Chapter 88: Choice Answered

The room became very quiet.

Ayanokoji did not speak right away. He kept his hands in his pockets and looked past John at the big map on the wall. He was thinking carefully about his choices.

Staying with John had clear benefits. He would have safe rooms, good food, and protection from modern weapons. But Ayanokoji did not care about joining a military or fighting in a war. He only cared about going home to Japan. He had a normal life there, a good routine, and his family was waiting for him.

Back at the capital, Goddess Viona had told all the summoned students the rule for going home. They had to defeat the Demon Lord, take the Demon Lord’s heart, and bring it to the main temple altar. The magic inside that heart was the key formula to open the gate back to Earth.

If he stayed with John, that plan would be gone. John said he might find a way later, but that was just a guess. The Goddess had already given them a clear method that was part of the world’s magic rules.

Ayanokoji looked directly at John.

"I will pass on your offer, John," Ayanokoji said in calm, plain English. "I choose the second option."

Miyuki turned to him quickly, her eyes wide. "Ayanokoji-kun, are you serious?"

John looked surprised. He leaned forward and crossed his arms on the desk.

"You are saying no?" John asked. "I thought you were a realistic guy. Going back to a medieval empire to fight modern weapons does not sound very smart. What are you thinking?"

"My goal is simple," Ayanokoji replied without hesitation. "I want to return home. I have a life in Japan, and my family is waiting for me."

"And you think the Solarians can get you home faster than I can?" John asked.

"The Goddess told us the exact rule to open the gate," Ayanokoji explained. "We must defeat the Demon Lord and use his heart as the catalyst. It is an established formula in this world. If I join you, I give up that confirmed method for a vague promise that you might figure out the magic later."

John laughed dryly. "Are you really that trusting, Ayanokoji? What if the Goddess is lying to all of you?"

"You sound like Miyuki," Ayanokoji said, his face completely flat. "She said the exact same thing back at the capital when the decree was announced."

Miyuki looked down. She remembered questioning the priests early on because she did not trust them.

"My answer to you is the same answer I gave to her," Ayanokoji continued. "You need proof to support a claim. Right now, there is no evidence that the Goddess is lying about the heart. Until someone proves her method is fake, the Demon Lord’s heart is the only known way back to Earth. Acting on a guess is not logical. So, I will follow the only plan that actually has a formula."

John stared at him for a few seconds, then shook his head.

"That is just blind faith, even if you try to make it sound logical," John said. "You are trusting a deity that uses high school kids like cheap tools. But fine, it is your choice. Just remember what I told you. If you go back to the empire, you are going against modern weapons. We have jets, missiles, guided artillery, and warships. How do you plan to survive that?"

"I know how modern weapons work," Ayanokoji said smoothly. "I do not plan to run in front of airstrikes. And on a battlefield, I have my own ways to stay alive."

"Like what?" John asked.

"I will not tell you," Ayanokoji said simply. "Telling an opposing leader my methods is bad strategy."

John smiled slightly. "Fair enough. Keep your secrets."

Then John looked over at Miyuki. His voice became softer.

"What about you, Miyuki?" John asked. "You do not have to do what he does. You spoke up for me when the priests threw me into the hole. Stay here. You will be safe, you will not have to see anyone get hurt, and I will make sure you are looked after."

Miyuki stood there, her chest feeling heavy.

Part of her really wanted to say yes. She was scared of war, bombs, and dying soldiers. She wanted to sleep in a real bed and eat normal food again.

Then she thought about her other classmates back in the empire.

She thought about Daiki, who always tried to be funny at meals, and the girls who cried at night because they missed home. None of them knew anything about this western base. None of them knew the United States had planes and missiles that could kill them in seconds, just like what happened to Sato.

If she stayed here, she would be safe, but all her friends would walk into danger without any warning.

Miyuki took a deep breath and looked at John.

"John, please do not do this," Miyuki pleaded, her hands together. "Please do not start a war with the empire. Our classmates are still over there. They do not know about modern weapons. They think they are only training to fight monsters. If you attack, they will all die like Sato."

"They chose to wear imperial armor, Miyuki," John replied firmly. "I did not start this fight. The empire sent ships to burn villages and take slaves. The Goddess told them to do it. I will not sit here and wait for them to attack again just because a few Japanese students are in their city."

"Then try talking to them," Miyuki said, stepping forward. "Send a message to the Emperor. Show them your power so they understand. You know how scary war is. There has to be another way."

"There is no other way," John said coldly. "They think non-humans are animals and their religion gives them the right to conquer everyone. The only thing they understand is force. I am committed to this plan. The war begins in forty-eight hours, and I will not change my mind."

Miyuki stepped back slowly. She realized John would not stop.

She looked at John, who was hard and cold like a real soldier now. Then she looked at Ayanokoji, who only cared about getting home.

Miyuki wiped her face and stood up straight.

"Then I have to say no, too," Miyuki said quietly. "I will not stay."

John looked surprised. "You are saying no?"

"Yes," Miyuki said, looking right at him. "I am terrified of your weapons surely. But our classmates are still there. If I stay here just to save myself, they will die without knowing anything. I have to go back and warn them. And if a fight happens, I need to be there to heal them."

Then he looked at Captain Daniel.