Editing Shinmai Maou no Keiyakusha:Volume 2 Chapter 3 (section)

===Part 2===


"Mhm, I won't find a suitable place so easily in the city after all. How's it on your end, Takashi?"

"…Same for me. It might be better to give up the idea of using a common barrier."

Takashi indifferently responded to Shiba's voice, which he could hear from the wireless earphone.

---Already two days had passed since the night of the reunion with Basara.

It was now early afternoon.

Takashi and the others had split up to looked around the city.

They were searching for a suitable place for the battle with Basara and the girls. If they simply took human casualties into consideration, the public park with the wide ground and forest would be optimal.

But the nature of forests or mountains often happened to be spiritual points, which protected and cleanse the land. There was a proper reason to why the main river of the north intersected with the forest and hill of the park.

He had heard from Yuki that during the fight in that forest the other day, Naruse Mio let her own power go out of control and wrecked the place beyond recognition. And as expected, the flow in the earth there was still in disorder, making the place unsuitable for the upcoming battle.

If they carelessly harmed the place, the flow would completely break down and might cause the destruction of the whole area by natural disasters in the future.

Besides, he had "Byakko" with him now.

The places, where he could utilize it's enormous strength, were inevitably limited from the beginning. In the worst case, he would have to consider holding back with the power, but

''…No, it has to be a place, where "Byakko's" full power can be released.''

The enemy wasn't just Naruse Mio and her retainer Succubus. They would be facing Basara as well.

---Hayase Takashi hadn't forgotten what an overwhelming existence Basara had been in the village.

A genius.

The talent he was born with was cruelly out of league with Takashi's and even while they were both speed types, Takashi never managed to catch up to Basara, no matter how fast he ran.

But that was five years ago.

Takashi was different from his past-self now. And not just him. Yuki and Kurumi too.

Likewise--- Basara was different from his previous self too. Quite crucially at that.

"Basara and the girls must be desperately coming up with a plan right now…"

"……Let them try. It won't change anything anyway."

From that gruesome incident until today, Takashi and the other had undergone fierce training.

Not forgetting the tragedy of that day and embracing the despair in their hearts.

Precisely because of that they could endure the harsh training and become stronger.

---However, each of them had a different reason for becoming stronger.

Yuki changed her feelings for Basara, who was chased out of the village, into her strength.

Kurumi gained her current strength because she wished to help her older sister.

And Takashi--- He didn't want such a tragedy to occur ever again.

Just wishing for that, he became strong.

Compared to Basara, he spent his time far more significantly.

It wasn't like they were on bad terms.

Just like Yuki and Kurumi, Takashi was a childhood friend of Basara.

He was with Basara just as long as Yuki and Kurumi were.

But,

''…What was he doing after leaving the village?''

Of all things, Basara was together with the previous Devil Lord's daughter, who would only bring disaster to the world.

How could he do such a thing when he witnessed such a tragedy.

Forgetting his mission as a Hero, he might temporarily be driven by an emotional sense of justice, but it seemed that the tragedy of that day had completely become a thing of the past for Basara.

"If so, I'll remind him…"

About his sin.

About the irredeemable souls of their comrades, who he erased.

Because everyone who survived that incident was a victim, but also an offender.

Yuki would stand up for Basara due to her feelings for him, but Kurumi, who looked up to Yuki as her little sister, couldn't forgive Basara, which Takashi could relate to.

His own feelings were the same.

Hayase Takashi spit out.

"Don't forget, Toujou Basara--- Your past won't be undone."

Regardless of how much time passed.

Because the memory of that day engraved in their hearts would never fade.