Chapter 4: For Everyone’s Sake

“First, there’s something I want to show you, Glenn. Could I trouble you to come with me for a bit?”

The moment Jatice reunites with Glenn, he starts with that.

Naturally, Glenn has no obligation or reason to comply with such a request, but—

“I’m sorry, Sensei… Please, just go along with what he’s asking for now… Fejite is truly facing an unprecedented crisis right now…”

When Rumia says that, he has no choice.

Besides, the talk of Fejite facing an unprecedented crisis does pique his interest.

“Tch…”

Reluctantly, Glenn decides to follow Jatice’s lead.

Jatice walks through the labyrinthine sewer passages sprawling beneath Fejite’s southern district. Glenn and Rumia quietly follow behind.

And during their journey—

“…White Cat fought Jin Ganis…!?”

Hearing Sistine’s situation from Jatice, Glenn’s eyes widen in shock.

“And… she won!? Seriously…!?”

“Yeah, seriously.”

Jatice gazes at Glenn’s reaction, seemingly amused.

“Her growth rate is truly remarkable… You, her mentor, must be proud, right?”

Indeed, for a mere student, a fledgling mage, to defeat a top-tier rogue magician… it’s an astonishing feat that can only inspire awe, but—

“Shut up! More importantly, is White Cat safe…!?”

“Hahaha, relax, Glenn… She’s fine.”

To Glenn’s pressing question, Jatice, walking ahead, shrugs and responds.

“After winning the battle, she was taken into protective custody by Eve Ignite. The reason she’s not responding to communications is because she’s exhausted from the fight and passed out. Her life’s not in danger. If you want, you can use far-seeing magic to check the infirmary on the fourth floor of the northern wing of the Fejite Patrol Agency. She’s been taken there.”

(Eve… saved White Cat…?)

That fact, in itself, surprises Glenn, but—more than that.

“So, in other words… for your own damn goals… you dragged not just me and Rumia, but even White Cat into this…!?”

“Yeah, exactly.”

Even as Glenn’s icy fury washes over him, Jatice answers without a hint of remorse.

“Reik Fohenheim, Jin Ganis… Slipping past those two to achieve my goal was no easy task, you know… So I had you two take care of them. Man, you really saved me. I can’t thank you two enough…”

“Jatice…!?”

Glenn’s eyes blaze with rage and murderous intent.

“What’s that? You’re that pissed about me involving Sistine?”

“Damn right I am! Do I need to beat it into you!?”

“Haa… She’s the precious partner of you, the only magician I respect… I was ready to step in if things went south, you know? You’re familiar with my Tulpa series, [Her Messenger], right? If I used those…”

“That’s not the point! That’s not what I’m talking about!”

“…Hahaha, you’re a weird one… Do you care about her that much? Isn’t she just a stand-in for Sera to you?”

“Jatice.”

At Glenn’s voice, now chillingly different, Jatice falls silent.

“Say one more word… and I don’t care what happens to Fejite… Right here, right now… I’ll kill you.”

“…My apologies. That was out of line.”

Without a trace of fear, Jatice adjusts his hat lower over his eyes and responds sincerely.

“I shouldn’t have done anything to tarnish your honor, hers, or Sera’s… I sincerely apologize. I’m sorry.”

“…Tch.”

In the first place, who was it that killed Sera?

The hatred and murderous intent Glenn desperately struggles to suppress seethe and leak out. But for now, as Rumia said, figuring out what’s happening in Fejite and uncovering the truth takes priority.

Struggling to rein in his surging emotions, Glenn follows Jatice.

(But Eve, that woman, she’s in Fejite…? And Reik, who’s supposed to be dead, and Jin… Damn it, what the hell is going on beneath the surface in Fejite…?)

Soon after, the group emerges from the sewers to the surface.

What appears before them is an old, dilapidated trading hall on the outskirts of the southern district. Abandoned due to urban rezoning, its isolated location leaves it devoid of any human presence.

“…Hey.”

As Jatice heads toward the main entrance of the trading hall without hesitation, Glenn calls out to him.

“Heh… As expected, you’re sharp when it comes to the smell of blood… Your old instincts are coming back, aren’t they?”

Jatice responds with a chilling smile, answering over his shoulder.

“Mind your own business, you bastard.”

Unfazed by Glenn’s insult, Jatice reaches the entrance—and opens the door.

Instantly, a thick, sour stench, like rusted iron, floods out.

“…Don’t look.”

Glenn instinctively moves to shield Rumia behind him, but…

“It’s okay.”

With resolute courage, Rumia steps up to stand beside Glenn.

As expected—the inside of the trading hall is a horrific sight.

Corpses, corpses, corpses, a mountain of corpses. The bodies of what appear to be ordinary citizens are scattered across the dark entrance hall.

All of them, without exception, have their vital points deeply slashed by sharp blades—dead.

The blood hasn’t even dried yet. This slaughter happened just moments ago.

“…Your doing?”

“Since I couldn’t exactly bring Rumia straight to a stronghold with this many enemies, I did a little cleaning while you guys were keeping Reik and the others occupied.”

To Glenn’s words, seething with rage, Jatice responds proudly.

“Oh, don’t get the wrong idea. These were all members of the Researchers of Heavenly Wisdom… Humans who deserved to die. Well, there might’ve been a few unrelated ones mixed in… but in the face of great ‘Justice,’ they’re just necessary expenses. God will surely keep their souls by His side…”

“…!”

At Jatice’s utterly cold and self-serving words, Rumia looks down with a pained expression.

“Well, whatever… The real issue is the basement.”

Following Jatice, Glenn and the others proceed deeper into the trading hall.

The interior is littered with corpses everywhere. Among them are even children, barely old enough to understand the world.

The Researchers of Heavenly Wisdom, whom Jatice despises like venomous snakes… They were likely killed just for the possibility of being connected to them.

(The Researchers of Heavenly Wisdom… Sure, they’re irredeemable scum… They deserve to die… I can’t deny that, given the atrocities they’ve committed… And I’m hardly in a position to preach about morality…)

Even so.

(Jatice… Your methods are the one thing I absolutely can’t stand… One day, I’ll take you down… Wash your neck and wait.)

Perhaps sensing Glenn’s scorching gaze and hostility, capable of burning a man alive.

Jatice, for a fleeting moment, flashes a serpentine grin…

“…Here we are.”

He moves a floorboard hidden beneath a carpet, revealing a staircase leading underground.

“This place was originally concealed with magical wards… It took some effort to find.”

“Shut up. Just go.”

Kicking Jatice forward, Glenn and the others descend the stairs with Jatice in the lead.

Eventually, the staircase ends, and a door appears before them… Pushing it open.

Beyond it lies a small, stark stone chamber.

The room is completely empty, save for one thing…

“…What’s this?”

On the floor, a massive magic circle array is inscribed.

It’s clearly a ritual-class spell, an incredibly complex and advanced formula. Spiritual pathways extend from the array, running across the floor and connecting to the four walls, seemingly leading outside the trading hall.

As Glenn stands puzzled before the mysterious array…

“Well, just watch. I’m going to dispel it now.”

“Dispel? Right now? Idiot, dispelling a complex, massive formula like this would take days—”

“Let’s begin, Rumia… It’s your turn.”

“…Yes.”

Rumia steps forward with a hollow expression, standing close to Jatice.

“H-Hey… What the hell are you…?”

Then.

Before Glenn’s eyes, Rumia’s body is suddenly enveloped in a dazzling golden light.

Rumia has fully activated her ability—[Sympathetic Amplifier].

And Rumia places her hand, cloaked in that golden light, on Jatice’s back.

The golden light flows from her hand into Jatice’s body—

“《End, Heavenly Chains・—》”

As Jatice begins chanting the spell, a vast amount of pseudo-etheric particle powder drifts from his gloves.

Reflecting and materializing Jatice’s imagination, it takes form.

Countless “Left Hands of Women,” each gripping a “Golden Sword,” manifest into the world.

“《—・The Foundation of Silence・—》”

The “Left Hands” dart freely across the magic array…

Scritch-scratch-scratch—! They carve countless runes onto the array with their swords.

And then—

“《—・The Yoke of Reason Shall Be Released Here》!”

As Jatice completes the final incantation, the Black Magic Ritual [Erase] activates.

The runes carved on the array glow white-hot, blindingly bright—

With a sound like shattering glass, the magic array is dispelled, its power extinguished.

(…Incredible.)

Glenn watches the scene, cold sweat dripping down his face.

Jatice’s dispelling skill is impressive, but more than that, it’s Rumia’s [Sympathetic Amplifier].

(To make it possible to dispel such a massive ritual array in such a short time—)

The unfathomable depth of Rumia’s ability can only inspire dread.

“Thanks, Rumia. As expected, a ritual spell of this scale would’ve been impossible to dispel before sunset without borrowing your power… Asking for your help was the right call.”

Having successfully completed the dispelling ritual, Jatice turns to Rumia with a chilling smile, but…

“…”

Rumia remains silent, no longer even meeting his gaze.

“Hey, Jatice. Enough already, explain yourself.”

Without bothering to hide his irritation, Glenn presses Jatice.

“Dispelling? Before sunset? …What the hell does that mean?”

Jatice, as if testing or toying with him, says to Glenn:

“Yare yare… Take a closer look at that array… A man as knowledgeable as you should be able to figure it out… What’s happening in Fejite right now.”

Though inwardly clicking his tongue at Jatice’s condescending attitude.

Glenn kneels beside the array, tracing the runes and formulas of the dispelled circle.

Gradually… as Glenn begins to grasp the true nature of the array…

“…No way…!?”

Feeling the blood drain from his body, Glenn mutters hoarsely.

“This is… [Project: Flame of Megiddo]… [Megiddo’s Flame]…!?”

Ignoring Glenn’s shock.

Jatice laughs, darkly and coldly—

 

Her body—felt heavy.

Her veins pulsed dully, heavily and painfully, as if filled with poison and lead.

It was as if her body was sinking endlessly into the bottom of an abyssal mire…

The exhaustion, the weight, the suffering… she no longer had the strength to resist.

But—

(I have to… get up… I have to… open my eyes…)

Somewhere deep in her heart, a single fragment of light remained.

It was—conviction, courage, friendship, and perhaps… love.

(I have to… save Sensei… I have to… protect Rumia…)

Clinging to that faint light, the girl struggles desperately to crawl out of the mire of her consciousness, urging her heart forward.

(Sensei… he’s the kind of person who recklessly throws himself into danger for others, without regard for himself… Rumia… she’s the kind of person who neglects herself for the sake of others… They’re both so different from me, living in worlds so far apart…!)

She struggles… struggles… aiming endlessly for the surface above, desperately struggling…

(That’s why I have to be strong… I have to be there for them… I have to…!)

And then…

(I, an ordinary person living in an ordinary world… I have to protect those two, who live in such different worlds…!)

The moment Sistine’s outstretched hand reaches the surface—

(I—!)

Everything blazes white—

 

“…”

The first thing Sistine sees as she faintly opens her eyes is a pure white ceiling.

Sunlight tinged with the hues of dusk streams through the window, illuminating the white room.

“…Where… am I…?”

It seems she’s lying in a white bed.

She tries to move, to sit up, but her body is heavy, sluggish and utterly unresponsive.

With her mind clear, her uncooperative body feels all the more frustrating.

“…You’re awake, I see.”

As Sistine stirs for a while, a woman’s voice suddenly reaches her.

Moving only her head, she looks toward the source of the voice.

There, in the corner of the room, a woman sits in a chair, arms crossed, legs elegantly folded.

She was breathtakingly beautiful, a rare sight indeed.

She appeared a few years older than Sistine… perhaps around twenty.

What stood out most was her vivid ruby-red hair, burning brightly, and her sharp, intellectually gleaming violet eyes. Those piercing eyes, fixed on Sistine, were mature, composed—and radiated an unshakable confidence.

She embodied the “strong, beautiful woman” Sistine admired.

“Um… You’re the one who saved me, right…?”

“This is the infirmary in the northern wing of the Fejite Patrol Agency.”

Ignoring Sistine’s words, the woman speaks curtly, businesslike.

“Your wounds have been healed so they won’t leave scars, but you’re on the verge of mana deficiency… Frankly, you’re in no condition to move.”

“B-But… I… have to help Sensei…”

“Glenn will be fine. He’s managed to get through it. If he died in a mess like that, he’d have been in the ground long ago. His stubborn, filthy will to survive is his specialty.”

Suddenly, the red-haired woman seems faintly irritated.

“Um…? Excuse me… Do you know Glenn-sensei?”

“Who knows? Anyway, with my full authority, I’ve forbidden the patrol agency from unnecessary contact with you for the time being. Rest easy.”

With that one-sided declaration, the woman stands.

Flipping her coat dramatically, she turns her back on Sistine and strides toward the door—

 

(…What am I even doing…? So stupid…)

The woman who turned her back on Sistine—Eve Ignite—was, at that moment, utterly exasperated with herself for the monumental blunder she’d committed.

Eve’s top priority mission was to secure or eliminate Jatice Lowfan.

Jatice had betrayed the Special Missions Annex, tarnishing the honor of the Ignite family, its leaders. The Ignite family had to settle the score, no matter what.

Of course, stopping the terrifying conspiracy of the Researchers of Heavenly Wisdom unfolding behind Fejite’s scenes was also on her radar… but it was secondary.

Killing Jatice was the mission Eve’s father had strictly ordered her to fulfill.

Thus, no matter how many guards or civilians became casualties, they were all necessary expenses.

All for the honor and glory of the Ignite family.

To that end, she used Albert, Bernard, and Christoph as decoys to stall the enemy forces blocking the Imperial Court Mage Corps’ intervention, allowing her to reach Fejite alone.

Using the Ignite family’s secret art, [Flame’s Eye], she thoroughly monitored areas around Glenn where Jatice was likely to appear.

Everything was prepared; all that remained was to wait for the inevitable moment when Jatice and Glenn made contact… Then, she would anticipate Jatice’s actions and set the trap—[Seventh Garden].

The Ignite family’s signature strategy, using information and secret familial spells—[Ambush Inferno].

For generations, the Ignite family had achieved immense victories with this [Ambush Inferno].

And this time, too, the [Ambush Inferno] was going perfectly… until she saved this girl who looked so much like Sera.

(I knew… There’s no way this girl could be Sera…)

For a fleeting moment, she saw Sera in her, but it was obvious at a glance.

She’d seen her in a report’s portrait. This girl was Sistine Fibel.

She had absolutely nothing to do with Sera—a complete stranger.

(But… at that moment…)

Glancing at the black stone tablet in her hand… she sighs.

While using [Flame’s Eye], an overwhelming amount of information from all of Fejite’s guards floods into Eve.

For that reason, Eve had to pour all her focus into processing that information.

Yet—at that moment, Eve had acted on her own to save Sistine.

During that time, she couldn’t handle the flood of information and let it slip through. She completely lost track of Glenn’s movements. This made it impossible to stay ahead of Jatice’s actions.

Even someone as capable as Eve couldn’t catch the ever-elusive Jatice without setting a trap in advance.

And once something was completely lost, recapturing it without any clues in a city as vast as Fejite, which was like an endless ocean, was far too daunting.

(…What a colossal failure.)

Eve let out a sigh. The thought of the scolding and punishment she’d face from her ruthless father for this disgraceful blunder made her tremble uncontrollably.

(Am I an idiot!? And to think this mistake… was to save a girl who resembles Sera, the one I abandoned long ago…! What’s the point now…!? That girl I left behind… she’ll never forgive me…! She’s never coming back…!)

It was infuriating. Frustrating. Painful.

Why did everything she did go so wrong? Was she truly incompetent?

Why couldn’t she be like her sister—capable and flawless?

(No… not yet…! It’s not over…!)

Just as Eve, gripped by despair, was about to leave the infirmary… that’s when it happened.

“Wait… You’re from the Imperial Court Mage Corps’ Special Missions Annex, aren’t you?”

Hearing Sistine’s murmur behind her, Eve paused mid-step.

In that moment, what whim overcame her? Normally, she’d scoff dismissively and walk away without a second thought…

“…Why would you think that?”

For some reason… Eve turned back to Sistine and responded.

“W-Well, my teacher… Glenn-sensei, he used to be an operative in the Special Missions Annex. Because of that, I’ve met some people from the Annex… and they all wore uniforms like yours…”

“Hmm? Pretty sharp intuition, Sistine Fibel.”

“Y-You really do know me, don’t you?”

“More or less. I’m Eve Ignite, head of the Imperial Court Mage Corps’ Special Missions Annex, Operative Number 1,《The Magician》… That’s right, your teacher, Glenn Radars, was once under my command.”

“R-Really…? Wow… the head of the Special Missions Annex…”

Then, Sistine fixed her gaze directly on Eve.

Caught off guard by the almost admiring look in her eyes, Eve faltered slightly.

“…W-What’s that look for, all of a sudden…? Is there something on my face?”

“Oh, no, I’m sorry for staring so rudely…”

Sistine gave a shy smile, a touch embarrassed.

“I just… thought you’re really amazing, that’s all.”

“…Amazing? Me? …Why?”

A faint prick of irritation stung Eve’s heart… but she kept it hidden.

“I mean, you’re so young… probably just a bit older than me… and yet you’re the head of the Special Missions Annex, right?”

“…”

“Like I said earlier, I’ve met people from the Annex through a certain incident… Albert-san, Bernard-san, Christoph-san… and even Glenn-sensei and Re=L… They’re all incredible mages, far beyond someone like me…”

“…”

“To lead people like that… you must be an extraordinary mage yourself, right, Eve-san? And as a woman… I really admire you…”

Sistine’s pure, unfiltered respect—

 

—Eve, you’re really an amazing mage, aren’t you? Hehe, I’m kinda jealous.

 

For a fleeting moment, a familiar face overlapped with Sistine’s—

“Hmph… Is that all you wanted to say?”

Eve let out a dismissive scoff, her expression complex as she turned away.

“Sorry, but I’m busy. I don’t have time to waste on you.”

“I-I’m sorry for interrupting your work…”

Sistine hurriedly apologized, shrinking back.

“But… just one last thing, Eve-san… Please, take this…”

She pulled a halved gemstone from her pocket and offered it to Eve.

“…What’s that?”

“It’s… a direct communication device linked to Glenn-sensei… I’ve run out of mana right now, so I can’t activate it or hear his voice…”

Silently, Eve accepted it.

“Right now… something big is happening in Fejite, isn’t it? You and Glenn-sensei are involved in it, aren’t you?”

“Probably. I can’t share details due to confidentiality, but…”

“Then… please! Please help Sensei!”

Sistine bowed deeply, her voice a desperate cry.

“That man… he’s always so reckless…! Whenever it’s about saving someone, he never thinks of himself and does something crazy…! Someone needs to be by his side to watch over him… but I can’t do that anymore…!”

She looked up at Eve with pleading eyes—

“…So please, Eve-san! I’m begging you… Save Sensei…!”

For a moment.

Eve gazed silently at Sistine, who looked up at her with desperate intensity… then spoke.

“…Hmph, I see. You’re in love with Glenn, aren’t you?”

She didn’t mean it seriously.

Sistine’s fervor just struck her as excessive, so she tossed out a teasing jab, as she often did.

But—

“Huh?”

Suddenly, Sistine’s eyes widened, and she froze.

Then, her face flushed crimson in an instant—

“W-W-W-W-W-W-WHAAAAAT!?”

Her sudden scream left Eve blinking in shock.

“N-N-N-No way!? M-M-M-Me, l-l-l-liking S-S-Sensei!? T-That’s impossible, no way, absolutely not, he’s not my type at all, not even close, and besides, he’s not my type, and—!”

“…Quiet down. Calm yourself.”

Eve pressed a hand to her temple, shooting Sistine a cold, half-lidded glance.

Something about this girl, Sistine, threw her off balance.

It felt like dealing with Sera all over again.

Sure, their surface personalities differed… but deep down, at their core, they were strikingly similar.

For a while, Sistine squirmed in front of Eve’s exasperated gaze, clutching her head and muttering, “No way,” “Impossible,” “Lies,” and “Eek,” in a flustered panic…

“U-Um… Eve-san… Do I… really like Sensei…?”

She looked at Eve with the wide, pleading eyes of a kitten seeking its owner.

“…Don’t ask me. It’s your feelings, isn’t it?”

“Ugh…”

“Well, take your time to figure it out. Personally, I wouldn’t recommend that tactless blockhead at all. Getting involved with him will only lead to a lifetime of trouble.”

With a somewhat grumpy tone, Eve turned her back on Sistine once more.

“Anyway, leave this to me. I’ll take care of Glenn. I’m keeping this.”

“Eh? Oh, y-yes…”

Sistine, her face still flushed as if feverish, nodded hurriedly.

“Please… take care of Sensei…”

She bowed deeply once again.

“…Leave it to me.”

With those final words,

Eve left the infirmary.

 

(…Yes!)

The moment she stepped out of the infirmary, a cold, triumphant smile spread across Eve’s face.

(I thought it was over…! But with this… I can outmaneuver Glenn and Jatice…! I can win…!)

Acquiring the direct communication device linked to Glenn was an unexpected stroke of luck.

(No, that’s not it! I saved her because I planned for this! It was obvious she’d have some way to contact Glenn… I saved her to secure it…! Not because of some foolish sentiment!)

She convinced herself of this, forcing it to be her truth.

(I can do this… With this, I can… Heh, hehehe…! I’ll win in the end… I’ll have the last laugh…! All victory belongs to the Ignite family…!)

Sistine’s request, her feelings—none of it mattered to her.

Betrayal came naturally, without hesitation or guilt. She had no obligation or loyalty to honor Sistine’s plea.

Everything was for the Ignite family’s triumph.

That’s how it had always been, and there was no reason to change now—

 

—Please… take care of Sensei…

 

“What’s the point now…!?”

To banish Sistine’s lingering smile from her mind, Eve slammed her head against the wall.

“That’s why you’ll never be like your sister…! No matter how much time passes, Father, the family… no one will ever acknowledge a failure like you…!”

She roughly wiped the blood trickling down her forehead, gritting her teeth as if swallowing something bitter.

Eve stormed down the corridor of the patrol headquarters with swift, heavy steps.

 

“Now, Glenn. Let me explain how this all began…”

In the aforementioned basement, Jatice spread his arms theatrically, prefacing his explanation.

“Where to start… Right, Glenn. Are you aware that the Researchers of Heavenly Wisdom are divided into two factions?”

“Yeah, I know.”

Glenn reluctantly decided to humor Jatice’s explanation.

After all, with something like [Project: Flame of Megiddo] in motion in Fejite, accurate information was essential.

“For reasons completely unknown, the Researchers of Heavenly Wisdom are currently split into two factions over their approach to Rumia, locked in conflict. The [Status Quo Faction] has, for some reason, backed off from Rumia, while the [Radical Faction] still aims to ‘kill’ her… Correct?”

“Exactly… But recently, that situation has shifted.”

“Shifted?”

“Yes. You’re aware, aren’t you? The [Radical Faction] has been moving aggressively to ‘kill’ Rumia…”

Glenn recalled incidents from the Magic Tournament and the social ball.

“But they overplayed their hand. Zaid, the [Demon’s Right Hand], a core member of the ‘Radical Faction,’ was captured, and a significant amount of their information was leaked to the government. Seizing the opportunity, the government eagerly began cracking down on the [Radical Faction] hiding within the empire… A grand sweep, if you will.”

“Come to think of it, Albert and the others have been busy lately, darting between Fejite and other parts of the empire.”

“That’s not all. The [Status Quo Faction] has always viewed the [Radical Faction] with disdain. Taking advantage of this, they’ve turned to purging the [Radical Faction] through various means—direct elimination, leaking information to the government… You name it.”

“…”

“And I, too, have been scouring the empire, hunting down the bothersome [Radical Faction] and killing them off one by one… Honestly, the idea of killing Rumia is outrageous… If she dies, how could I, the embodiment of absolute justice, claim the [Akashic Records]…?”

“…[Akashic Records]? What’s that supposed to mean?”

“Well, anyway, due to various factors, the [Radical Faction] has been driven into a corner… That’s the gist of it. Understood?”

Jatice completely ignored Glenn’s question, pressing forward with his explanation.

“Tch…”

From the mocking glint in Jatice’s eyes, it was clear he had no intention of revealing the connection between Rumia and the [Akashic Records] here. Glenn had no choice but to let it go.

“Frankly, the [Radical Faction] is on its last legs… Left alone, they’ll certainly perish… They’ve been weakened that much. But even so, they’re determined to kill Rumia… They genuinely, wholeheartedly believe it’s for the ‘Grandmaster.’”

—The Grandmaster.

The enigmatic figure at the pinnacle of the Researchers of Heavenly Wisdom.

A charismatic leader who commands absolute loyalty from the organization’s members, regardless of faction.

In the empire, their presence is akin to that of Her Majesty the Queen.

“So, Glenn. What would you do? If you were part of the [Radical Faction]… Your group is doomed, with no way out… But for the sake of the one you revere, you must kill Rumia at all costs… What would you do? What kind of desperate measures would a cornered, reckless group come up with?”

As he spoke, Jatice tapped the magic circle at his feet with his heel.

Glenn’s gaze fell to the arcane array beneath Jatice’s feet.

[Project: Flame of Megiddo]—a series of ritual magic procedures to activate a spell known as [Megiddo’s Flame], and this was part of it.

“No way…? It can’t be…”

A ludicrous idea struck Glenn, sending cold sweat coursing through his body.

“You’re kidding… That’s… too much…!”

“[Megiddo’s Flame]—officially named Alchemy [Atomic Flare]—is a forbidden alchemical spell that harnesses the immense destructive energy from mass defect during atomic collapse, annihilating everything. It’s far beyond A-class military assault spells… Truly an S-class catastrophe spell. Once activated, Fejite would turn to ash in an instant.”

“…!?”

“It was supposed to be an incomplete project, frozen in development… So where did they get the technology? To think they’d resort to something like [Megiddo’s Flame]… Heh, heh, heh… Whoever supplied it must be a truly sinister organization…”

“Forget the source! Are you saying the [Radical Faction] plans to blow Fejite to smithereens just to kill Rumia!? With the ultimate act of suicidal terrorism!?”

To Glenn’s accusation, Jatice gave a chilling smile, his eyes burning with a dark, resentful fury, and said,

“Naturally—as the agent of justice, I won’t allow it.”

He continued his explanation.

“Glenn, let me explain [Project: Flame of Megiddo]. Activating [Megiddo’s Flame] currently requires a ley line rich with mana, a [Mana Boost Supplier] and a [Ignition Plug]—two types of magical arrays.”

“A sacred site with a ley line abundant in mana… You mean Fejite, don’t you?”

“Exactly. The ‘Mana Boost Supplier’ connects directly to the ley line’s spiritual node, exciting the external mana flowing through it to a critical point… Then, through the ley lines spread across the land, it channels that ‘critical mana’ to the ‘Ignition Plug.’”

“So… that’s it, huh.”

Glenn’s eyes fell to the magical array at Jatice’s feet.

“Yes… These ‘Mana Boost Suppliers’ were set up in the Central, West, and South Districts, already operating at full capacity. Using Rumia’s [Sympathetic Amplifier], I dispelled all three… While you were drawing the enemy’s attention, Glenn.”

“Tch…”

Glenn clicked his tongue, frustration and resentment simmering. It was beyond infuriating.

By kidnapping Rumia, Jatice had lured Glenn onto this stage, focusing the enemy’s attention on him. Meanwhile, Jatice leisurely carried out his plan—using Rumia’s power.

Jatice Lowfan. As expected of the monster who once single-handedly challenged the imperial government, nearly achieving total victory until Glenn defeated him.

(The devilish strategy behind this… It’s got to be his mysterious Original Magic, isn’t it…)

Jatice’s knack for ‘near-prescient behavioral prediction’—what was its true nature?

(And… A man who once said ‘this country deserves to fall’—why is he now playing the hero to save Fejite? Something doesn’t add up…)

Ignoring Glenn’s suspicions, Jatice continued.

“I uncovered their plan and worked tirelessly to stop it… But I was too slow. I dispelled the three ‘Mana Boost Suppliers,’ but a significant amount of ‘critical mana’ has already been sent through the ley lines to the [Ignition Plug]… At this rate, [Megiddo’s Flame] will activate… Fejite’s destruction is inevitable… Despite my efforts.”

“Hmph… This is the kind of case the entire Imperial Court Mage Corps should be handling… I’ll give you credit for getting this far on your own.”

Glenn’s eyes narrowed suspiciously as he pressed Jatice.

“…So? Where’s the final piece—the [Ignition Plug]—set up in Fejite? If we dispel that, we can stop [Megiddo’s Flame] from activating… Right?”

“Yes. That would be—the Alzano Imperial Magic Academy.”

“—!?”

Jatice’s words made Glenn and Rumia catch their breath.

“…Now, the [Ignition Plug] secretly placed in the academy has already completed its [Pre-Boot] phase… All that’s left is the [Semi-Boot]… and the [Final Boot]. By my calculations, that moment will come at sunset today—when Fejite will fall.”

“…!?”

“Glenn… For this moment alone, our interests align… How about we form a temporary alliance? Shall we save Fejite together?”

Jatice spoke with the demeanor of a righteous hero.

But his eyes held an unfathomable darkness—

 

—Meanwhile.

At the Alzano Imperial Magic Academy, in the classroom of Class 2, Year 2.

“…Hey, how long do we have to stay like this?”

“No idea…”

Kash’s question was met with a curt reply from Gibul, who adjusted his glasses.

The students, stuck in the same situation since morning, were growing increasingly restless.

“Damn… It sounds like something big went down in the city… But things are shifting so fast, our far-seeing magic can’t keep up…”

“…If only we knew what was happening…”

As the students grew anxious—it happened.

A violent tremor shook the academy grounds, rattling the air and trembling the school building.

At the same time, a shattering sound, like glass breaking, echoed across the campus—

“What’s going on!?”

“What was that!?”

The reaction wasn’t limited to Class 2. Students across the academy, already on edge with unspoken unease, began to panic, and the entire campus erupted into chaos.

“…No… It can’t be…!?”

Only Gibul, who correctly grasped the truth of the situation, stood frozen, sweating profusely.

“What happened, Gibul!?”

To Wendy’s pale-faced question, Gibul responded, disbelief in his voice.

“…The barrier protecting this academy… It’s been destroyed.”

“What?”

“Not bypassed or neutralized through some trick or interference. It was forcibly, brutally destroyed…! No way… No human could do that…!”

Gibul’s rare panic sent a wave of unease through the students… And then.

“W-Who’s that!?”

Rodd, gazing out the classroom window, let out a shrill, bewildered cry… and the students, drawn by his outburst, rushed to the windows in unison.

There, in the center of the academy’s courtyard, stood an odd man, unnoticed until now.

He wore a peculiar outfit blending white armor and a robe, holding a spear in his right hand and a large white shield emblazoned with a cross in his left. He exuded an anachronistic aura, as if he belonged to a bygone era.

The sight of this archaic figure filled every student with an overwhelming sense of dread.

“Well now… it’s about to begin…”

The man in the courtyard—Lazare—glanced at the academy’s clock tower.

Click. The long hand of the clock moved… pointing precisely to four-ten.

Coincidentally, the exact moment the academy’s day concluded.

The resounding chime of the dismissal bell echoed through the grounds, reverberating—

And at that very moment.

Suddenly, centered on Lazare in the courtyard, frenzied flames spiraled upward in a vortex.

They spread like a tsunami across every corner of the academy grounds—the trailing lines of fire racing freely in all directions, weaving an enormous magical array within the premises.

Red, so vividly red, the magical array began to glow with a brilliant crimson light.

The academy, stained in scarlet. The sky, dyed in crimson.

A scene staged without warning, as if heralding the end of the world—

“W-w-what!? What’s going on!?”

“What in the world is happening—!?”

The sudden anomaly at the academy sent the students into a frenzied panic.

And then—

“Hmm… as planned, the ‘Pre-Boot’ has transitioned to the [Semi-Boot]. Three hours until sunset… now, we await only the [Final Boot]…”

At the heart of the courtyard—standing like a king at the center of the massive magical array—Lazare muttered to no one in particular when—

“You scoundrel! What are you doing in this sacred place of learning!?”

“As expected, we can’t overlook this, whoever you are…”

Led by Halley and Baron Zest, the academy’s teachers and professors swarmed into the courtyard, frantic and flustered.

“Do you even understand what that magic you’ve just activated is!?”

“…Of course. This is [Megiddo’s Flame]—a spell that brings equal destruction and peace to all.”

To Halley’s question, the man—Lazare—replied nonchalantly.

“Impossible…! How did you manage to set up such an elaborate ritual magic without us noticing—!?”

“No need to feel ashamed. It was already laid out here from the start.”

“What… did you say…!?”

Before the stunned Halley and others, Lazare continued matter-of-factly.

“Now, esteemed mages gathered at this pinnacle of learning… are you familiar with the founder of this academy… Alicia III?”

“Of course! Four hundred years ago, Her Majesty Queen Alicia III established this academy for the empire’s future, which is why we dedicate ourselves daily to the study of magic—”

“It was that very Alicia III who initiated the development of [Megiddo’s Flame]—[Project: Flame of Megiddo]—to erase Fejite entirely from the map.”

“…What?”

Lazare’s unexpected words left the professors and instructors speechless.

“Though, due to the limitations of magical technology at that time, ‘Project: Flame of Megiddo’ was abandoned… but the ‘Ignition Plug’ laid here remained. I merely made use of it…”

“Nonsense… that can’t be… a noble member of the royal family would never do such a thing…!?”

Such lies were utterly unbelievable, but…

‘In the distant future, a demon incarnate born from the holy king’s blood shall bring calamity to the nation.’

Four hundred years ago, Queen Alicia III of the Alzano Empire, on her deathbed from an unknown illness, was said to have left such a prophecy—an urban legend of sorts. In her final years, she was consumed by delusions of ‘some unimaginable threat descending from the skies,’ reportedly driven to madness…

Alicia III, the brilliant founder of the Alzano Imperial Magic Academy, was a figure shrouded in ominous rumors and ill repute.

“Tch…! That’s irrelevant right now!”

“We can’t let this magical array activate! You’re under arrest!”

Led by Halley and Baron Zest, the academy’s professors and instructors began chanting spells when—

“I won’t allow it!”

Lazare struck the ground with the butt of his spear.

The impact shook the entire academy—

A tremendous shockwave radiated outward from Lazare in concentric circles, rippling across the ground—

“““Gyaaaaaaaaaah—!?”””

Unable to react in time, the professors and instructors were blown away like leaves in a storm—

“All for the great wisdom of the heavens—for the sake of our revered Grand Master! I shall show no mercy to any who obstruct my sacred mission! Be warned!”

And so, like a guardian of the destructive magical array,

Lazare stood with overwhelming presence, reigning over all, his gaze commanding the scene.

“I am Lazare, of the Researchers of Heavenly Wisdom, Third Order《Heavens Order》!《The Steel Paladin》! I am the one who shall burn Fejite with divine fire! If you wish to oppose me—surpass me first!”

His serene declaration left the students watching from the schoolhouse windows and the instructors and professors gathered in the courtyard breathless, utterly overwhelmed—

“Tch… such power without even using magic… what kind of man is he…!?”

“Yare yare, looks like a monstrous foe has shown up…!?”

Having reflexively deployed the magical barrier of Black Magic [Force Shield] to block the earlier shockwave, Halley and Baron Zest groaned, sweating profusely.

“This is bad, Halley-kun… he called himself《The Steel Paladin》Lazare, didn’t he? His connection to the Six Heroes from two hundred years ago is completely unknown… but it seems he’s the guardian of [Megiddo’s Flame], which is, for now, just a smoldering ember…”

“Yes, exactly. Unless we deal with him, dispelling the spell is out of the question.”

Halley clicked his tongue in frustration.

“According to old texts… there’s a considerable time gap between the [Semi-Boot] and the [Final Boot] of [Megiddo’s Flame]… but we must eliminate him and dispel it before then…!”

“…Are you serious, Halley-kun?”

The baron asked Halley with an uncharacteristically grave expression.

“You heard him, didn’t you? It’s hard to believe, but he’s with the Researchers of Heavenly Wisdom… and, unbelievably, the mythical highest rank, the Third Order《Heavens Order》. Look around.”

As the baron glanced about…

There, more than half of the instructors and professors had been blown away by the earlier shockwave, lying defeated and groaning on the ground.

They were barely alive… but entirely incapacitated for combat.

“A single blow did this. The finest magicians gathered at the world’s premier academy, rendered helpless… and without even using magic.”

Baron Zest brandished his cane with a pained expression.

Then, the injured and fallen instructors floated into the air,

And vanished like phantoms—teleported a short distance.

“For now, I’ll send them to the academy’s infirmary… sorry to burden Cecilia-sensei.”

Having casually displayed extraordinary skill, Baron Zest continued without boasting.

“The point is… that man is likely a monster beyond our wildest imagination…!”

To the baron’s unusually tense warning—he who typically thought only of harassing female students with magic—

“Yes, I understand, Baron.”

Halley replied, adjusting his glasses, his eyes glinting sharply behind them—

“Retreating is probably the wisest choice. Magicians aren’t knights.”

“Then…”

“But this academy is everything to me as a magical researcher. I’m not spouting nonsense about justice or protecting students like some third-rate magic instructor. I simply can’t stand my possessions being tampered with by anyone else.”

With that, Halley braced himself toward Lazare.

“In my life, I’ve never fled or cowered from any enemy standing in my way. I’ve faced them all head-on, with honor—that’s my pride as a magician!”

“Yare yare, dying for pride, huh? Such a magician. What a troublesome personality…”

Adjusting his silk hat, Baron Zest stepped forward, brandishing his cane.

“Fine! I don’t care what happens to the male students, but I can’t tolerate those cute, adorable female students getting blown away! Let’s show him the full might of the renowned Sixth Rank!”

Spurred by the baron’s blatantly lustful declaration,

The remaining uninjured instructors and professors surged with fighting spirit, facing Lazare and beginning to chant spells…

“…Let me see the strength of this nation’s wisest.”

Observing this, Lazare calmly raised his shield.

The next moment,

Explosive flames, lightning, and ice shards surged toward Lazare, shaking the earth—

 

At the same time,

A wagon raced through the streets of Fejite.

The clatter of hooves echoed intermittently between buildings, the wheels spinning furiously.

The wagon tore through Fejite’s intricate back alleys with astonishing maneuverability, heading relentlessly north—toward the Alzano Imperial Magic Academy—

Its speed and handling far surpassed the limits of any ordinary horse-drawn carriage.

And no wonder—the horse pulling the wagon was no ordinary beast.

It was a pale blue spectral horse—a Tulpa, an artificial spirit.

“…Well, it seems things have finally begun…”

While guiding the Tulpa horse from the driver’s seat, Jatice glanced skyward to the north.

There, above the Alzano Imperial Magic Academy, the sky was stained crimson by streaks of scarlet light rising from the ground.

The prelude to ruin—the [Semi-Boot] of [Megiddo’s Flame] had finally commenced.

“Tch—! Then hurry the hell up!”

From the wagon’s bed, Glenn roared at Jatice’s leisurely murmur.

“Hahaha, don’t rush me, Glenn…”

With a deft tug, Jatice lightly pulled the reins,

“Dwoooaaah—!?”

The Tulpa wagon, without slowing, sharply turned right at a perfect angle—

“Gyaa—!?”

And immediately swerved left at another sharp angle, diving into a narrow alley.

Zigzagging like lightning across the ground, the wagon’s unnatural agility was impossible for any ordinary carriage.

Nearly thrown off the wagon, Glenn clung to the edge with one hand, letting out a pitiful scream…

“S-sensei! Your hand—!”

With Rumia’s help, he barely managed to climb back onto the wagon bed.

“…Shall I ask again—should I go faster?”

“S-safe driving, please…!”

Clenching his fists tightly, Glenn answered with clear frustration.

“Kukuku, that’s fine. Haste makes waste… an Eastern proverb. More importantly…”

“Yeah, I get it! Stay back, Rumia!”

At Jatice’s glance, Glenn stood, drawing his pistol.

At that moment,

Suddenly, countless shadowy figures darted between the surrounding buildings, lunging without hesitation at the speeding wagon—

Kicking off rooftops, scaling walls, soaring through the air like birds—their movements were utterly bizarre.

In their hands gleamed daggers, claws, scythes—a variety of deadly weapons.

The true identity of these shadows—

“Damn it! Get out of the way, you ‘Sweepers’!”

Glenn’s pistol spun, firing with precision.

Three shots felled three Sweepers charging from the right—

“—Shi!”

Whirling like a tempest, he fired twice more,

Dropping two Sweepers leaping from the left.

But simultaneously—a Sweeper vaulted from a building wall behind, landing on the wagon bed—

“Shaaaa—!”

Lunging at Glenn like a predator, brandishing dual swords.

The blades slashed in an X, their silver arcs searing the retina.

“Tch—!?”

Glenn instinctively braced to parry the strike with his pistol, but—

Whoosh—a whistling gust.

Something white streaked past the Sweeper’s back at blinding speed.

A moment later, countless shimmering white feathers fluttered down in its wake—

In an instant, the Sweeper’s back erupted in a spray of blood, tumbling backward.

There, soaring alongside the wagon, was a white angel wielding a sword.

It was Jatice’s Tulpa, [Her Messenger].

“Careless, Glenn.”

Jatice, steering the reins, glanced back at Glenn with a faint smirk—

At that moment, Glenn fired directly at Jatice’s face.

“!”

The bullet grazed Jatice’s cheek sharply—

And struck a Sweeper diving at Jatice from low ahead.

“…You too.”

“Kukkuk… I knew you’d cover me.”

It was true. Without Jatice controlling the Tulpa wagon, they’d never reach the academy before nightfall.

“…You’re one irritating bastard.”

To Jatice, who laughed with trembling shoulders, Glenn began reloading his pistol with a scowl.

“Tch… and these damn Sweepers keep coming…! How many attacks is this now!? They really don’t want us reaching the academy…!”

Scanning the scenery rushing past like a torrent, Glenn remained vigilant, finishing his reload and raising his pistol.

“Well, abandoning stealth for such a flashy approach will get you noticed.”

“Couldn’t you have found a better way to move!?”

“Yare yare, weren’t you the one in a hurry? Blame your own slow feet.”

“Shut up!”

Despite their bickering, almost like a fistfight, Glenn’s irritation contrasted sharply with Jatice’s evident glee.

And then—

“Now, Glenn… there’s a lot more coming.”

Jatice warned with a knowing smile.

Ahead, to the sides, and behind the wagon,

A far greater number of Sweepers than before emerged, leaping between buildings like dancers, charging the wagon once more.

But,

“《O Silver Ice Wolf・clad in blizzard・dash forth》—!”

Glenn’s chanted spell and gunfire,

“Dance, my beloved [Her Messengers]…!”

And Jatice’s angelic Tulpas,

Repelled the storm of attacking Sweepers, scattering them and keeping them at bay.

Temporarily allied, Glenn and Jatice fought side by side.

Their coordination—utterly lacking. Completely disjointed.

After all, there was no trace of trust between them.

Far from watching each other’s backs, every move showed a readiness to betray—to slit throats or shoot in the back if given the chance. Their actions dripped with such dark intent.

It was as if they merely used each other, mechanically brushing off threats like routine work.

Yet, despite that—

“Ooooooh—!”

“Hyahahahahahahaha—!”

—They were overwhelmingly dominant.

Thud, thud…

Sweepers fell helplessly, tumbling far behind the wagon.

Mere fodder, they were no obstacle to the duo.

Glenn and Jatice swatted the Sweepers like insects—

Dropping them, dropping them, dropping them relentlessly—

And then—

“—Last one!”

The roar of Glenn’s gunshot echoed around them.

Struck by his bullet, the final Sweeper slid off the wagon and rolled away.

“Ha…! Ha…! Looks like we made it through…!”

Breathing heavily, Glenn kept watch around them, and Rumia approached with concern.

“Are you okay, Sensei…!?”

“Show me your injuries!”

Without hesitation or fear, she began healing Glenn’s wounds with a spell… despite him having just displayed the ruthless side of a battle-hardened mage without restraint.

And even then…

“I’m so sorry… because of me, Sensei’s suffering again…”

While tending to wounds, a pained expression accompanied the apology.

“Kukuku… isn’t that great, Glenn?”

“Shut up already. Keep your mouth closed. Don’t look at me.”

Glenn brusquely dismisses Jatice, who chuckles with hidden meaning.

“Anyway… isn’t it about time to wrap this up?”

Having repelled the enemy’s fifth wave of attacks, Glenn once again separates his gun into frame and barrel, drops the empty revolving cylinder, and begins reloading.

There’s no sign of new Sweepers in the vicinity.

It seems the enemy has finally run out of forces.

“Alright. Then all that’s left is to head straight to the Academy…”

As Glenn surveys the surrounding cityscape, he notices familiar scenery beginning to blend into the flowing, torrent-like landscape.

(Good… if I’ve made it this far, the Academy is just a stone’s throw away—)

The moment Glenn thinks this—

“…Yare yare, so it comes to this, huh? Well… I ‘saw it coming’.”

Suddenly, Jatice mutters those words… and in that instant—

Boom!

The speeding carriage is abruptly engulfed in a towering pillar of flame that seems to pierce the heavens.

“What the—!? Out of nowhere!?”

Glenn, instinctively grabs Rumia and leaps off the cargo bed, landing and sliding across the pavement for several meters, the soles of his shoes scraping the ground…

“Truly, what a tasteless woman… I wanted to savor this situation a bit longer—a team-up with a worthy rival, staking everything to take her down.”

Jatice, leisurely dangling from the shoulder of [Her Messenger], which flaps its wings gracefully, slowly descends to the ground with one hand gripping it.

And then, the carriage, now literally a blazing chariot, careens past a lone woman standing in its path—crashing into a nearby building and exploding.

“…I’ve caught you. Finally… I’ve caught you,《The Justice》… fufufu…!”

Paying no heed to the carriage, the woman trembles with dark ecstasy as she approaches—

“Eve!?”

At the sudden appearance of Eve Ignite, the Special Missions Annex Chief and Executive Officer Number 1,《The Magician》, Glenn can only stare in stunned disbelief.

“Oh, it’s been a while, Glenn… You look as lively as ever.”

Eve, who had clearly been lying in wait, gives Glenn a cold sneer upon seeing him.

Sensing the brewing trouble, Glenn clicks his tongue.

“Oi, don’t get the wrong idea, Eve… I’m only working with this guy because…”

But—

“How obtuse, as always. …I already know all about it.”

Smirking smugly, Eve flips her hair and toys with a half-broken gem in her palm.

“That’s… the one I gave to White Cat…!? So, you traced it back!?”

“Exactly. That’s how I could set up this ambush, and I’ve got a good grasp of your situation. So—”

“Got it! Then let’s make this quick!”

And then—

Glenn and Eve speak in unison—

“Help me out!”

“You need to help me.”

—Uttering completely, fatally misaligned intentions.

“…Huh? Help you? What’s that supposed to mean? You know, right? We’re trying to stop [Megiddo’s Flame] that’s been unleashed on Fejite—”

“That’s irrelevant right now.”

Eve flips her hair as if it’s the most obvious thing in the world…

“Our top priority is capturing or eliminating the traitor who tarnished the Special Missions Annex’s honor—《The Justice》. The [Megiddo’s Flame] case is secondary.”

Eve says something utterly unbelievable.

“…”

For a moment, Glenn is dumbfounded…

“…Are you serious? Do you even understand the situation? Don’t tell me… even at this point, you’re obsessed with some pointless glory?”

He speaks in a voice filled with deep disappointment and exasperation.

“I’ve always despised you for abandoning Sera for your own achievements. I hate how you treat everyone around you like pawns, so cold and selfish. But… I thought you’d never cross the one line you shouldn’t.”

“O-of course, I’m not planning to just ignore [Megiddo’s Flame]!”

For some reason, Eve suddenly begins to justify herself.

…As if she’s panicking over something.

“But! Taking down《The Justice》Jatice comes first!”

“You’re still saying that…!? That’s ridiculous! Wake up!”

“This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity!”

Eve snaps at Glenn, who bristles with anger.

“I’ve finally trapped Jatice! This entire area is already under my Secret Spell [Seventh Garden]! There’s no chance I’ll lose, and he won’t escape!”

Eve declares with a confident expression, utterly certain of her unshakable victory.

“So, why not deal with [Megiddo’s Flame] after I’ve taken care of Jatice?”

But—

“Are you an idiot!? Face reality!”

Glenn, who knows Jatice better than anyone as his sworn enemy, dismisses her outright.

“A year ago, when Sera died, the best of the Special Missions Annex went all out against this bastard, and he toyed with them, taking down plenty! There were even guys stronger than him among them! Don’t you get it!? His strength isn’t just raw combat power!”

And then, Glenn declares unwaveringly:

“Right now, the only priority is [Megiddo’s Flame]! We don’t have a single second to waste on Jatice!”

“Shut up!!! You, a mere dog, defying me!?”

Suddenly, Eve flies into a rage, screaming at Glenn.

“I can do it! I’m an Ignite! I’m more exceptional than anyone! I’m stronger than Jatice! So, I’ll defeat him and handle [Megiddo’s Flame] too… It’s a simple task! It has to be!”

Glenn is left bewildered by her almost childlike hysteria…

“That’s right… If I can’t do that much… I don’t deserve to call myself an Ignite…! No one will acknowledge me…! I’d have no reason to live…!”

Something—Eve’s demeanor is clearly off.

Her refined face twists into a strained, desperate expression, her teeth grinding as she glares at Glenn through the gaps of the fingers covering her face, her gaze practically scorching…

“So, this is an order, Glenn! Help me! If we don’t take down Jatice here, we’ll lose this chance forever! Right here, right now, we defeat Jatice—!”

Her frantic, chaotic eyes, burning with madness, seem to have lost all sense of reason.

“Prioritize dealing with [Megiddo’s Flame]!? I know that, of course I know! But… even so, I…! I—!”

“Eve… you…”

Glenn realizes.

Eve, too, must have… something.

Something that, even in this situation, forces her to make a clearly wrong choice…

A reason—a darkness—that has driven the brilliant Eve to such mental desperation.

But… Glenn…

“…Give it up, Eve. I don’t understand you at all, but…”

He lets out a single sigh and says:

“Let’s prioritize [Megiddo’s Flame] for now, alright…?”

“Why don’t you get it!? If we focus on [Megiddo’s Flame] now, Jatice will definitely escape! This is our only chance…!”

“…Is glory that important to you?”

“Obviously! What other value does an Ignite like me have!?”

Eve glares at Glenn with fiery eyes.

“And you—why are you working with the man who killed Sera!? Hah! You should hate him as much as I do! So why—!?”

“…Yeah, I hate him. I want to kill this bastard right now.”

“Then isn’t that perfect!? Join me and—”

“But…”

At Eve’s accusation, Glenn closes his eyes.

Yes, he wants to kill Jatice. He wants to avenge Sera.

That’s Glenn’s true feelings. There’s no way he can stay calm in Jatice’s presence. That’s his raw, unfiltered emotion—stripped of pretense, facade, or hypocrisy.

—Even so.

Deep in Glenn’s heart, someone’s clear voice continues to resonate.

That voice powerfully purifies his heart, which threatens to sink into murky darkness.

 

—Don’t go that way, Sensei… Don’t go.

—The Sensei we know… isn’t like that.

—If you’re going to fight… fight as you always do, to save someone…

 

There was a girl—someone from an ordinary world—who said that to him, even while living in a different world.

A girl who took his hand and pulled him back to a world of sunlight.

As long as that voice remains in his heart—as long as that warmth lingers in his hand—he won’t stray from the path.

So—

“It doesn’t matter. …My students are more important to me than avenging Sera.”

“—!?”

Eve falters under Glenn’s steady gaze, filled with quiet, unwavering resolve.

“I’ll settle things with this bastard Jatice eventually. But… not now.”

Glenn declares firmly.

“…How… why…!?”

Eve looks down, trembling, her voice squeezing out the question.

“How can you… after losing so much, failing, getting hurt, and being consumed by hatred… still aim to be a ‘Mage of Justice’…!? I… I…!”

Eve tightly shuts her eyes, as if turning away from reality.

 

—You lowly, defective, worthless woman… You dare defy me, Eve?

—Your only priority is the honor of the Ignite family—nothing else.

—Abandon your foolish ideals. Or else—

 

In contrast to Glenn, a terrifying voice echoes in Eve’s heart, as if rising from the depths of hell.

It corrodes her heart, tainting it with chaotic darkness—

And then—after a brief silence.

“…This is an order, Glenn.”

Eve, suddenly regaining her composure, speaks with a strangely hollow gaze…

“Help me. We’re taking down Jatice here.”

“I refuse.”

 

Glenn, as expected, flatly rejects her.

“…Don’t make me repeat myself. This is an order. An order.”

“I said, I refuse.”

“~~~ !”

At Glenn’s response, Eve momentarily looks crushed, as if stunned.

“Please, just listen to me…! You’re my subordinate, aren’t you!?”

Her voice, no longer commanding, is closer to pleading, almost begging.

But—

“Rumia, let’s hurry to the Academy… Time’s wasting…”

Completely ignoring her pleas, Glenn urges Rumia and starts to leave.

“…Ah… um… y-yes…”

Rumia glances between Glenn and Eve with a conflicted expression… then, with a complicated look, gives Eve a small bow and follows Glenn.

“Eve. If you’re dead set on fighting Jatice here, I won’t stop you… Do what you want. Just… don’t die, alright?”

“Ah… G-Glenn… wait…”

In that moment, abandoned by Glenn, Eve’s face twists like a child forsaken by a parent.

Unable to chase after him, she stands frozen…

“Kukukuku… Ahahahahahahahaha—!”

Jatice, leisurely watching Glenn depart, lets out a booming laugh that echoes like a mountain’s reverberation.

“How pitiful! How pathetic, Executive Officer Number 1,《The Magician》Eve! Ahahahahahahahahahahaha—! Hyahahahahahahahahahahahaha—!”

Jatice’s unrestrained, gleeful laughter distorts the world around them.

“No wonder you got dumped! The ‘Mage of Justice—Glenn’ answers the cries of those seeking salvation! Saving someone who willingly dives into hell is a job for an omniscient, omnipotent ‘god’!”

“JATIIIIICE—!”

Eve glares at Jatice with a ferocity that could curse and kill everything in existence.

“…Now, out of respect for Glenn, the only Mage I truly admire in this world… I’ll warn you one last time.”

Jatice straightens himself with mock courtesy and addresses Eve:

“I’ll let you go. Tuck your tail and scamper off, weakest Mage… You’re not my enemy… Don’t interfere with my alliance with Glenn… It’s unpleasant.”

“W… what did you say…!? Me… the weakest…?”

Eve’s eyes twitch with rage at the insult.

“Oh, yes.”

Jatice says it as if it’s obvious.

“In the current Special Missions Annex… you’re the weakest. To be precise, the weakest used to be《The Chariot 》—Re=L… but recently, the rankings shifted. Now, you’re undeniably the weakest. In fact—”

With a sigh, Jatice glances at Eve with utter contempt and pity…

“…Right now, you’re probably weaker than Sistine, aren’t you?”

Eve can’t comprehend what Jatice means.

Re=L’s combat ability is undoubtedly top-tier in the Special Missions Annex, and Eve’s skills surpass even hers.

And naturally, the gap between Eve and Sistine is like heaven and earth.

So, at such an unforgivable insult… fury ignites in Eve’s eyes…

“Calling me, the close-range magic combat supreme《Lord Scarlet》, the weakest? You must have a death wish.”

Even without chanting a spell, Eve’s left hand bursts into fierce flames.

As if in response, walls of fire rise to encircle Jatice from all sides.

Secret Spell [Seventh Garden].

A secret technique that completely nullifies the five activation stages (Quint Action) of fire-based magic within a designated area.

Within this [Seventh Garden], Eve is undoubtedly the strongest—

And yet, Jatice who should be at an overwhelming disadvantage says this,

“Yare yare, no choice then… Bullying the weak isn’t my hobby, but…”

Jatice, with a relaxed expression, casually raises both hands toward Eve.

“…I’ll prove just how weak you are.”

“Try it! If you think you can—!”

Eve swings her left hand upward.

A colossal explosion of flames engulfs a corner of Fejite, scorching the surroundings—

 

At the Academy, the instructors and professors wage a fierce magical battle against Lazare.

Glenn and Rumia hurry toward the Academy.

And—elsewhere, Jatice and Eve clash violently.

 

—The tide of this war is finally reaching its climax.