Chapter 120: Passing Through the Digital Gate

"Is everything you said true? Where is Ikuto?!"

A tall, somewhat gaunt woman spoke with intense agitation, startling the baby in her arms until it wailed loudly.

"Oh, oh, oh, I didn't mean you, sweetie~"

The woman's frantic and anxious mood was instantly extinguished by the child's cries. She began to gently rock the baby, only then calming its sobs.

Watching the child settle back into silence, the woman suppressed her overwhelming desire for news of Ikuto and asked in a hushed voice, "Ikuto... is he doing well now?"

"Yes, remarkably well, though his personality is a bit problematic and needs some correction," Qin Fei replied, though he only muttered the latter part to himself.

"Wuu... wuu..."

Hearing Qin Fei’s confirmation, the woman covered her mouth, sobbing softly as tears streamed down her face like a broken string of pearls.

"It’s okay, it’s alright..."

Beside her, a short, stocky man patted his wife's thin back with gentle, rhythmic motions. Qin Fei could tell that he was actually quite displeased by their arrival. Over the years, he had been helping his wife emerge from the shadows of losing their son, even building a house in the outskirts, far from the crowd, to settle down. Just as things were finally showing signs of improvement, their progress had been undone by these unexpected visitors—who brought nothing but unsubstantiated claims.

Watching the hostile expression on Kenji Noguchi, Qin Fei ignored his demeanor and stated his purpose: "So, I would like to ask you to open the door to the Digital World once more. In return, I will bring your son, Ikuto Noguchi, back..."

"I'm sorry..."

Kenji Noguchi shook his head, his expression cold. "I don't know if what you're saying is true or false. I cannot simply act on your word alone..."

"Husband!"

Ikuto’s mother suddenly grabbed her husband’s hand, her eyes rimmed with red as she looked at him, revealing a look of profound desperation. "Please, just try it once. I want to see Ikuto, I want to see him standing right in front of me. I don't want my son to be away from me anymore... Wuu..."

"..."

Feeling his wife’s hand gripping his own until it hurt, Kenji Noguchi fell silent, struggling with his decision. He knew that given her stubborn nature, if he refused, she might even try to activate the device secretly and send these people away on her own. Ikuto had become a festering wound in her heart.

"Sigh, there's one more thing..."

Exhaling, Kenji Noguchi seemed to finally soften, explaining helplessly, "My research is still incomplete. I don't have the confidence to open a Digital Gate safely."

"..."

Masaru Daimon immediately interjected, "How can you say that? How will you know if it fails if you don't try?"

"Just try it once. You don't need to worry about sending us back; just get us there. I can find my own way home," Qin Fei added, looking steadily at the hesitant man.

"..."

Looking at everyone—even his own wife, who was gazing at him with pleading eyes—Kenji Noguchi finally relented.

"Fine, I will open the Digital Gate for you..."

"As a mother, I beg you—you must bring Ikuto back."

"..."

After the Noguchis finished speaking, Kenji Noguchi stood up with a grave expression and headed toward the basement. Masaru and the others nodded and followed.

...

"Qin Fei, is everything you said true?"

Watching Kenji Noguchi calibrate the digital transport device, Masaru leaned in and whispered in Qin Fei’s ear.

"Yes, it is."

"Ikuto Noguchi is really still alive?"

Qin Fei nodded, then, as if something occurred to him, he gave a knowing smile.

"What is it?" Masaru looked at Qin Fei's strange expression, puzzled.

"Actually, you've already had an encounter with Ikuto..."

"How so?"

"Do you remember Falcomon?"

Masaru blinked, then nodded with indignation. "That guy broke into Chika’s room and scared her. Next time I see him, I'll show him what's coming..."

"Falcomon is Ikuto’s Digimon partner... and we actually fought while we were in the Digital World."

"???"

Hearing of Qin Fei's experience, not only Masaru, but everyone else looked on in astonishment.

"Then... what about what you said earlier, about finding a way back from the Digital World? Why did you..."

This time it was Thoma who spoke up, confused as to why Qin Fei had relied on DATS to return to the human world last time.

"There is a Digital Gate inside Mercurymon’s palace that leads back to the human world, but to pass through it, one must first face Mercurymon."

"No wonder..." Everyone realized in a flash.

"We can discuss the details once we arrive in the Digital World..." Seeing that everyone still looked curious and wanted to ask more, Qin Fei had to cut them off.

"Click, clack, crackle..."

Kenji Noguchi’s fingers flew across the controls. Clearly, he hadn't forgotten the operation procedures for the device. Dense, visible arcs of electricity gathered from the surroundings and were channeled into the apparatus, causing the interface to emit a faint glow.

"I'm counting on you, Professor Noguchi..."

Kenji Noguchi nodded and said, "Please, trust me."

Looking at the dusty device, he pressed the activation button with a serious expression.

"Bzzzt~"

"No problem, the Digital Gate can be opened..." Although drenched in sweat, Professor Noguchi stated with conviction, as if to bolster his own resolve. "It will open..."

"..."

Finally, living up to everyone’s expectations, a dark green circular passage slowly formed on the device. It was the Digital Gate leading to the Digital World.

"It's open... success... it's a success!"

Everyone breathed a sigh of relief.

"Thank you for your hard work..."

Satsuma nodded gratefully to Professor Noguchi, then looked at Qin Fei and the others. "Although only you are going this time, I will be here to provide support."

"Understood. Once we defeat Mercurymon, we will definitely return."

After grabbing their respective specialized suitcases, Masaru, Yoshino, Thoma, Qin Fei, and Lolo stepped into the Digital Gate one by one. Outside, Satsuma began coordinating with Megumi and Miki to set up equipment near the transport device.

...

"Ah, we're finally here..."

After passing through a long digital tunnel, the group, feeling dizzy from the transit, finally landed in a forest.

"Is this the Digital World? Rocks are actually floating in the sky, and the sky itself is..."

Seeing the scenery of the Digital World for the first time, Yoshino looked around with wide-eyed wonder.

"Heh, surprised, right?" Masaru put on the air of a veteran, looking at Yoshino with a pretentious expression, as if to say, "Ask me if you have any questions."

"You seem awfully proud of yourself," Yoshino remarked with a scornful glance.

"Well, I have been here twice, so ask away if you need anything."

However, Thoma and Yoshino ignored Masaru completely, turning their gazes instead toward Qin Fei, asking earnestly, "Can you now give us a detailed explanation of the situation in the Digital World as you know it?"

Qin Fei nodded, glanced at the unfamiliar location—distinct from where they had arrived in the anime—and sat down.