A/N: I planned to upload this chapter on Thursday, but unfortunately I got ill. Anyway, I hope you guys enjoy the start of this new volume.

o-0-o

Volume 2 Chapter 1 (I)

o-0-o

"Ah..."

Sparda exhaled deeply, his breath a whisper amidst the tranquility of the early morning.

As dawn's gentle embrace filtered through the chamber, illuminating the apex of SCHALE's tower with a serene radiance, Sparda found himself enveloped in a sense of serenity.

"Six days have passed, haven't they?" mused Sparda, his contemplation punctuated by the aroma of freshly brewed coffee wafting through the air.

Clad in a pristine white shirt and tailored black trousers, he eased into the plush embrace of the sofa, cradling the porcelain vessel filled with the rich elixir of awakening. With each sip, Sparda's gaze drifted over the parchment resting upon the sleek glass surface before him, his scrutiny unwavering as he revisited the contents of his meticulously crafted document.

The proposal outlined a comprehensive strategy aimed at revitalizing the neglected edifices and barren parcels encircling SCHALE into an expansive outdoor gymnasium and recreational haven. Despite SCHALE's already considerable array of indoor amenities, including an extensive gymnasium, aquatic center, and basketball court, Sparda astutely discerned the necessity for a more expansive venue to accommodate certain activities.

For instance, he had undertaken the responsibility of imparting dance lessons to a cohort of troubled youths, facilitating their endeavor to establish a club of their own. While the indoor gymnasium could suffice as a venue for such instruction, Sparda harbored the belief that the efficacy of such endeavors would be greatly enhanced in an unfettered expanse, affording them the liberty to move and express themselves uninhibitedly.

Then there's the issues of the buildings themselves.

Sparda scrutinized the blueprint design of SCHALE. Admittedly, he wasn't an expert in architecture, but having rubbed elbows with a fair share of architects in the past, he could certainly spot areas for improvement in the design.

SCHALE's structure consisted of a four-story main building and a seven-story tower, along with two levels of basements.

He had converted the top floor of the tower into a makeshift living space, though he wasn't exactly thrilled with the outcome. Currently, it consisted of a bed pilfered from the infirmary, positioned at the room's center, a sofa he'd relocated from the second-floor lounge of the main building, and a few small desks and a chair. Not having had the opportunity to go furniture shopping, he had opted to make do with whatever was available to furnish the room.

Speaking of furniture, he recalled receiving a call from Rin a few nights prior, asking him to come to Sanctum Tower to inspect a "crafting" room left behind by the president. He had promised to visit when he could, but truth be told, it was merely a pretext to avoid facing Rin.

After all, every encounter with her seemed to circle back to the matter of the cake money he still owed her. It was best to settle that debt before crossing paths with her again.

Plus, while he fancied himself a skilled blacksmith and painter, arts and crafts involving needles and threads weren't exactly his forte. If the General Student Council's president intended for him to start a sewing club or something of the sort, then she had definitely picked the wrong person.

But enough about that; back to the design.

The first floor of the tower seemed tailored for indoor classes, boasting six classrooms, while its counterpart in the main building accommodated the aforementioned indoor gym, basketball court, pool, and shooting range.

Ascending to the second floor of the tower led to his office, accessible only through the first floor. It was a space filled with neatly arranged tables equipped with computers (which he had wisely 'entrusted' to Arona ever since he unwisely opened a suspicious program and nearly had the computers taken over if it weren't for Arona's preventive actions), several whiteboards, and typical accouterments one would expect to find in a teacher's office.

However, what puzzled Sparda was the sheer size of the room. It seemed far too spacious for a single occupant, with multiple desks and computers suggesting it was not designed for solitary use—or at least, not originally.

On the flip side, the second floor of the main building catered to the occupants' health and daily needs, housing an infirmary, fitness center, recreational room, lounge, library, and shower facilities. The recreational room, in particular, boasted a vast array of video games, as Midori would enthusiastically declare, neatly stacked on shelves alongside a treasure trove of comics and magazines.

Once again, the setup seemed far too spacious for just one person.

Yet, it was the floors above the second floor that piqued Sparda's curiosity the most. Both the tower and the main building's upper levels were barren—empty, devoid of furniture. While the flooring had been laid down, Sparda couldn't help but wonder why these floors had been left empty. And when he attempted to find clues in the floor designs, it appeared that these floors had intentionally been left bare for reasons unknown.

He intended to change that. Since this place had been thrust into his hands, then he was determined to ensure that every inch of it could be utilized to its fullest potential.

His current dilemma, however, lay in the decision of whether to utilize SCHALE's financial reservoirs or navigate the convoluted bureaucratic channels, thereby securing the requisite approval and funding from the General Student Council and Rin. While opting for the former might expedite the process, Sparda would rather not resort to it in wake of the recent discovery after his return from Millennium.

In the wake of his recent blunder, wherein he inadvertently invoked Rin's ire by using her name as a guarantor to secure a cake, Sparda swiftly entrusted Arona with the pivotal task of meticulously dissecting the terms and stipulations governing SCHALE's financial disbursements, as delineated by the president of the General Student Council.

What Arona unearthed left Sparda deeply perturbed, casting doubt upon the erstwhile president's discernment. It transpired that any actions undertaken by Sparda would invariably be imputed to SCHALE, unless refuted by Rin. Essentially, by swaying Rin's decision, Sparda could rationalize the utilization of SCHALE's funds for virtually any purpose he deemed fit.

Suppressing the urge to hurl a monitor across the room in exasperation, Sparda grappled with the unsettling revelation. Whether the elusive president crafted this arrangement intentionally remained a matter of speculation, yet it dawned upon Sparda with startling clarity that he wasn't merely spearheading SCHALE; he had become synonymous with the institution itself.

This predicament presented Sparda with a profound quandary. He had harbored aspirations of delegating the governance and management of SCHALE to handpicked students in the future, assuming a more advisory role himself, with a primary focus on navigating his way back to the Human World. However, the realization that all his actions would be inexorably tied to SCHALE, irrespective of its nominal leadership, posed a grave obstacle. This meant that any framework he sought to establish would be rendered futile, as he retained the unilateral authority to override decisions at his discretion.

In essence, SCHALE ceased to function as a conventional institution; rather, it morphed into a manifestation of Sparda's will–or perhaps that had been the intention all along.

It evoked memories of his tenure as the lord of Fortuna, where he reigned as the sole, uncontested authority, albeit that happened mostly due to the populace idolizing him as a deity. Establishing an autonomous governance structure in Fortuna had demanded extensive time and concerted effort from both himself and his comrades. It took decades to instill a system where the city's denizens could sustain themselves in his absence.

The crux of the matter resided in the unalterable status quo. While SCHALE wielded authority to officially recognize, sanction, establish, and even disband clubs, any fundamental changes to the institution itself mandated the endorsement of the President of the General Student Council.

But here's the kicker—this president? Nowhere in sight. And to top it off, Rin and Arona were drawing blanks on the whole raison d'être of SCHALE. No objective, no purpose, not even a vague vision of what this gig was all about. All they seemed to know was that it was his show to run.

An organization without purpose, especially one wielding the kind of authority SCHALE did, was a recipe for disaster. Without clear guidelines, it was bound to stray off course, its power ripe for abuse.

"I'd rather not dwell on it, but seriously... Did that president expect me to clean up this mess?" Sparda muttered to himself, his brow furrowed with frustration. The more he thought about it, the more it seemed like she had a talent for stirring up trouble, didn't she?

With a heavy sigh, Sparda found himself grappling with the mess he'd been saddled with. And to top it off, he still couldn't wrap his head around why he was the one summoned to Kivotos.

"Hmm?" Sparda's train of thought came to a screeching halt, derailed by a nagging realization.

Why had he automatically jumped to the conclusion that he was 'summoned'? The events leading up to his arrival in Kivotos were a blur—battling Chroma, succumbing to unconsciousness, then awakening in the office of the General Student Council's president. While the cryptic letter he stumbled upon hinted at a prior acquaintance with the president, the how and why of his arrival in Kivotos remained shrouded in mystery.

More perplexing still, why hadn't he felt a surge of distress upon finding himself in this unfamiliar realm? It didn't add up. Sparda had witnessed firsthand how individuals reacted when thrust into wholly alien environments: fear, distrust, anger, disbelief—the whole gamut of emotions.

He'd seen the bewilderment etched on countless human faces when confronted with the reality of demons. Granted, he wasn't human himself, but he'd assumed he'd experience at least a fraction of those emotions if he were in their shoes.

And yet... nothing. No sense of displacement, no deep anxiety. Despite the bewildering technology and societal norms of Kivotos, he couldn't shake the feeling of belonging amidst this eccentricity.

Sure, his millennia-long existence as a demon might explain some of it, but there lingered an inexplicable sensation he couldn't shake. It was as if everything unfolding in Kivotos was simply par for the course, part of his daily routine—odd, considering he'd never set foot in this city before.

And then there were those children. Why couldn't he muster the will to decline the role of a teacher for those children?

As Sparda delved deeper into his musings, Arona's cheerful interruption shattered the tranquility of the room.

"Good morning, Sensei! Did you have a nice dream?" Arona's voice rang out with infectious enthusiasm, breaking through the silence.

Glancing towards the Shittim Chest resting on the pedestal, Sparda redirected his attention to the screen displaying Arona. There she stood, her right hand raised in greeting, a radiant smile illuminating her features. Clad in light blue pajamas adorned with twinkling star motifs, she held a small pillow in her other hand—a whimsical sight against the backdrop of technology.

The working of the device still puzzled Sparda, but it was evident that Arona possessed a remarkable ability to summon any item she desired from within the Shittim Chest, as evident by how she effortlessly materialized and changed her outfits as she pleased.

"Good morning, Arona," Sparda responded, a hint of amusement in his voice. "Dreams? Can't say I recall having any."

He rose from his seat and approached the desk. "How about you? Any interesting dreams?"

Arona shook her head and placed both of her index fingers to her head. "I thought I did, but now I'm not so sure."

"What does that even mean?" Sparda internally questioned.

As Sparda prepared to delve deeper into the conversation, Arona's expression abruptly shifted. A furrow formed on her brow as she glanced at the clock displayed on the Shittim Chest's monitor.

"Sensei, how many hours did you sleep?" Arona inquired, staring at him like he was some kind of a scoundrel.

"Two. Why?" Sparda replied, taken aback by her sudden change in demeanor.

"That's no good! If you're only getting that much sleep, you're going to burn out one day, Sensei!" Arona exclaimed, her tone tinged with worry.

Was she his mother or something?

"I appreciate your concern, Arona, but don't worry about me. Sometimes, there's just too much on the plate and not enough hours in the day, you know?"

That was a big fat lie.

While indeed it took longer than he anticipated to finish the proposal, by the time Arona went to bed at ten last night, he was practically done with most of it. He only spent a few more hours reviewing it, but as for what he did for the rest of the night, he went out to the street to get a breath of fresh air and had an encounter with a couple of 'unfortunate' robots who tried to scam him.

Apparently, they were from some famous charity organization called Kaiser Charity, but since Sparda had never heard of them, he tried to hastily leave them behind. They were stubborn, however. They attempted many times to convince him to come with them, but when he continued to refuse them, they lost patience and tried to kidnap him.

They even had the audacity to point guns at him.

Since they decided to use force, so too would he use force to emphasize his answer. A single swing of Yamato was all it took to 'convince' them to leave him alone.

And, since everything was resolved 'peacefully', he decided he didn't need to tell this to Arona.

Arona's expression softened as she sighed. "I know you're dedicated to your work, Sensei, but taking care of yourself is crucial too. As your secretary and your most prized student, Arona-chan's got to make sure you don't keel over from overwork!"

"Now you're just exaggera…" Sparda began, but his words trailed off as memories of the past few days came rushing back. The tanks, the explosions, the girls with guns—and let's not forget about the deadly robot. Sure, he was used to facing demons day in and day out, but that was a simple kill-or-be-killed scenario. He just needed to take out his enemies without worrying about anything else.

But this? This was a whole new ball game. There was no clear enemy here, just a bunch of energetic, maybe slightly misguided young girls. Well, young girls who happened to be practically bulletproof.

Sparda couldn't deny the truth in Arona's words. Despite the absence of the usual battles, the challenges he faced in Kivotos were just as taxing. In fact, in some ways, this might be an even tougher gig than demon-slaying.

Guiding and mentoring these girls demanded an entirely different skill set compared to demon-slaying. Oh, how easy would it be for him if this job could be handled by brute strength or swinging a sword.

Despite the support he'd received from Yuuka and Arona in recent days, Sparda couldn't shake the nagging sense of inadequacy that gnawed at him as their teacher. Especially since he was still wrestling with the task of memorizing and grasping the general curriculum shared among all schools in Kivotos. And let's not even get started on the quirks and unique educational approaches of each individual school.

Honestly? Everything that he had learned was enough to make his head spin.

Fortunately, the materials Yuuka had procured from Millennium and the archives accessed by Arona from the General Student Council had proven to be invaluable resources, providing Sparda with a solid foundation to build upon.

Actually, Yuuka had been very accommodating to his needs. When he suggested that he should visit Millennium every morning to learn about all these subjects, Yuuka actually flipped the script on him and suggested that she would bring the materials to SCHALE and even offered to help him every morning.

While he was grateful for the offer, he couldn't possibly burden her with his own issues. So, as a responsible adult, he, of course, insisted that he should be the one making the effort to visit Millennium.

Something strange then happened.

Yuuka, with a cheerful voice from the other end of the line, kindly asked him, "Sensei…please, you do not need to bother yourself with coming to Millennium. Stay in SCHALE and let me handle this, understand?"

"I understand," Sparda wisely replied after his danger alarm urged him to.

He did not know what was happening in Millennium, but, well…he'd rather not jump into the lion's mouth when said lion had sent out a warning to him to stay away.

However, if truth be told, Sparda couldn't shake the guilt of burdening Arona and Yuuka with his own limitations. Not to mention reading those so-called ebooks was a struggle; the strain on his eyes was so intense that he feared triggering a seizure after just a few minutes of perusal. His only recourse was to print out the materials Arona had downloaded, while Yuuka had generously offered to bring physical copies to SCHALE.

"How do you plan to manage that?" Sparda had skeptically inquired. The sheer volume of books and research papers stored on her USB made it seem an impossible task for Yuuka to transport them all to SCHALE single-handedly.

Despite Sparda's offer to assist her, Yuuka simply smirked and replied, "I have my ways, Sensei."

The following day, a familiar jet truck rolled up in front of SCHALE, and Utaha emerged from the driver's seat, her expression neutral and her smile devoid of warmth.

"Express delivery for Sensei…" Utaha's voice rang out, her tone eerily monotone and devoid of life. Sparda couldn't help but feel a pang of concern; had something terrible happened to her?

Before he could voice his worries, Utaha swiftly made her exit as Yuuka arrived on the scene. "Perfect timing," Yuuka remarked cheerfully, seemingly unperturbed by Utaha's demeanor.

In that moment, Sparda couldn't help but piece together the interaction between Utaha and Yuuka, or at least make an educated guess.

"Yuuka," Sparda began, his tone cautious, "be easy on her, okay?"

Yuuka simply shrugged, a faint smirk playing on her lips. "I'm not sure what you're talking about, Sensei."

Playing coy, huh? Well, if she wanted to play that game, Sparda wasn't about to push it. After all, if Utaha hadn't reached out for help, it was probably safe to assume that she wasn't in any serious trouble… right?

Recalling recent events made his head throb. Perhaps he should make a trip back to Millennium soon, just to check on Utaha and those girls from the Engineering Department. He needed to figure out a way to do it without tipping off Yuuka, though.

Speaking of Yuuka…

Sparda glanced at the clock. It read 06:23. He had seven more minutes before Yuuka's arrival. He had to hand it to her; Yuuka was impressively punctual. For the past few days, she had shown up right on the dot at 06:30 every morning at SCHALE.

During that hour, he and Yuuka would review the materials he had studied the night before before she had to head back to Millennium. Sparda had no idea how long the commute from Millennium to SCHALE took, but he knew she must have been up before the crack of dawn. To reward such dedication, he made sure there was enough easily digestible food and drink stocked in the fridge on the second floor, courtesy of Sora from Angel 24. They weren't anything fancy, but they should keep her going throughout the day.

With swift movements, Sparda slipped into his work attire and grabbed the Schittim Chest.

"Sensei! I'm not ready yet!" Arona's protest echoed through the room.

Sparda arched an eyebrow. "Can't you change your uniform quickly?" he asked.

"I still need to take a shower!" Arona complained with a red face.

"Should I leave without you, then?"

"What? Sensei, you meanie! You big jerk! Big dummy! Pervert!" Arona's voice rang out before the screen went dark.

...

...

...

"Alright..." Sparda tucked the Schittim Chest into his uniform's inner pocket and made his way to the lift.

Quickly arriving at the second floor, he intended to retrieve the food and drinks from the fridge and set them up on the lounge. However, just as he reached for the handle, the sound of the doorbell echoed through the room.

Glancing at the clock on the wall, Sparda noted that it was two minutes before the appointed time. He corked an eyebrow in surprise. Yuuka was two minutes early? Well, he supposed it was better than being late.

With a shrug, Sparda made his way down to the ground floor. Since he hadn't unlocked the front door yet, she must be waiting outside for him.

The bell chimed once again, prompting Sparda to hasten to the door. "I'm coming," he called out as he unlocked it. "Sorry for the wait, Yuu- hold up, who are you?"

To Sparda's astonishment, standing before him was not Yuuka, but a girl with long, straight white hair flowing down to her legs, framed by short bangs, and striking purple eyes. Her halo, unlike Yuuka's, gleamed with an outer ring of white enclosing an inner circle. She sported a uniform consisting of white and blue low-heel boots, sleek black tights, a pleated white skirt, and a blazer adorned with tech embellishments, with an additional jacket draped over her arms. Underneath the blazer, she wore a crisp white dress-shirt and a blue tie, with her Millennium access card clipped onto the side pocket.

"Good morning, Sensei. I believe this is our first time meeting each other. I'm Ushio Noa, the secretary of Seminar. It's a pleasure to finally meet Yuuka-chan's beloved Sensei," the girl, Noa, introduced herself with a warm smile.

"Likewise...but, what's with the 'beloved' reference?" Sparda inquired, a hint of confusion lacing his voice.

Before Noa could respond, a pair of hands shot out from behind her, muffling her speech. "N.O.A~!"

Yuuka emerged from behind Noa, her face flushed crimson and her temples visibly pulsating.

"Good morning, Yuuka," Sparda greeted, attempting to suppress his amusement at her reaction.

"G-good morning, Sensei. I'd appreciate it if you would kindly allow us to get inside, right now," Yuuka urgently said.

Sparda raised his brow inquisitively, but refrained from asking any questions.

"Of course. Please make yourselves at home, as always," Sparda replied as he gestured for them to come in.

o-0-o

As she settled onto the sofa in the lounge located on the second floor of SCHALE, Noa couldn't help but smile as she observed Yuuka and Sensei engaged in a lively debate over the abundance of food that Sensei had retrieved from the fridge.

"Sensei! Why did you buy so much food? How did you even pay for all of this? Do you have enough money?" Yuuka's exasperation was palpable as she surveyed the array of food laid out on the table next to the fridge.

"I'm considering your growth period, Yuuka. It's crucial for your development to consume adequate nutrients to ensure you grow into a healthy adult," Sensei explained.

"I'm perfectly capable of taking care of myself," Yuuka countered. "Besides, Sensei, where did you even learn about nutrition? You didn't even know about health science before I brought it up."

"It's all accumulated wisdom from age and experience, Yuuka," Sensei replied, his tone patient.

"That sounds like something the elderly residents at a retirement home would say," Yuuka retorted blandly.

"Oh dear, Yuuka-chan, that won't do. You can't show your appeal to Sensei if you're not being honest with yourself," Noa thought, amused.

"But really, Sensei, how did you pay for all of this? You mentioned that you were strapped for cash, so how?" Yuuka asked again, her voice tinged with concern.

"...I put it on my tab," Sensei confessed, and Yuuka's horrified expression conveyed her thoughts perfectly.

"You're in debt?" Yuuka asked, aghast.

Sensei met Yuuka's gaze steadily. "No. I just asked Sora from Angel 24 to put it on my tab, and I'll ensure it's paid off at the end of the month."

"That's even worse!" Yuuka exclaimed. "Sensei, how could you impose such a burden on a young girl like her? If you can't pay it back, then what'll happen to her?" Yuuka demanded an answer from Sensei.

Sensei, however, simply returned to his seat carrying a tray full of food. Setting it down on the table, he declared, "Then, at that time, I'll bow down my head to Rin and ask her for money."

"That's not a solution!" Yuuka shouted, flabbergasted. "We need to come up with a plan to pay it back!"

Noa couldn't suppress her giggle, watching Yuuka in this state. "Fufufu, Yuuka-chan, it's almost as if you're Sensei's wife."

Yuuka was taken aback, her face flushing crimson like a ripe tomato.

"W-wha-?!" she stammered, clearly caught off guard by Noa's remark.

Sensei, ever calm and collected, rested his hand on his chin, pondering Noa's words. "You know, that's not a bad idea," he mused aloud.

Yuuka stared at Sensei wide-eyed, her expression a mixture of disbelief and embarrassment, while Noa couldn't help but place a hand over her mouth to stifle her laughter.

"Well, setting jokes aside," Sensei said, attempting to steer the conversation back on track.

"Setting jokes aside?!" Yuuka almost shouted, but Sensei ignored her.

Noticing his gaze upon her, Noa couldn't resist teasing him. "Oh, Sensei, you're not content with having only Yuuka-chan by your side?"

To her surprise, Sensei replied, "Yes." Then, he continued, "Talented people are hard to come by. Talented and hardworking people are even rarer. And I know the latter when I see one."

Noa blinked a few times before putting on a smile again. "I don't think that definition fits me, Sensei."

"We can agree to disagree," was all Sensei said. Then, he took a bite of the chocolate bread but immediately complained that it was too sweet.

"They've overdone the sugar in this," he remarked.

"Not a fan of sweets, huh?" Noa asked.

"I'm fine with sweets, as long as they're not excessively sweet," Sensei replied.

"That's good to know, right, Yuuka-chan?" Noa turned to Yuuka, smiling.

"What are you implying, Noa?" Yuuka asked, shooting her a disdainful look.

Noa simply flashed a smile at Yuuka without giving her any answer.

Sensei took a sip of the tea he had poured earlier and inquired, "So, Noa, was it? What brings you here today?"

Noa maintained her smile as she locked eyes with Sensei. "Would you believe me if I said I'm here on official business from Seminar?"

"I think Yuuka would've mentioned something if that were the case," Sensei replied, his tone tinged with skepticism.

Noa couldn't resist using this opportunity to tease Yuuka again. "Yuuka-chan, I didn't realize the bond between you and Sensei was this strong. I have to say, I'm quite envious at the thought of you being taken away from me."

"Don't twist it like that!" Yuuka protested. "Sensei, she...Noa, well, she was pestering me to let her come with you because..."

"Because when Yuuka-chan played that video, I just had to witness the real deal for myself," Noa interjected, finishing Yuuka's sentence.

"What video?" Sensei asked, a puzzled expression crossing his face.

"The video I shot three days ago, when you manifested Yamato in front of me," Yuuka answered.

"Ah, that one," Sensei seemed to come to a realization as he raised his eyebrow inquisitively. "You want to see for yourself?"

Noa affirmed, "Well, I have to, especially since Yuuka-chan was practically tearing her hair out in frustration trying to figure out how you did it."

"Is that true?" Sensei asked Yuuka.

"I didn't pull my hair!" Yuuka denied vehemently. "But, I would be lying if I said I wasn't frustrated at the lack of progress."

"I told you, it's magic. It shouldn't be that hard to accept, right?" Sensei asked, puzzled.

"Yes, but to replicate it, I need to understand the principle behind it," Yuuka insisted.

Sensei sighed. "I told you... it's swooosh! Then, bam! And finally, shaaaah! What's so hard to understand?"

"All of it!" Yuuka cried out in exasperation.

"If you're asking for a detailed explanation, then you're out of luck. I just know I can do it, but as for how I can do it... it's like asking why you need oxygen to live," Sensei explained.

Then, Sensei extended his hand forward and opened his palm. "Anyway, here we go. Watch closely."

Noa leaned in attentively, her curiosity piqued.

A minuscule, dark dot materialized at the center of Sensei's palm, gradually elongating in opposite directions until it formed a straight fissure in the air, stretching approximately 1.3 meters in length. With a deliberate motion, Sensei closed his palm, and though barely audible, a faint sound akin to glass shattering resonated in the room.

To her astonishment, the tear coalesced into a tangible object — a katana.

Yamato.

"So?" Sensei prompted.

Noa reclined in her seat, her brow furrowed in contemplation for a moment before she cheerfully admitted, "I don't understand."

"See? I'm not the only one," Yuuka chimed in, her expression smug with vindication.

Noa closed her eyes momentarily, then turned to Yuuka with a pensive expression. "Yuuka-chan, I think I know someone who could assist us."

"Who?" Yuuka inquired, her interest piqued.

Noa responded matter-of-factly, "President Himari."

"President Himari?" Sensei echoed, sounding intrigued.

Noa explained further, "She's the current president of Veritas. Sensei, I believe you've met Kagami Chihiro-san?" Noa glanced at Sensei, who nodded in acknowledgment. "She's in the same club as President Himari."

"Is she capable? This 'Himari', I mean," Sensei asked, clearly intrigued.

"Very," Yuuka chimed in. "But, she's...a bit unconventional."

"Is that why you haven't approached her for assistance, Yuuka-chan?" Noa prodded, curious to know more.

"Um, that's..." Yuuka seemed momentarily speechless, but their conversation was interrupted by the chiming of the bell.

"Now, who could that be?" Sensei mused aloud. "I don't recall scheduling any other appointments, but I'd better check it out just in case," he added, rising from his seat.

"We—" Yuuka began, appearing as if she wanted to accompany him, but Sensei gestured for her to stay.

"Stay here. I'll be back shortly," Sensei reassured them, prompting Yuuka to relent.

Meanwhile, Noa took the opportunity to ask, "May I take a closer look at that katana? Yamato, was it called?"

Sensei paused for a moment, then shrugged and placed Yamato on the table. However, he issued a warning before doing so. "You can unsheathe it, but do not, under any circumstances, swing it. Understand?"

"Absolutely," Noa affirmed. She had no intention of endangering anyone with reckless behavior. Though naturally curious and playful, she was cautious when it came to others' safety.

"Good. I'll trust you on that," Sensei said before heading downstairs to answer the doorbell.

With Sensei out of the room, Noa gently ran her finger along the katana's scabbard.

"What do you plan to do with it, Noa?" Yuuka asked.

Noa smiled. "Oh, just satisfying my curiosity, that's all."

o-0-o

The persistent ringing of the bell echoed through the hallway, its insistence growing with each chime.

"Alright, alright, I'm on my way," Sparda muttered to himself, a hint of annoyance evident in his voice. He couldn't fathom why they felt the need to ring the bell repeatedly when the door was clearly unlocked.

As he swung the door open, he was greeted by the sight of a short, young girl with long, wavy purplish-red hair cascading over her shoulders. Her eyes, a dull shade of indigo, betrayed a trace of impatience. Above her head, her halo glowed in shades of indigo-blue and sky-blue, adorned with four evenly spaced spikes and a rhombus at the top.

Dressed in a black commissar cap and a slightly disheveled black uniform, she wore a long leather jacket that reached her ankles. But what caught Sparda's attention was the crimson armband on her left arm, emblazoned with the emblem of Gehenna Academy.

The girl let out a sigh of exasperation. "I wish you hadn't opened the door," she grumbled, clearly irritated. What was her deal?

"Hello, Sensei," she began with a begrudging tone. "I'm Natsume Iroha, from Gehenna's Pandemonium Society."

"A pleasure to meet you, Iroha."

So, his assumption was correct. But if he remembered correctly, wasn't the Pandemonium Society the ruling club of Gehenna? What did they want with him so early in the morning?

He had a sinking feeling about this.

"What can I help you with?" Sparda asked casually, attempting to conceal his caution.

Iroha tilted her head slightly, as if trying to peer past him. Her eyes darted around, and when it seemed she didn't spot what she was looking for, she let out another sigh.

"Sensei...I'm here to extend an invitation from our esteemed leader, Makoto-sama. She wishes to meet with you, immediately," Iroha said flatly.

"Immediately?" Sparda repeated, his brow furrowing. "As in...right now, right now?" he clarified.

"Yes. Right now," Iroha repeated for emphasis.

Sparda's mind whirred with uncertainty as he processed the unexpected turn of events. Meeting with the leader of Gehenna's Pandemonium Society wasn't part of his morning agenda, and he couldn't help but feel a mix of curiosity and caution.

"Is there a specific reason why this 'Makoto-sama' wants to meet with me?" Sparda inquired, hoping for some clarity.

"I have no clue, and frankly, I couldn't care less," Iroha responded with a dismissive shrug. "This is such a drag. I still have to pick up Ibuki after this."

It seemed Iroha had her own set of issues to handle. Despite her nonchalant attitude, Sparda couldn't shake off his sense of unease. "What if I decline the invitation?" he pondered aloud, weighing his options carefully.

Iroha fixed him with a steely gaze, her expression inscrutable, before a mischievous grin spread across her face. "Then, I'll let out a scream."

"Pardon?" Sparda blinked, caught off guard by her unexpected threat.

"Think about it, Sensei," Iroha continued, her tone tinged with mischief. "A young girl and an adult, meeting early in the morning, and suddenly she lets out a scream... Imagine the rumors it could stir up."

Sparda's eyebrows shot up in surprise at her audacious suggestion. "You wouldn't dare."

"Are you willing to take that chance?" Iroha challenged, her grin widening.

Sparda hesitated, unsure of how to respond to Iroha's bold proposition.

Sparda sighed inwardly, feeling trapped between a rock and a hard place. He didn't relish the idea of pandering to someone's ego just to get out of an uncomfortable situation, but he also didn't want to risk tarnishing his reputation due to Iroha's threat.

"It's not like I have much of a choice, huh?" Sparda muttered under his breath, resigned to his fate.

Iroha simply shrugged. "It's not a difficult choice to make, Sensei. You just need to meet with Makoto-senpai, flatter her ego a bit, and then you can take your exit immediately once she's satisfied."

"So, you're telling me to lick her boot?" Sparda asked, a hint of disdain in his voice.

"If you have to," Iroha replied nonchalantly.

Sparda pinched the bridge of his nose, feeling a headache coming on. What a pain in the ass, indeed.

"Fine. I'll come with you, but give me a moment. I need to wrap up my business inside first, and then-"

"No can do. That secretary from Seminar might figure out what's going on. You're coming with me, right now," Iroha interjected, cutting him off abruptly.

How did she find out that Noa was in the building?

Sparda sighed again, realizing he had little choice in the matter. "Alright, alright. Let's go," he relented, gesturing for Iroha to lead the way.

As they stepped outside, a low rumbling sound caught Sparda's attention. From the corner of the road, a Tiger I tank silently rolled in. Sparda recognized the tank immediately. It was the same one he had seen a couple of days ago during the incident involving the Peroro animatronic.

As they approached the tank, Iroha handed Sparda a blindfold and a pair of handcuffs.

Sparda eyed the items in confusion, then glanced up at Iroha. "Why do I have to wear this?" he asked, a hint of skepticism in his voice.

"It's the club's policy for inviting outside guests," Iroha stated matter-of-factly, as if it were the most normal thing in the world.

Sparda hesitated for a moment, unsure about the situation, but realizing he didn't have much of a choice, he reluctantly complied. "Alright, let's get this over with," he muttered, securing the blindfold over his eyes and allowing Iroha to cuff his wrists.

As they proceeded deeper into the tank, Sparda couldn't help but marvel at the unexpected tranquility amidst the metallic confines. The fragrance, a delicate blend of blossoming flowers and exotic scents, offered a stark contrast to the rugged interior of the tank. It was like stumbling upon an oasis in the midst of a desert.

"Nice touch," Sparda remarked, acknowledging the unexpected ambiance.

"Smells good, right? It helps me relax when I need to," Iroha commented, her voice resonating softly within the enclosed space.

"If only it were under different circumstances," Sparda replied wryly, feeling the tension hanging palpably in the air.

"You better savor it while you can, Sensei. I'm confident that 99% of the conversation with Makoto-Senpai will make you feel like this tank is a paradise," Iroha quipped, attempting to lighten the mood.

Sparda pondered her words for a moment. "Ah, I see...so she's that kind of person?" he mused aloud.

"Well, she likes to bitch and moan when things don't go her way, so...yes, she's a complete pain in the ass," Iroha admitted candidly.

"..."

This sounded more and more like a pain in the ass situation. How in the world did he find himself in this predicament?

He seriously missed the straightforward battles against demons. At least then, he wouldn't be entangled in this farce of a situation.

Hmm?

What was this unease?

It felt like he was forgetting something really important.

o-0-o

End of Chapter.

Weapons in Sparda's inventory:

1. Force Edge (Sealed)

2. Rebellion

Weapons lost:

1. Yamato ( in Noa's possession)

2. Luce and Ombra (in Atsuko's possession)

Next upload is Volume 2 Chapter 1 (II)

P.s. Anime Sensei is quite the baby faced, isn't he?