"Everyone's out there fighting the Combined Dogma right now, aren't they? Then I have to go too...!"
"Wait, Yugo. I know how you feel, but you need to stay put."
"No. Someone has to hold that Magic Armor Beast back until Fee finishes analyzing the magic circle. Ensuring my brother can win his fight... that’s my duty as the elder."
For the sake of his comrades facing Galberos and for Fee, who was pushing himself to decipher the circle, someone had to stall for time. Thinking that he, as the older brother, should be the one to do it, Yugo moved toward the exit, only for Jinba to seize his shoulder.
"No, you're wrong. Your job is to trust Fee and your friends and wait right here."
"Jinba-san...?"
"Once Fee is done with that magic circle, you’re the one who’s going to have to use its power. What good will you be at the critical moment if you aren't in peak condition?"
"But—!"
"No 'buts' about it. Fee is working himself to the bone right now for your sake. Are you really going to let your brother's efforts go to waste, Yugo?"
As he spoke, Jinba drew the sword at his hip. At almost the same moment, Uno and Gomez—their wounds seemingly healed enough to manage—began walking slowly toward the cathedral’s exit.
"Stay here, Yugo. Stalling for time is a job for the adults."
"A teacher’s duty is to guide and protect his students. You’ve been the one taking care of us until now, but at last, I can fulfill my role."
"I’m going to settle my debt with you today, Yugo. Don’t sweat it; that thing isn't much of an opponent. Who knows? We might even finish it off ourselves before the analysis is done."
Yugo stared at the adults, his breath hitching as he witnessed their resolve. Galberos was no simple foe. It wouldn't just be a hard fight; in their current state, victory was virtually impossible. They were walking into a situation where they could easily lose their lives, yet knowing that, Jinba and the others placed their hands on the cathedral doors.
"We’re the ones who will win. Right, Yugo?"
"Yeah... of course."
Yugo gave a short, firm nod. Satisfied with the answer, Jinba flashed a grin and threw the doors open, charging out into the fray.
Marcos grit his teeth, intent on following them, but Ryuga stopped him just as Jinba had stopped Yugo.
"Don't go, Marcos. That isn't your fight."
"But Ryuga...!"
Marcos opened his mouth to protest, but he fell silent when he saw his best friend give a quiet, steady shake of his head. He understood now. He had to wait to honor the adults’ determination. As the weight of that realization settled on Yugo and Marcos, the shouts of their other comrades echoed through the hall.
"First Phase of Analysis complete! Moving on to rewriting the magic formula!"
"Someone! Get me every scrap of micro-particle metal in the workshop! Take as much as you can find! You have my permission!"
"We need to gather the kids from the Elementary Division, too! Someone, come with me!"
Fee, Anhel, Melt—everyone was pouring their entire being into their respective tasks. Analyzing and rewriting the circle, gathering the children to provide magic power... Yugo and his partner could only stand by and watch as the others scrambled with desperate urgency.
They couldn't move. To fulfill the role that would soon be theirs, they had to remain at one hundred percent. No matter how much it gnawed at their hearts, their only focus had to be maintaining their strength.
Doing nothing—that was the battle Yugo and Ryuga had to fight. Waiting while their friends strained themselves and the thunderous roar of combat echoed from outside was, in some ways, more agonizing than facing Galberos in single combat.
Even so, they had to trust and wait. They had to believe in the hope their friends were weaving, and believe in their own ability to eventually receive it.
"This is frustrating... To think our only job right now is to do nothing."
"I know. But we have no choice but to endure. We wait, Yugo."
Yugo nodded silently at his partner's words. His gaze was fixed on his younger brother, who was hunched over the magic circle. Protecting Fee’s battle was his own fight. Repeating that over and over in his mind, Yugo stood in silence, his fists clenched tight.