In the beginning, the concept of "good and evil" didn't really exist for Yokai. Or rather, "Yokai" itself is an extremely broad term. Strictly speaking, "Yao" refers to animals that have gained a human or humanoid form through cultivation; "Guai" refers to bizarre and strange entities. Generally, when people say "Yokai," they are broadly referring to the six categories: Yao, Mo (Demons), Gui (Ghosts), Guai, Jing (Spirits), and Ling (Apparitions).
To solve the problem at hand, Lancer unhesitatingly used the "one-time item" he obtained in the last world to become the "Lord of a Hundred Demons" once again. As the Lord of a Hundred Demons, he could indeed absorb the overwhelming negative emotions filling the air. However, just as a sponge can absorb water but cannot drain the entire ocean, there were limits.
These negative emotions could be taken into Lancer body and even used to strengthen him, but he himself was like a dry battery—he had a "maximum capacity." Fortunately, he soon thought of a solution.
If he didn't have enough space to store it, he would just spend it!
Once the negative emotions were taken into his body, they were converted into Lancer unique crimson demonic energy (Youki). He immediately pulled out the "Grief Seeds" he carried with him.
Aside from Nagisa Momoe's, there was another belonging to the "Garden Witch." Under the flushing of powerful demonic energy, the "negative emotions" within were quickly cleared out and converted back into energy for Lancer. Just as he was about to go find Mami Tomoe and Kyoko Sakura to ask for the remaining Grief Seeds, he happened to spot Kyubey.
After killing the creature without hesitation, Lancer discovered something strange.
Kyubey indeed possessed countless bodies, but according to the creature's own words, these bodies could be manufactured at will. So, how were they being made?
The property of the "Gem" Lancer used was "Space"—likely because he came from another world. With its help, Lancer did indeed detect an anomalous presence within this city, but he couldn't find a way to enter it. it seemed different from a Witch's Barrier, yet it shared certain similarities...
While he could find and enter Barriers after transforming with the Gem gifted by the "Law of Cycles," he clearly belonged to the category of "knowing how to use it without knowing why it works." He could use it, but he didn't understand the underlying principles. Fortunately, he had an unexpected helper.
"Nagisa, can you tell me how a 'Barrier' is made?"
Pressing the purified Grief Seed against his forehead, Lancer directly questioned Nagisa Momoe, who had been awake for a while.
However, she shook her head.
"I'm sorry, Big Brother. Nagisa doesn't remember... But Nagisa should be able to feel it. It's just that, being like this, I can't help you..."
Looking at her dejected expression, Lancer own expression became somewhat subtle.
"Maybe... you actually can."
Hearing Lancer words, Nagisa Momoe snapped her head up and looked at him in disbelief.
"?"
"Since it's your first time, you might not be used to it, so you might have some strange reactions in a moment. But just leave it to me. Are you willing to trust me?"
Looking at Lancer serious face, Nagisa Momoe gave her usual innocent smile.
"Mhm~ Nagisa trusts Big Brother~"
Moving the Grief Seed away from his forehead, Lancer held it in both hands. Crimson demonic energy began to erode its shell. Just a few seconds later—
Crack... crack...
Like an eggshell splitting open, cracks spread across the surface of the Grief Seed until it shattered completely. At that moment, Lancer slammed his hands together. Amidst a blinding radiance, he slowly opened his palms. Within the brilliant light, a young girl slowly opened her eyes.
She looked at Lancer with some confusion.
"Big Brother?"
Nagisa Momoe tilted her head, seemingly unable to grasp what had happened. She had just been separated from him, then felt a wave of dizziness and couldn't help but close her eyes. But when she opened them again, she saw Lancer once more.
Lancer chuckled.
"I can't resurrect you, but thanks to my current status, I can let you appear outside in a different way."
At Lancer words, Nagisa finally turned her head to scan the surroundings. She stood in a daze, only realizing she was crying when her vision blurred.
The tears vanished in mid-air. Clearly, she wasn't a physical entity but was present here as a "Ghost."
The "Soul Gems" and "Grief Seeds" were both prisons for the girls' souls and umbrellas that protected them. By destroying the cage, Lancer had granted them the ability to protect themselves. This was why Lancer hadn't done this before—the required magic was terrifyingly high. But now, with an ample supply of magic, it didn't matter.
Looking at the tearful young girl he held in his arms, Lancer smiled and let go, allowing her to float in mid-air. Then, he ruffled her hair.
"Welcome back, Nagisa~"
Hearing Lancer words, Nagisa Momoe could no longer control her emotions and lunged into Lancer arms, weeping loudly.
Holding her, Lancer wore a smile. He imagined that back when he heard Leone say those words and threw himself into her arms, she must have felt much the same way he did now.
After crying for a while, Nagisa regained her composure. She wiped her eyes—the tears disappearing naturally—and a look of determination appeared on her chubby little face.
"Big Brother, let me lead the way! Everyone... is over there!"
Nagisa naturally knew what Lancer goal was, so she unhesitatingly chose to help him. Although she was almost completely isolated from the outside world while slumbering inside the Grief Seed, she could still feel the presence of "her own kind." She knew there were many other girls like her sleeping somewhere, and that place was undoubtedly known only to Kyubey.
"No problem. But before that, there's one more thing that needs to be finished."
Lancer had undoubtedly found the way to that anomalous "space," but Kyubey didn't know it yet. The creature likely never imagined Lancer would have the ability to break in. But that wasn't its fault; even Lancer hadn't expected to find such a massive amount of "raw magical material."
The "one more thing" he mentioned was the black Grief Seed floating amidst the wreckage of the gears.
Without a doubt, this was the core of Walpurgisnacht.