【"Of course, I am willing to lead the charge," Phainon said without hesitation.】

【"Apologies, Excellency Stelle. Currently, Okhema is beset by internal and external troubles, and we've pushed you into the spotlight. But the situation is urgent, and there's truly no room to discuss this with you in detail... The core of this matter lies with you; I respect your choice."】

【Stelle asked: "How can you guarantee the feasibility of the plan?"】

【Tribbie: "Although my mastery of the 'Gate of a Hundred Worlds' isn't as good as Trianne's, as long as everyone can buy some time, *I* can also open a beautiful gate."】

【Aglaea nodded: "As for whether we can seize the spark, that depends on Anaxa's capability."】

【"How do you guarantee my safety?"】

【"To be frank, we cannot guarantee the safety of this plan..." Phainon looked into her eyes earnestly, saying firmly word by word, "But... if the Flame Reaver's sword wants to harm you, it will have to pierce through my chest first."】

——

Kaguya-sama: Love Is War.

"W-w-w-why would you suddenly say something like that! It's so embarrassing!"

Fujiwara Chika held her face, sitting stunned on the sofa like she had crashed, her cheeks turning crimson at a visible speed.

"Lines like that usually only appear in shoujo manga; it seems only Dan Heng has said something similar before, ehehe..."

However, compared to Secretary Fujiwara's blatant giggling, Kaguya Shinomiya was much more restrained. She sat upright in her seat as usual, and though she maintained her usual cold and noble demeanor, the blush on her cheeks betrayed her.

(Pierce... chest...)

In Kaguya's mind, Phainon's words were playing on an infinite loop.

(If the President could say that to me...)

She imagined the President wearing his black school uniform, standing in front of her, facing the obstacles of her family, or... some kind of crisis? In any case, the President stood before her without hesitation, looking back and saying affectionately: "If you want to touch Kaguya, you'll have to step over my corpse first."

"Ugh..."

Kaguya couldn't help but let out a soft hum, quickly covering her mouth with her hand as her cheeks turned even redder.

"Eh...? Kaguya, your face is so red... Are you feeling unwell?" Shirogane cast a concerned look at her.

"Ah...! No, no." Kaguya squeezed out an awkward smile and quickly fanned her face with her hand. "It's, it's just... uh, a radiant glow!"

——

【"Is someone missing?" Stelle looked around.】

【"Are you talking about Mydei? He's resolving another difficult problem. Don't worry, that man will never miss this battle."】

【...】

【"Farewell, my friend. You must... lead us home..."】

【"It's all the same... You and I... We both feed on Strife and fear..."】

【"If you can truly lead our people to break this blood-stained fate, then prove it to me again, Mydeimos."】

【Standing before the Genesis Vortex, the whispers of the past still echoed in Mydei's mind.】

【"As expected, you're here." Phainon walked over from behind him.】

【"I heard you're about to set out on an expedition," Mydei said.】

【"Indeed, this will be an incredibly difficult battle. The destination... is still Suspended Blade City."】

【"So, you've come to pray to the deceased Nicadori?"】

【"No, quite the opposite. I've come to tell you... this time, you just leave the front lines to us. The battlefield you're about to face... likewise cannot afford failure."】

【"Hmph..." Mydei chuckled softly and suddenly asked a seemingly unrelated question, "The 'Mountain-Breaker' Geocles—have you heard his story?"】

【"It seems you've spoken with Hartonus. That name belongs to that legendary member of the Mountain People, right?"】

【Mydei nodded: "Before we part, let's talk a bit more. Hartonus told me that in ancient times, the Mountain People lived in seclusion among the hills. They spent their days digging and gathering... living a peaceful and simple life, far from Strife."】

【"But Geocles was an outlier; he didn't accept tradition and longed for the world beyond the mountains. The lukewarm customs were like a prison in his eyes."】

【Phainon understood immediately, knowing Mydei's words had a hidden meaning: "It sounds very similar to your situation."】

【"Exactly, so he also had to face the same choice: One day, Geocles climbed out of the hills as usual. But he saw an entire camp of Ladonians stationed at the foot of the mountain. Those Ladonians were fighting their arch-enemies, the Campans, and used the mountains as their base for guerrilla warfare. Geocles had taught himself the common tongue, and he wheedled information out of the soldiers—"】

【"The Ladonians planned to fill the mountains with hidden mines and explosives to lure the enemy deep inside. That meant the home of the Mountain People would no longer be safe and would become fraught with danger from then on. Geocles immediately returned to the village to inform his people. However..."】

【Phainon guessed with interest: "Let me guess... they would rather endure than seek change?"】

【"...Exactly. The Mountain People feared change, let alone migration. With war approaching, the elders only intended to seek peace and were unwilling to leave the mountains. Geocles felt sorrow and anger."】

【The story finished, and Mydei asked Phainon in return: "But he did not give up. If you were him, what would you do?"】

——

Baki.

"Hah, does a question like that even require thought?"

Hanma Yujiro crossed his arms, a ferocious smile appearing on his face. "There's only one way to achieve it: order the elders to leave. If they refuse, keep beating them until they submit, then order them to leave."

"Yujiro Hanma, are you a brat?" Miyamoto Musashi's magatama-like eyes swept over. "If you truly resort to force against these elders, Geocles will never be able to integrate with the Mountain People again."

"Hmm..." Motobe Izo rubbed his chin and sighed softly. "His thoughts are so rebellious; it can only be described as a tragedy. But if it were me, I would probably still pick up weapons to resist these Ladonians and Campans. Even if the clansmen's thoughts are backward, they must be 'protected'."

"No, no, no, Motobe, your thinking is too conservative." Kaku Kaioh waved his hand, his old, clouded eyes narrowing behind his sunglasses. "I have more experience with this kind of thing. If possible, it's best to gather all these elders and lure them to an area filled with hidden mines to blow them up. Once the elder positions are vacant, replace them with a new batch of young people. With the elders' precedent, they will surely be willing to move away from their home."

Hearing this, Retsu Kaioh couldn't help but shudder, looking at his teacher with a face full of shock.

Seemingly sensing his disciple's slightly displeased gaze, the skin on Kaku Kaioh's face wrinkled like scales as he squeezed out a meaningful smile.

"Retsu, don't criticize me for being despicable again, okay? Many things can't be solved purely with violence; one must use'slaughter.' This is not something a martial artist like you can understand."