't get me wrong. What happened is that there is nothing left of Yulong, not even ruins or people. Everything was exterminated under a purple light."
Touya's jaw dropped. "What? For real?!"
"Easy, no one is blaming you, your highness!" said Kousaka, walking behind Moroha. "The Beast King testified that you had nothing to do with it, that most likely it was your crazy friend. Where is he, anyway?"
"Back in his world. We have resolved this, at least for now." said Touya.
"I see. So you will have to clean up all the mess you two made all by yourself, Great Duke."
Touya looked around to get a better picture of the destruction and sighed. He had seen this coming.
"Fine!"
The girls promised they would give the folder Beta gave them to Doctor Babylon as requested, as Touya started the repairs. This was going to be a long day.
...
Doctor Babylon received the folder with a smile and started to examine the blueprints of the strange machine. It looked like a device with a screen attached to it. Something that took her two days of hard work to make. And when she finished the device, all she needed was to infuse it with her magic power as an energy source.
"What did you make me build, Touya?" asked the little doctor, mesmerized by the device.
The screen came to life, revealing an elf with long black hair, a black bodysuit, and a lab coat with a sleepy expression.
"That was fast. You are smarter than I thought, V!" The elf made the 'victory' sign with her right hand as she stared at Doctor Babylon.
"Who are you?" asked the doctor.
"My name is Eta. I am one of the Seven Shades, the first ones saved by Shadow-Sama."
"Shadow? You mean Kagenou-Kun?"
She nodded and showed her the smartphone Touya gave her. "I had to thank you in person, this design is impressive. With this, I will be able to finish our own designs from the damaged pieces of technology Shadow brought from his world."
She made a small gesture to the tablet and laptop Beta brought with her when she went to explore the other world with Shadow and returned with Akane Nishino.
Doctor Babylon looked at the pieces of technology and started drooling.
"Unbelievable! So, care to explain why you made me build this communication device?"
Eta nodded with a faint smile on her sleepy expression. "Alpha-Sama says that no matter how many times you kill them, as long as the members of the Rounds remain, they will return over and over. The Cult of Diabolos will come to your world again, and when they do, you will need to contact us again."
"Interesting! And we can also start researching together. Like long-distance lab partners!" cheered Doctor Babylon.
Eta made the victory sign with her fingers. "Shall we start then?"
...
After finishing with the repairs and some improvements to the city, Touya had to make a visit. After taking one of the chocolate boxes Shadow Garden gifted him, he went to see Kamisama.
"Touya, my boy! I wasn't expecting to see you today! I am glad everything was resolved." said the god, taking a sip of his tea,
Touya touched the scar on his neck. "Yeah, but I underestimated them, and they took my wives. I don't like feeling this way, but I am glad Kagenou destroyed them all."
"They are fearsome opponents. I am sorry they managed to get to your world, since they will keep coming no matter how many times you exterminate them. They are like cancer."
Touya nodded. "I know. Kagenou's assistants gave us a way to contact them in case we detected them again. I don't know how to feel about the friendship between Doctor Babylon and that elf, but is the lesser evil."
Kamisama nodded, and they both ate the sweets and drank their tea in an awkward silence.
"You found out about your world, right, Touya?"
Touya nodded. "Why didn't you tell me, Kamisama? What about my family?"
"No need to worry. Your little sister has a literal god at her side. I am sorry things ended up like this, Touya, but everything happened because someone played with forces they shouldn't have."
"Can I see them? I need to know they are safe!"
"I am sorry, Touya, but the barrier between worlds is too damaged, and I will not take any risks. As a matter of fact, I was the one who had to send Kagenou-Kun to get Akane Nishino out of that world to prevent her powers from getting out of control and ripping apart the barrier again. it was a huge risk, and the barrier between worlds needs to heal. For now, that world is closed."
Touya grinded his teeth and nodded. "I understand, but my family is safe, right?"
"Easy, they are in one of the few utopias built in Japan."
Kamisama then turned on his little TV and showed Touya an image of his parents and little sister, along with a beautiful god. They seemed to be in good health, in a strange apartment made by the knights, and protected from the magic beasts.
Touya sighed in relief. "Thank you."
"I will make sure nothing happens to them, I promise. And once the barrier between worlds gets repaired, I will make arrangements for you to meet again."
Touya smiled in relief and nodded as he said goodbye. "Anyway, thank you for the help. If I have any problems with the Cult, I'll speak with Kagenou."
"That reminds me, some assassins of Qulau have crossed the other side too. If Kagenou needs help, please do everything you can to assist him."
Touya smiled. "Kagenou is not the type who would ever need help, but sure!"
With that, Touya returned to his family.