Chapter 119: The Noguchi Couple

“I want to go back to the Digital World!” Daimon declared bluntly as he threw open the door.

“...” Qin Fei and Toma exchanged glances, both reading the unmistakable lack of surprise in each other’s eyes. Clearly, Daimon was still bitter over his previous defeat by Mercurimon.

“But the DATS building is now sealed off by Yubashira, and the Digital World teleportation device is guarded. Besides, I alone can’t activate it,” Toma explained, then glanced at Daimon and Qin Fei as if to say they were of little help in starting the device.

“Also, if we take Shunai along, our target becomes too conspicuous, and it would be easy for Yubashira’s people to detect us...”

“...”

“So, what should we do?” Daimon angrily pounded his thigh, trying to hide his embarrassment from Chika.

“We have no choice but to ask Captain Samo if he has any other ideas. But... Daimon, are you really determined to go into the Digital World to find Mercurimon? Given your strength...” Toma’s tone turned doubtful. After being thoroughly crushed by Mercurimon last time, he didn’t share Daimon’s unfounded confidence.

“Hasn’t Mercurimon already returned to the Digital World? If we recklessly provoke him, it might escalate tensions between the two worlds,” Qin Fei suddenly interjected, sensing something off about Toma, who seemed less composed than usual after his defeat.

“I believe Mercurimon’s hatred toward humans makes him extremely unstable. His power is immense, and he can freely travel between both worlds. If he returns to the human world again and we fail to stop him in time, countless human lives will be at risk,” Toma said through gritted teeth. This was why he reluctantly agreed to Daimon’s plan to enter the Digital World once more.

They all wanted to deal with Mercurimon.

As humans, they had a duty to protect their own.

“We must defeat that creature—only then will true peace come!” Daimon clenched his fist, his excitement mirroring Toma’s resolve.

Qin Fei shook his head. Their actions played right into Akihiro Kurata’s hands, the mastermind who had been inciting conflict between humans and Digimon all along. The two before him, blind to the truth, only vented their anger on Mercurimon.

“...”

“Calm down, everyone. Since you’re all here, there’s something I want to discuss with you... especially you, Daimon,” Samo’s familiar voice called from the doorway.

Everyone turned to see not only Samo but three familiar figures behind him.

“Shunai? Kei? And Miki?” Clearly, the DATS members had gathered once again.

“Samo...” Sayuri emerged from the kitchen, her gaze bittersweet as she looked at him. The matter Samo spoke of was a truth she had long hesitated to reveal to her child.

Samo nodded at Sayuri and continued, “It concerns your father... something important.”

Daimon’s expression froze in surprise. “My... father?”

Sayuri sighed, guiding Samo into the living room before sitting down with them. After sipping the tea Sayuri offered, Samo gathered his thoughts and began, “This happened ten years ago... People discovered the existence of the Digital World, a dimension separate from the human world...”

Listening to Samo’s account, Daimon’s face turned incredulous. Only now did he realize how remarkable his father truly was.

“Is it true? Mom... did you know about this?” Daimon abruptly turned to his silent mother.

Sayuri nodded slightly.

Daimon was stunned. His father wasn’t just a doctor; he was a pioneer in Digimon research, tirelessly seeking a way for humans and Digimon to coexist peacefully.

“Mom knew everything... all along...” Daimon sat down, a wave of frustration washing over him at having been kept in the dark by his own family.

“I never meant to hide it from you deliberately, but... I feared that if you knew the truth, you’d disappear into the Digital World like Akira did,” Sayuri said, her eyes glistening with unshed tears.

Daimon felt a lump in his throat. Finally, his eyes reddened as he looked at his mother resolutely. “I won’t disappear! And Dad will come back, too!”

Sayuri stared at her son’s determined gaze, realizing in that moment that he had grown up.

“Stop worrying, Mom. I promise I’ll go to the Digital World, defeat Mercurimon, and bring Dad back!” Daimon pledged.

Sayuri sighed but nodded helplessly. “You’re truly Akira’s child... Promise me you’ll come back.”

“I don’t want the Digital World to take away both my beloved husband and son...” she whispered.

...

“What should we do now?” Despite his promise to his mother, Daimon and the others remained at a loss.

“Yes, with DATS under lockdown, it’s nearly impossible to access the teleportation device,” Toma frowned, stroking his chin.

“...”

“There is still one possibility,” Samo suddenly spoke up when he saw everyone’s despair.

“There’s another person capable of opening the Digital Gate.”

Daimon’s eyes lit up with hope as he turned to Samo, eager to hear the name.

“...It’s the Noguchi couple,” Samo said.

Hearing the name, Qin Fei showed no surprise, though the others looked puzzled.

The Noguchis had long been targets of Qin Fei’s plans. When DATS disbanded, he realized he might never access their teleportation device, so he had shifted his focus to the Noguchi couple.

In fact, Qin Fei even considered borrowing their teleportation device to see if he could return to the original Digital World.

But now, Daimon and the others needed to find the Noguchis sooner than expected, forcing Qin Fei to delay his plans.

“However, the Noguchis suffered a tragedy years ago due to an accident with the teleportation device—their child went missing. It was a severe blow to them... so...” Samo sighed, looking at everyone, “They stopped researching the Digital World and sealed the device to forget the painful memories of losing their child. If we rush in and reopen those old wounds, they might not be willing to help us.”

After Samo’s explanation, everyone’s spirits sank. No one believed that a child lost in the Digital World for ten years could have survived unharmed.

“What if... I could convince the Noguchis?” Qin Fei hesitated but finally decided to take matters into his own hands.

“...”

“Qin Fei, you can’t force them,” Shunai warned with a sharp glance.

Qin Fei rolled his eyes at Shunai, then explained to the group, “What if I’ve met their child? A kid named Yuto, someone like me.”

“Where?” Everyone’s eyes widened in astonishment.

“In the Digital World...”