Chapter 2: The Blazing Flame of Rebellion

On that day, the free city of Milano had fallen into utter chaos.

 

“That bastard Jatice never does anything decent…!”

Glenn roared as he wildly fired the pistol positioned at his hip.

The lead bullets spewed from the muzzle pierced straight into the amorphous monsters writhing ahead.

‘8a4ioerjgkmofljaoirgknrgi79fuiojk~~ !’

Yet, the amorphous monster merely writhed and let out bizarre shrieks.

Showing no sign of being affected, two of the amorphous monsters crawled across the ground at terrifying speed, charging toward Glenn.

But—

“Iyaaaaaaaahhh—!”

Re=L’s greatsword, flashing like a blue bolt of lightning, sliced horizontally, cleaving the monster on the left, clean in two from top to bottom—

“《O maiden of the sword・brandish your blade in the sky・and dance upon the earth》—!”

Sistine chanted Black Magic [Blade Dancer], and dozens of vacuum blades shredded the monster on the right into tiny pieces.

For some reason, the monster sliced by Re=L turned to fine dust with a zaa… and dissipated into nothingness…

‘Eigdi036t2~~~ !?’

But the monster Sistine had torn apart showed no signs of stopping.

Each of its shredded fragments wriggled, writhed, and began to gather, attempting to reform into its original amorphous shape.

“W-w-what are these things!?”

Even Sistine, shaken by their immortality, stood frozen before them.

Boom! A tremendous heatwave and inferno surged forth, incinerating the monster’s fragments as they tried to reassemble.

It was Eve’s flame magic.

Only then did the monster finally fall silent and vanish completely.

“Glenn, Sistine. Use fire.”

From the rear, Eve, calmly observing the battle, spoke with a clear, commanding tone.

“I’ve tried various methods, but these monsters are impervious to nearly all attacks, whether physical or magical. The only exception is fire.”

“Fire…?”

“Yes. They seem to be existences tied to that concept. Surprisingly, they might be some kind of plant.”

“Tch, fire-based spells, huh… I hate those mana-guzzlers…”

Reluctantly, Glenn shifted into a stance to cast a fire-based spell.

“But why is it that only Re=L can destroy them so easily with her sword…?”

“Mmm. I can see a golden light at the tip of my sword when I swing it.”

“Huh? A golden light…?”

“That girl’s always been outside the bounds of common sense. Save the analysis for later.”

While overhearing Sistine and the others’ exchange behind him,

Glenn continued to battle the endless waves of amorphous monsters surging forth—

 

After the shocking footage projected into Milano’s skies cut off,

the anomaly struck almost immediately.

From various points throughout the city, those amorphous monsters began to emerge.

They appeared sporadically and in modest numbers—but these monsters devoured and consumed any person they encountered without hesitation.

It was more than enough to plunge Milano into total pandemonium.

 

“Damn it… what the hell are these things…!?”

Glenn groaned as he blasted a monster with the explosive flames of Black Magic [Blaze Burst].

“These monsters… they’re the same ones mentioned in Alicia III’s journals, aren’t they? Though their nature seems a bit different…”

Rumia, using《Rumia’s Key》to banish a monster into the rift between dimensions, spoke up.

“Could it be that these are the leftover monsters summoned during that ritual, leaking out…?”

“Based on that footage, that’s the only explanation that makes sense.”

Glenn surveyed his surroundings.

People were fleeing in every direction, half-mad with panic. Deafening uproar and furious shouts filled the air.

As expected, more monsters appeared from seemingly nowhere, one after another.

It seemed they were emerging from underground, but there was no time to investigate further.

This district still had relatively few monsters.

However, some areas had been overwhelmed by sudden mass outbreaks, as evidenced by the distant clamor and the streams of fleeing citizens.

There was no clear way to bring the situation under control—it was utterly beyond comprehension.

“Damn it, we can’t handle this alone…!”

Moreover, Glenn was worried about the academy students waiting back at the hotel.

He needed to return to them as soon as possible.

He had to gather the students and escape Milano immediately.

Yet, he couldn’t ignore the monsters attacking the people right in front of him—

That mounting anxiety was scattering Glenn’s focus and attention.

“Glenn! Behind you!”

Eve’s warning came too late.

“Wha—!? Oh no—!?”

Unbeknownst to him, an amorphous monster had closed in dangerously behind Glenn.

Its body spread wide, ready to engulf him entirely—

“Sensei!?”

“No way—this can’t be real!?”

Rumia, Sistine, and Re=L were all too occupied dealing with the monsters in front of them to assist Glenn in time.

“Damn—!?”

As Glenn stood helpless, about to be swallowed by the monster—that was when it happened.

Whoosh!

A crimson blaze arced around Glenn, instantly obliterating the monster in a flash.

“What—!?”

The sheer power was staggering. The heat was several magnitudes greater than the flames Eve had wielded until now.

“Was that you, Eve!? Man, you saved my skin…”

Glenn let out a sigh of relief, offering his thanks.

“No… it wasn’t…”

But Eve herself denied it, stunned.

“Huh? Don’t be ridiculous. Only someone like you could unleash flames that powerful—”

“It wasn’t… me…”

Eve stood frozen, staring across the street, her face as though she’d seen a ghost.

Following her gaze—there stood a woman, her left hand wreathed in crimson flames.

She was clad in the ceremonial robes of the Imperial Court Mage Corps’ Special Missions Annex, a woman in her early twenties.

Her long red hair blazed like fire, and her gentle eyes shimmered with the hue of purple flames.

Her exquisitely refined features were somehow—

(She looks… like Eve…?)

Glenn stole a glance at Eve’s profile, but before he could dwell on it,

“No way… Nee-san…? Lydia-neesan… is that you…?”

Eve muttered those words under her breath… and at that moment, the woman raised her hand sharply, issuing a command to the squad of imperial mage-soldiers assembled behind her.

“Engage! Prioritize civilian rescue! Secure safety and have each unit systematically eliminate the《Roots》as needed!”

““““Oooooooohhh!””””

The mage-soldiers let out a rallying cry, dispersing with disciplined precision. They assaulted the surrounding monsters, chanting fire magic and overwhelming the creatures with masterful coordination.

With that, the tide of the battle was decisively turned.

“The imperial army accompanying the queen has stepped in… phew… we’re saved…”

Glenn let out another relieved breath.

Sistine, Rumia, and Re=L also sighed in relief, their tension easing with the arrival of reinforcements.

“…Hm?”

At that moment, Glenn noticed the woman from earlier approaching him slowly.

It was clear she had business with him specifically.

As Glenn instinctively straightened his posture,

“Nee-san!”

Suddenly, Eve dashed toward the woman.

Her face was a complex mix of joy, regret, sorrow, and repentance—

“Lydia-neesan…! I-I…!”

But—

“…Huh?”

The woman passed by Eve’s side as naturally as if she hadn’t even noticed her.

“…!”

Completely ignored, Eve could only stand there, dumbfounded.

(What? What was that…?)

It was far too unnatural.

As Glenn blinked in confusion, trying to process what had just happened…

“Thank you for your cooperation.”

The woman reached Glenn and gave a gentle bow.

“You’re Glenn Radars-san, formerly of the Imperial Court Mage Corps’ Special Missions Annex, Executive Officer Number 0,《The Fool》, correct?”

“Uh, yeah… how do you know about me…?”

“You’re quite the famous figure.”

With a soft chuckle and a warm smile, the woman continued.

“I am Lydia Ignite, commander of the special dispatch division accompanying this mission, head of the Imperial Court Mage Corps’ Special Missions Annex, and Executive Officer Number 1,《The Magician》.”

“…!?”

“Thanks to you holding the line until we arrived, the damage in this area seems to have been kept to a minimum. I offer my heartfelt gratitude.”

Ignite. This woman, Lydia, had introduced herself as an Ignite.

(Which means—)

Glenn glanced at Eve ahead.

Eve stood rooted in place, stunned. Her back looked smaller than ever.

With her facing away, Glenn couldn’t see what expression she wore.

Unconcerned by Glenn’s worry for Eve, Lydia continued speaking cheerfully.

“Currently, the imperial army is deploying rapidly throughout Milano, conducting civilian rescues and operations to eliminate the monsters. Please rest assured. You can leave the rest to us…”

“…”

Lydia’s words barely registered with Glenn.

(Eve…)

Glenn kept his eyes on Eve’s back.

Until Lydia left the scene, Eve never once turned around—

 

Luvaphos Holy Calendar, Year 1853, 9th Day of the Month of Gram.

The Magic Festival was canceled due to the complete annihilation of the Rezalia Kingdom’s representative team.

The horrific assassination of the Rezalia Kingdom’s leadership.

The activation of a ritual to summon the kin of an evil god, accompanied by the mass outbreak of《Roots》.

After a tumultuous day, a single night passed—

 

Luvaphos Holy Calendar, Year 1853, 10th Day of the Month of Gram.

In the grand hall of the Tirika-Falia Cathedral in the free city of Milano,

an emergency meeting was being held by the leaders of various nations present in the city.

However, the gravity of the situation cast a heavy, somber atmosphere over the assembly.

Amid this meeting—

“Yes. They definitely referred to Maria Luther as Miriam Cardis. That’s everything I know about Jatice and the Last Crusaders.”

Glenn, summoned as a key witness, was also present.

“Thank you.”

Alicia VII, unanimously chosen as the interim chair, acknowledged Glenn’s report.

“Next, what is the situation in Milano?”

“Yes, I will report.”

Lydia Ignite, the current head of the Imperial Court Mage Corps’ Special Missions Annex and《The Magician》, stepped forward and began speaking calmly.

“Due to the aforementioned ritual to summon the evil god’s kin, amorphous monsters—referred to as《Roots》in accordance with the precedent of the previous great war—have been endlessly spawning from Milano’s underground.

These《Roots》have a nature that actively preys on humans, and regrettably, there were some civilian casualties in the early stages of their emergence.”

“…!?”

“However, in preparation for emergencies, our imperial army division stationed in Milano’s western district was urgently reorganized and deployed citywide. We have completed civilian evacuation guidance, suppression of the《Roots》, and the construction of sealing barriers to block the spawn points and underground ruins.”

Lydia then bowed her head to the assembly.

“Due to the emergency, all actions were taken at my sole discretion. I deployed the army into the city without prior approval, crossing the emergency protocol line, and I ask for your forgiveness for this post-facto authorization.”

Indeed, Lydia’s actions far exceeded the authority of a mere military commander. In peacetime, such overreach would undoubtedly escalate into a major international incident.

However, amid the sudden crisis, while other nations’ forces in the city fumbled their responses, Lydia’s swift decisions and leadership contained the《Roots》surging from underground, minimizing civilian casualties and chaos.

Moreover, there was no denying that her actions had protected the lives of the stranded national leaders, who had been left with nowhere to flee due to the endless spawning of《Roots》.

““““…””””

Not a single complaint arose from the assembly.

(So this is the current head of the Special Missions Annex,《The Magician》, Lydia Ignite…)

Glenn stole a glance at Lydia’s profile.

A woman with a gentle demeanor and a beauty akin to an earth goddess.

Though her refined features differed in tone from Eve’s sharp elegance, they were undeniably—

(She really does resemble Eve. Yare yare, sisters, huh…)

Glenn was aware that a female mage named Lydia Ignite had once served in the imperial army.

Lydia Ignite. Eve’s half-sister, born to a different mother.

In other words, she was the legitimate heir of the Ignite ducal family, the pillar of the empire’s magical and martial tradition. She was the daughter of the empire’s Minister of Military Affairs and Chief of the Joint General Staff, Lord Azel Le Ignite’s lawful wife.

(I’m shocked. I’d heard she completely lost her magical abilities in some accident years ago… to think she’s made a return to the field…)

Glenn couldn’t help but feel a near-reverential awe for Lydia.

He recalled the events of the previous day.

Due to Jatice’s machinations, the sudden emergence of the amorphous monsters—《Roots》—had thrown Milano into chaos for a time.

Yet Lydia, acting on her own authority, mobilized the imperial army, swiftly deploying them across the city. With exceptional command, she orchestrated civilian rescues and repelled the《Roots》in no time.

Furthermore, she deployed sealing barriers at the spawn points of the《Roots》, containing them. Now, under the imperial army’s leadership, civilian evacuations were proceeding smoothly. In a state of emergency, Lydia had made the optimal move with calm precision.

As a result, the lives of the students waiting at the hotel had also been saved.

(As a commander, she’s the second most capable woman I know…)

Glenn then glanced to his side.

“…”

Eve stood behind him, head bowed, as if trying to hide from Lydia.

Eve had accompanied Glenn to provide various reports, but ever since seeing Lydia the previous day, she’d been like this. It was utterly unlike her.

(What’s gotten into her? …Well, it’s not hard to imagine there’s some complicated baggage here…)

After all, for Eve, Lydia was the half-sister who had reclaimed the position of heir apparent after Eve’s own exile. It wouldn’t be surprising if she had complex feelings about it.

(But there’s something off about Lydia herself…)

Glenn recalled how Lydia had completely ignored Eve the previous day, as if she were invisible.

Even now, though Lydia must have noticed Eve’s presence, she showed not the slightest hint of acknowledgment.

Her indifference and detachment were so absolute, it almost felt like they were complete strangers.

(Yare yare… I’ve got a bad feeling about this. Something tells me this is gonna be a major headache…)

As Glenn let out a sigh, Lydia’s report had shifted to the details of the barriers sealing the《Roots》.

“…The spawn points of the《Roots》are, as outlined in the provided documents, a total of eight locations. All are directly connected to the underground ruin spaces beneath Milano.

The ritual to summon the evil god’s kin is being conducted in the deepest part of those ruins, and the emergence of the《Roots》is believed to be a byproduct of that ritual.

According to information gathered through the ley line network, Jatice Lowfan is currently missing.

The current executor of the ritual is—Felord Belif, the ideological leader of the Researchers of Heavenly Wisdom, Third Order《Heavens Order》[Grandmaster].”

At Lydia’s words, a murmur rippled through the room for a moment.

The name of the world’s enemy had finally been revealed.

“However, the area surrounding the underground ritual site is distorted by the magical influence of the ritual, rendering it completely inaccessible to us at present. The underground districts of Milano are teeming with《Roots》… At this point, defeating the Grandmaster lurking in the ritual site is, frankly, nearly impossible.

Fortunately, the Grandmaster appears focused on completing the ritual and has shown no significant activity for now.

Based on the data, the evil god is expected to fully descend, with Maria Luther as its core, approximately one month from now. …The barriers suppressing the《Roots》are only a temporary measure. I propose that we urgently devise countermeasures. That concludes my report.”

Having finished her report, Lydia gave a bow and stepped back.

“Thank you. Next, regarding the ruins spread beneath Milano… I’d like to hear the insights of an expert. Foss…”

“Hah! I’ve been waiting for this!”

Bang!

Without even waiting for the queen to call his name, a man ascended the platform.

His hair resembled a lion’s mane, his body robust and sturdy. His face bore the look of someone stubborn and eccentric.

He was Fossil Lefoy Ertoria, a magical archaeologist from the Alzano Imperial Magic Academy.

“You want to know what those ruins are, don’t you!? Fine, I, the great magical archaeologist Fossil Lefoy, will personally enlighten you! To speak of the ruins in question, the ‘Naiar’s Ritual Site’, we must first go back to the early ancient period—roughly 8,000 years before the Holy Calendar! At that time, a civilization worthy of being called a Super Magic Civilization had yet to be established, and neither the magical city of Melgalius nor anything resembling a magic kingdom existed!

However, records from that era, found in inscriptions and oral traditions across various regions, speak of a figure who, alongside the twin deities known as《The Celestial Taum》, worked to unite the people and build a nation! I believe this figure is none other than the tyrant later known in the mid-ancient period as the ‘Demon King’, Titus Cruo! What!? The eras and timelines don’t match!? Shut up, you fool! Amateurs should keep quiet!”

Oh, this is going to be a long one.

Glenn completely shut Fossil’s speech and presence out of his mind.

Ignoring Fossil, who continued to rant with fervent passion in front of the stunned world leaders, Glenn turned to speak to Eve behind him.

“Hey, Eve… you alright?”

“…Huh?”

Eve raised her gaze to meet Glenn’s, her expression one of surprise.

“I won’t pry into your business or anything tactless like that. But your face… you look really pale.”

“…”

“If it’s too much, take a break. I’ll handle the rest of the reports for you.”

Normally, if Glenn said something like this, Eve would snap back with something sharp like, “Mind your own business” or “As if you could possibly take my place!”—her usual prickly retorts would come flying instantly.

But…

“…No… I’m fine…”

Eve merely clutched her left arm with her right hand, murmuring in a faint, fading voice.

“I’m… fine… yes… fine… so…”

And then, as if to further avoid Lydia’s presence in her field of vision, she turned her face away and looked down.

(…Yare yare… this throws me off.)

At the very least, to shield Eve from Lydia’s view, Glenn shifted his position while letting out a sigh.

Meanwhile—

“—In other words! The king of that era needed ‘power’! Power! At the time, the northwestern coast of the North Selford Continent was a chaotic world—a true Chaotic World—where countless tribes, clans, and barbarians, like scattered hemp, engaged in endless conflicts amidst the dominance of various primordial creatures and magical beasts with powers beyond human understanding! To unify that region and bring peace and stability, power was absolutely essential! Thus,《The Celestial Taum》bestowed upon the《King》the art of summoning the kin of an evil god! For that purpose, a celestial globe ritual site aligned with the movements of the stars was necessary, and one such site is the ritual ground here in Milano! Argh, damn it, it pisses me off! I was the first to set my sights on this ritual site! I was supposed to investigate it with Glenn-sensei later, but in this situation, how can I possibly conduct research!? That idiot calling himself the Grandmaster! I don’t know who he is, but I’ll beat him to a pulp later!”

—Fossil’s rampage continued unabated.

“Uh, um… so, in summary, the ritual site is an ancient structure built as a ‘ritual ground for summoning the kin of an evil god’… is that correct?”

With beads of sweat on her forehead and a strained smile, Alicia VII attempted to sum things up.

But.

“That’s what it boils down to in a single phrase, but of course, I have no intention of stopping there! The story continues, and at the end of the mid-ancient period, there’s this tale—where the homeland of the so-called ‘Mage of Justice’ was destroyed by the evil god’s kin, the ‘Evil God Soldiers,’ controlled by the Demon King…!? W-What are you doing, you scoundrels!? I’m not even one-tenth done with my story! Let me gooo!”

In the end, Fossil was flanked by two imperial army officers, dragged away struggling, and forcibly removed from the hall.

“Haa…”

Glenn watched Fossil’s departure with a look of exasperation.

“…Ahem.”

Then, Alicia VII cleared her throat, regaining her composure.

“With that, the general outline of the events that transpired in the free city of Milano has been clarified.”

The world leaders, having organized the situation, began to grapple anew with the gravity of the matter.

“But to think, those evil god’s kin…!”

“T-this could truly be a repeat of the Great Magic War from two hundred years ago…!”

“That tragedy, repeated again!? This is no joke…!”

The leaders stirred, their voices a restless murmur.

After waiting for the room to settle, Alicia VII spoke solemnly.

“Now, let us address the issue we can no longer avoid. Bishop Cardinal Fais Cardis… are you ready?”

Alicia VII’s sharp gaze pierced through Fais, seated at one of the conference tables.

“What is the Cardis family, your lineage? What connection does it have to that evil god? And what is your relationship with Maria Luther, a student at the Alzano Imperial Magic Academy… or rather, Miriam Cardis?”

“…”

For a moment, Fais sat with his hands clasped and eyes closed, maintaining silence.

“Very well. I will tell you everything.”

Finally, with resolute determination, he began to speak solemnly.

“Maria… Miriam Cardis… is my biological daughter.”

Instantly, the room erupted into murmurs, but Fais continued calmly, undeterred.

“The Cardis family is a descendant of the priestly lineage that performed the evil god summoning rituals in ancient civilization… the surviving bloodline that produces the ‘Pure Maiden of Darkness.’

The Papal Court of the Church of St. Elizares kept the Cardis family in their fold as a strategic military trump card… a so-called ‘weapon of faith.’

However, the blood of the Cardis family has long since thinned, and a ‘Pure Maiden of Darkness’ bearing the ‘Seal of Pure Darkness’ on their body is born perhaps once every few generations, if at all… But when the time comes, one is born.”

“You mean to say, even the Great Magic War two hundred years ago!? The Church… your family!?”

Someone’s accusation shook the air in the hall.

“Yes, unfortunately, that was a generation when a ‘Pure Maiden of Darkness’ was born. However, the ritual for summoning the evil god was lost to our family from the moment we were absorbed into the Church. Yet, why, two hundred years ago, was the evil god summoned? That has remained the greatest mystery to our family…”

To think such a method existed… Fais let out a resigned sigh.

(Well, isn’t that ironic.)

Glenn mulled over Fais’ words.

(What a joke. The Church of St. Elizares… preaching devotion to a singular “false” god and forcing it on others, while secretly harboring a “true” evil god from outer space.

If that got out, it’d be more than just a crisis of faith—it’d be catastrophic.

The Church would’ve wanted to keep it buried. They’d have wanted to erase the very existence of the ancient civilization tied to the evil god, to pretend it never existed.

But then Roland Eltria, ‘The Magician of Melgalius,’ exposed that ancient civilization. And he even started poking into the Cardis family. Yeah, that’s a one-way ticket to the stake…)

As Glenn cross-referenced his thoughts with the contents of Alicia III’s Diary, Fais’ explanation continued.

“And then, the dreaded event came to pass. Yes, in my generation… it happened again. A ‘Pure Maiden of Darkness’ was born… my daughter, Miriam Cardis.”

Murmur, murmur, murmur…

The leaders stirred at Fais’ revelation of the truth.

“When Miriam was born, I vowed that the tragedy of the Great Magic War two hundred years ago must never be repeated. Thus, eight years ago, I faked Miriam’s death and had her flee to the Empire under the name Maria Luther.

During that escape, the one who lent me immense aid was His Holiness Funeral… back then, still a newly appointed cardinal…”

Fais clutched his head, hanging it low.

“To think that His Holiness… that brilliant man… was part of the Researchers of Heavenly Wisdom!? Oh, surely, even back then, I… no, the entire Church was dancing in the palm of his hand.”

His face bore an expression of remorse so intense it seemed he might hang himself.

But human hearts are ugly.

I was manipulated, I didn’t know—such excuses wouldn’t suffice.

“Don’t mock us!”

In response to Fais’ confession, the world leaders began to raise their voices in condemnation.

“It’s the deceit of you, the Church of St. Elizares, that brought about this catastrophe!”

“How do you plan to take responsibility for this!?”

Insults, curses, and more insults.

A barrage of verbal abuse pummeled Fais.

“…”

Fais himself simply endured it in silence.

“For that matter, Bishop Cardinal Fais! This talk of you merely being used by the Researchers of Heavenly Wisdom is dubious at best!”

“Indeed! Could it not be that you’re secretly in league with them, and this was all part of a grand plan!?”

“We’ll pursue this responsibility to the end! Prepare yourself!”

Faced with the one-sided accusations against the unresisting Fais…

(Goddamn it! Why is everyone such an idiot!)

Even Glenn, a mere bystander, couldn’t help but feel irritated.

(This isn’t the time to squabble over who’s to blame! The world’s in crisis, damn it!

If Fais-san was guilty, why the hell would he stay on a sinking ship like the Rezalia Kingdom!? Use your heads, people!

And if Fais-san disappears now, what happens to Rezalia!? There’s not a single other leader capable of governing! If Rezalia collapses, your countries will be in danger too, don’t you get that!?)

The Rezalia Kingdom, with its aggressive religious purification policies, had amassed significant resentment both domestically and internationally.

Its collapse would spark an unprecedented conflict in the surrounding regions, and with its massive population, a flood of refugees would pour out.

That would inevitably lead to the economic collapse of neighboring nations. A global depression would ignite further conflicts.

In economic terms, this was a crisis for the world’s survival.

But contrary to Glenn’s inner turmoil…

“What are you going to do about this!? What are you going to do!?”

“Take responsibility! Take responsibility! Pay reparations!”

“Do something! Do something!”

…The storm of accusations and insults showed no sign of abating.

Just as Glenn, fed up, took a deep breath to shout them down…

It was at that very moment.

 

“Silence.”

 

A clear, soul-stirring voice echoed through the hall.

It was Alicia VII. Her tone was so noble, so resolute, brimming with unyielding will, that no one could ignore her.

The chaotic, disgraceful uproar in the room fell silent in an instant.

(…Your Majesty!?)

As Glenn watched with wide eyes, Alicia stood tall and spoke with unwavering resolve.

“Now is not the time to assign blame or demand reparations for oversights. It is the time to stand together against a global crisis.”

“…”

“This is no longer a matter confined to international disputes between empires and kingdoms.

Do you understand? The infamous international magical terrorist group, the Researchers of Heavenly Wisdom. Their leader, the ‘Grandmaster,’ has finally revealed their true identity and is performing the ritual to summon the evil god—the very catalyst of the Great Magic War two hundred years ago.

If this is not a global crisis, then what is? If that malevolent organization, which has tormented this world for years, gains the power of a mighty evil god… it’s not hard to imagine that the very structure of this world would collapse.”

Silence.

Everyone listened intently to Alicia VII’s words.

“Moreover, the collapse of the Rezalia Kingdom alone would unleash a flood of refugees, causing immense damage to neighboring nations. This is no longer someone else’s problem for any country.

We must join hands and combine our strengths.

In the face of this global crisis, we must set aside old grudges, align our steps, and stand together! Though the Peace Festival itself was destroyed by malicious intent, we must not let the ideals at its core crumble!

Everyone, please lend us your strength! Let us fight together for a radiant tomorrow and future! Together, we will save the world!”

At last, Alicia VII’s words came to an end.

At first, an overwhelming silence dominated the room.

But then.

Clap. Someone clapped their hands once.

Clap, clap… clap, clap, clap…

Others began to follow, applause rising here and there.

The sound grew steadily in strength and momentum—

Until finally, a flood of applause filled the hall.

(Haha, as expected of Her Majesty… she’s on a whole different level from me.)

Glenn gazed at Alicia VII with a mix of respect and awe, marveling at how she had transformed the atmosphere and flow of the room with a single speech.

Surely, this was the true charisma of one destined to stand above others from birth.

(Yeah, it’s fine. As long as Her Majesty is here, there’s no problem!)

And so—

(I’ve gotta do what I need to do. Now, what’s the plan…?)

While Glenn pondered vaguely, the conference, led by Alicia VII, briskly moved forward, determining the future actions and policies of each nation.

 

Meanwhile, as the hall buzzed with energy—

(Tch… this is bad. Alicia VII… that little girl…!)

Having slipped away from the emergency conference now dominated by Alicia VII, Lord Azel Le Ignite hurried through the cathedral’s corridors, muttering venomously to himself.

(Damn it! I underestimated that woman…!)

He had thought her merely a weak-willed moderate, hindered by her femininity, but what was the reality?

In this time of crisis, she had displayed undeniable greatness, skill, and above all, charisma.

That woman was a conqueror. Her unassuming demeanor in times of peace naturally compelled others to kneel before her.

Alicia VII lacked ambition, but if she so chose, she could swallow, command, and dominate the entire world—a supreme conqueror.

(…No. That’s not right! That little girl cannot save the Empire… the world…! The only one who can stand at the pinnacle, who can save this world, is me, Azel Le Ignite…!)

Yes, he was different.

Unlike the common masses, he was a being destined for far greater heights.

(That’s right… after all, I was “chosen”! I am the chosen one!)

Lord Ignite pulled a “red key” from his pocket and stared at it intently.

(I am not like the common folk. True, I accepted this “key”, but I have never bent a knee to that Grandmaster! I am the one using the Grandmaster!

I will thwart the Grandmaster’s schemes and save the world myself!

Yes, I will prove that I, Ignite, am the ruler of this world!)

To that end, he had schemed in the shadows, meticulously preparing and amassing power.

To that end, he had caused the infamous ‘Tragedy of Gusta.’ He had forsaken his humanity.

(But… now, the board I’ve built over years is on the verge of being overturned…! By that cunning Jatice Lowfan…!)

If things continued this way, when this crisis was overcome, it would undoubtedly be Alicia VII standing resplendent at the Empire’s pinnacle, basking in the world’s adulation.

If that happened, no matter what he did, an uprising would be impossible.

(This won’t do… not like this…!)

A burning sense of urgency consumed Lord Ignite.

Yet, strangely, there was no anxiety or hesitation.

Toward a single conclusion, Lord Ignite was stacking his thoughts with utmost calm and ruthlessness.

His available cards. The current situation in Milano. The deployment of his forces. The state of other nations.

And then—

“No—perhaps this is an opportunity?”

The moment he reached that realization, that conclusion.

Lord Ignite’s entire being blazed with quiet excitement and exhilaration.

It was an unquenchable wildfire of ambition, burning fiercely.

(Yes…! Others, foolishly, would shrink back from this immense opportunity, but not I, Ignite!

Now… yes, now is the time! This is the perfect moment for me to ascend to the pinnacle of all! My entire life has been leading to this very moment—!)

And then.

“Illia Irouge. Are you there?”

“Yeees, right here! My beloved lord!”

At Lord Ignite’s side, a girl appeared as if from a mirage.

Her bright flaxen hair was tied back, her smile warm yet somehow chilling.

It was Illia, formerly Executive Officer Number 18《The Moon》of the Imperial Court Mage Corps’ Special Missions Annex.

“What’s the matter? Your orders, please, anything at all!”

Responding in her usual clownish manner, Illia awaited his command.

“We move.”

Lord Ignite declared succinctly, with resolute determination.

“Huh?”

Instantly, Illia froze, her playful smile icing over.

Ignoring her reaction, Lord Ignite continued.

“Send word to Lydia and the army in secret… ‘Execute the great cause.’”

“W-Wait… now!?”

For once, Illia’s usual composure shattered, and she visibly panicked.

“A-At this timing…!? B-But, it’s still…”

“What? Are you defying me?”

“N-No! Never! …Alright, I understand! I’ll convey your intentions to Lady Lydia!”

Faced with Ignite’s irritation and anger, Illia hurriedly vanished like a phantom.

Lord Ignite, ignoring her departure, began to chuckle darkly.

“Heh… at last… at last…”

Clutching the “red key” tightly, he laughed fiercely, his face alight with burning ambition.

“The time has come for me to stand at the pinnacle… if anything, it’s long overdue… Heh heh… hahaha… HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!”

No one was there to hear Lord Ignite’s triumphant laughter—

 

Clatter, clatter, clatter…

On the main street of Milano’s Central District, Third Avenue.

Several luxurious carriages, each drawn by four horses, rolled along the cobblestone road in a convoy.

These carriages carried the key figures of the imperial government attending the summit, with the central one being the royal carriage of Alicia VII, Queen of the Alzano Empire.

 

Surrounding them, the Queen’s personal royal guard, mounted on horseback, formed an impenetrable ring without a single gap.

Having just concluded the meeting, Her Majesty the Queen was on her way back to the Imperial Consulate in Milano, her base of operations during her stay.

Clatter, clatter, clatter…

Milano, a city adorned with various religious architecture, beautiful waterways, and bridges.

Until just days ago, the city had been teeming with people celebrating the Magic Festival, held for the first time in decades, but now this district was so deserted that no trace of that liveliness remained.

This central district was close to one of the emergence points of the《Root》, and the Imperial Army had swiftly led an emergency evacuation of the citizens.

Of course, not all the citizens of a vast city like Milano had managed to escape.

In the eastern, western, southern, and northern districts, chaos still reigned as evacuations continued at a frantic pace.

The Imperial Army was spread thinly across all of Milano, maintaining a state of high alert.

The stillness of this central district was nothing more than a fleeting, deceptive silence.

Within that desolate cityscape, inside the Queen’s carriage…

“Uh… is this really okay? Someone like me, riding with Her Majesty…”

“It’s quite all right.”

Glenn sat on the carriage’s cushioned seat, side by side with Alicia VII, just the two of them.

Perhaps because he was seated next to the Queen herself, Glenn sat with his back rigidly straight, visibly nervous, while Alicia, as always, exuded an air of refined grace, perfectly at ease.

After the meeting had concluded, as Glenn and the others prepared to return to the public hotel where the Alzano Empire’s representative team awaited, it was the Queen herself who had unexpectedly called out to them.

“If you’d like… would you care to join me on the way?” she had said.

(I mean, we’re not strangers, but she’s the Queen, for crying out loud… and right now, she’s practically a super VIP who holds the fate of the world in her hands… ugh, this is nerve-wracking!)

Glenn, ever the ordinary citizen, couldn’t shake his unease.

By the way, Eve was riding in the trailing carriage alongside Fossil.

The look of utter distaste on Eve’s face when she learned she’d be sharing a carriage with Fossil had been particularly memorable.

But that aside.

“Ha…”

As Glenn struggled to conceal his tension, unable to relax…

“Hehe, please, there’s no need to be so stiff.”

Suddenly, Alicia addressed him with a gentle tone.

“In truth, I’ve been wanting to have a little chat with you, Glenn.”

“With me? Really?”

“Yes.”

Glenn blinked in surprise, and Alicia nodded with a soft smile.

“Well, I’m flattered, I guess… but I’m no longer in the military, and I’m not exactly the kind of guy who deserves a special audience with Your Majesty… haha.”

Caught off guard by Alicia’s unexpected words, Glenn tried to laugh it off.

“…No, it’s precisely because it’s you that I can speak openly.”

“Your Majesty?”

Glenn tilted his head, glancing at Alicia’s profile.

At that moment, it seemed as though Alicia had flipped some internal switch.

“…This has truly… become quite the ordeal, hasn’t it?”

The Alicia now gazing out from her profile was not the formidable Queen who had boldly faced the world’s leaders—before him was simply a weary woman, trembling with anxiety and confusion in the face of turbulent chaos.

“…Your Majesty…?”

“I’m sorry, Glenn. Despite all the grand promises I made before the world’s leaders… I’m afraid. So very afraid, I can hardly bear it…”

A sigh escaped Alicia’s delicate, petal-like lips.

This frail, vulnerable Alicia was unimaginable compared to the commanding, majestic figure she had presented during the earlier talks.

“No matter how much I think, all I can imagine are the worst outcomes. The Researchers of Heavenly Wisdom… the Grandmaster… the Great Magic War… the kin of the evil gods… I can’t envision a bright future at all. I fear the world will be swallowed by chaos and calamity, locked forever in eternal darkness…”

“…!?”

“I am the Queen of the Alzano Empire. I have a duty to protect my people, my nation, and the world… but at the same time, there’s a weak part of me that wants to cover my eyes and ears, to flee with my daughters to the ends of the earth… and I despise myself for even thinking such things.”

In that moment, Glenn was forced to confront his own ignorance and carefree attitude.

Even the Queen, whom he had thought superhuman, was human. A woman. A mother.

“As long as she’s here, everything will be fine.”

“If we just leave it to her, it’ll all work out.”

What had he been thinking, blindly piling such immense responsibility onto a single woman, elevating her to some pedestal, and feeling reassured by his own delusions? What an utter fool he was.

“This… I can only share with you, Glenn. Only with you, who is no longer my vassal…”

Indeed, she could confide in no one else. Not her vassals, not her subordinates.

Alicia was the Queen. Her fears and complaints could affect the morale and unity of her entire court.

A Queen bearing the weight of a nation could never show weakness in public.

“…Thank you for listening to my grievances, Glenn.”

Eventually, as if flipping her mental switch once more, Alicia spoke with a bright, refreshed expression.

“I feel a little lighter now. I can fight on.”

“…”

“Glenn, please… look after Ermiana and the children of Alzano Imperial Magic Academy, who will carry the empire’s future. If you protect them… I can fight for that future without hesitation, until the very last drop of my life.”

At that moment…

“Your Majesty.”

Glenn looked directly at Alicia and declared firmly.

“I know I left the Imperial Army, and you might think I’ve got no right to say this now… but I’m on your side.”

“Glenn…?”

“Back when I was in the military, Your Majesty took the time to remember the face and name of a worthless punk like me. You spoke kindly to me, and… you did so much for me.”

Uncharacteristically formal words poured from Glenn’s mouth, one after another.

He felt he had to say them.

He had to convey this to her.

“I’m just a lowly instructor now, but I haven’t forgotten that debt. I don’t know what I’m capable of in my current position… but I swear, in my own way, I’ll contribute to Your Majesty and the empire you love. So—”

…So, what? Glenn suddenly caught himself.

What could a powerless instructor, a third-rate mage, possibly do?

Just because the Queen had shown him a bit of favor, what was he getting so full of himself for?

What was he misunderstanding?

“…No, sorry. I got carried away, running my mouth like that…”

In an instant, Glenn sank into self-loathing.

“Thank you, Glenn.”

But Alicia VII smiled warmly, her expression radiant.

“I’m proud to be the head of a nation with citizens like you.”

“Y-Your Majesty…”

Then, as if seeing right through Glenn’s heart, Alicia chuckled softly and continued.

“And please, don’t belittle yourself so much.”

“Huh?”

“You may not realize it, but… Glenn, you have a far greater ability to influence and inspire those around you than you give yourself credit for.”

What does that mean?

Glenn was about to ask—when it happened.

 

BOOM!

 

The entire area shuddered as if struck by a massive earthquake.

“Eek!?”

“Wha—!? What the hell!?”

The carriage jolted several dozen centimeters up and down, violent tremors assaulting Glenn and Alicia.

“What’s going on!? What happened!?”

Sensing something dire, Glenn kicked open the carriage door and leapt outside…

What he saw was an unbelievable sight.

“What… the hell is this…?”

The city—it had transformed.

The surrounding buildings had collapsed into ruins, engulfed in flames, resembling the depths of hell itself.

Most likely, a barrage of military offensive spells had been unleashed, targeting the carriage.

The Royal Guard had instinctively deployed a magical barrier, its surface still crackling and sparking with the residual energy of the ferocious magical assault.

The guards stood in full combat readiness, positioned to protect the carriage.

“No way… that just now…!?”

There was no mistaking it—this was an attack.

A brazen assault aimed at Queen Alicia VII while she was on the move. There could be no doubt.

(Unbelievable… at a time like this!? Who the hell…!)

As Glenn stood stunned by the sudden turn of events…

“Glenn! It’s the enemy!”

Eve, who had been riding in the trailing carriage, rushed to his side.

“Get ready! We have to protect Her Majesty!”

“Dammit, are you serious!?”

Seeing the urgency in Eve’s expression, Glenn grasped the gravity of the situation. He drew the pistol from his waist and, back-to-back with Eve, scanned their surroundings warily.

“Eve, who’s the enemy!? The Researchers of Heavenly Wisdom? Remnants of the Rezalia Kingdom? Or some nation hostile to the empire—!?”

For a moment, Eve hesitated… then answered.

“The enemy is—…”

“…What?”

Eve’s words were clear, and the term was familiar.

But Glenn couldn’t comprehend it.

Or rather, his mind refused to process it.

Why? How? Questions swirled in his head, refusing to let him understand.

Leaving the bewildered Glenn behind, presences began to appear one after another around them.

They emerged, encircling the Queen and her Royal Guard.

Those figures—shockingly—were clad in the uniforms of the Imperial Army.

“…Huh?”

The sight was so far beyond Glenn’s imagination that he stood dumbfounded.

“…Didn’t you hear me, Glenn?”

From behind, Eve’s voice, unusually tense, repeated clearly and firmly.

“The enemy—is the Alzano Imperial Army!”

And in that instant—

 

OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOH!

 

A war cry erupted from the Imperial soldiers surrounding them—

The mage-soldiers, chanting spells in unison, launched their charge—

 

~ ~

 

Luvaphos Holy Calendar, Year 1853, 10th of Gram’s Month.

That day, approximately 5,000 troops of a single division of the Alzano Imperial Army were spread thinly across Milano, tasked with handling the《Root》that had emerged due to the ritual summoning of the evil god’s kin, guiding the evacuation of Milano’s citizens, and maintaining security within the city.

However, this was entirely the Alzano Imperial Army’s unilateral operation, which risked undermining the pride of other nations’ forces.

Thus, the Imperial Army was set to coordinate with the accompanying forces of other nations, stationed outside Milano, to divide and transfer security responsibilities.

But during that handover, the Alzano Imperial Army abruptly rose in armed rebellion.

They dealt a devastating blow to the forces of other nations preparing to take over city security.

Caught off guard, the other nations’ armies were forced to retreat outside Milano, defenseless.

Simultaneously, the Imperial Army assaulted the consulates of various nations within Milano, swiftly capturing and detaining their leaders.

With their leaders held hostage, the accompanying forces of other nations were rendered completely incapacitated.

They found themselves in a standoff with the Imperial Army deployed at Milano’s outer perimeter.

And furthermore—the Imperial Army stationed within Milano turned its fangs against their own sovereign, Queen Alicia VII of the Alzano Empire—

 

~ ~

 

“What in blazes is going on!? Why is the Imperial Army targeting Alicia-chan!?”

“I don’t know! But—!”

Running, running, running—

Through the chaotic streets of Milano, Bernard, Christoph, and Albert dashed using《Gale Kick》.

They raced across rooftops, along walls, moving as if soaring through the air—

“A blitz operation timed with the handover to other nations’ forces, systematically detaining their leaders with such precision… this level of refined military action is beyond human capability!”

“What…!?”

“It must have been meticulously planned far in advance… Damn it! To think I failed to notice such an audacious scheme brewing within the army…!”

For the usually mild-mannered and calm Christoph, such harsh words were rare. As the intelligence officer in the Special Missions Annex, this situation must have been the height of humiliation for him.

“Her Majesty… because of me, Her Majesty…!”

“You’re wrong.”

From the rear, Albert spoke calmly and matter-of-factly.

“It’s not your fault you didn’t see this coming. This wasn’t a long-standing plan. Most likely, the mastermind behind this rebellion was forced into this spontaneous action due to some unforeseen circumstance.”

“What!?”

“I confirmed with far-seeing magic, but the rebel forces attacking Her Majesty right now… they’re ‘far too emotionless.’”

“…What does that mean?”

“At a glance, they seem to be fighting resolutely for some grand cause. But in truth, they show not the slightest hesitation or wavering in their treasonous actions against Her Majesty, executing their maneuvers with eerily precise, puppet-like coordination. The Imperial forces deployed across Milano are the same.”

“So you’re saying… they’re ‘being controlled’ somehow!?”

“Even accounting for that, the rebel commander’s strategy is nothing short of divine.”

Albert nodded quietly in response to Christoph’s question.

“But controlling so many people at once—who could possibly do that, and how…?”

“The method is unclear. But if you consider which division had primary control over the majority of the forces escorting Her Majesty this time, the mastermind is likely…”

“No way… you can’t mean…!?”

Bernard reacted with shock to Albert’s analysis.

“No, no, no! Even for him, there’s no way he’d do something this outrageous in a situation like this—!”

“Indeed, no one would think he would. Not Her Majesty… and likely not even the mastermind himself. …But that’s exactly what they exploited.”

“Now’s not the time to debate the mastermind, their motives, or the mechanics of this. We need to hurry, both of you. We must reach Her Majesty as quickly as possible—”

Christoph urged them to hasten… when it happened.

“You two! Nine o’clock! Dodge!”

Suddenly, Albert, trailing at the rear, issued a sharp warning.

Instantly, the three reacted swiftly, scattering from their positions.

In that fleeting moment—the entire district collapsed.

With a deafening roar that shook the air and pierced their ears, an immense gravitational force crushed the area.

Sinking, sinking, sinking.

Everything was mangled, shattered, and dragged downward.

There were likely still people who hadn’t escaped the district, yet everything was pulverized and swallowed into the depths of the earth.

At the center of the vast crater stood a grotesque, bovine-like monster, exhaling blue flames from its nostrils, lingering briefly before slowly fading away.

“That’s… Hagene, the《Lever》, one of Solomon’s Thirty-Six Demon Generals…!?”

“Demon summoning!?”

Bernard and Christoph, having narrowly escaped, shuddered at the demon that had wrought such horrific destruction in an instant—

“《O God of Thunder, unleash thy fierce wrath,  and obliterate all in thy path》!”

Albert had already unleashed a spell.

From his left hand, a massive, concentrated bolt of lightning tore through the air, searing it as it flew.

The lightning struck a figure that had appeared atop a nearby building—direct hit.

But the lightning, powerful enough to pierce castle walls, was repelled and scattered in all directions.

And then—

“Well, well, it’s been years since we last met like this, hasn’t it, Abel?”

The figure, having effortlessly deflected the lightning’s immense power, smiled pleasantly.

“…Powell…!”

In that moment, a blaze of rage and hatred surged through Albert’s entire being.

Yet, brushing off Albert’s fiery emotions with cool indifference, the figure—Powell Fune, former Pope of the St. Elizares Church, and now [Magister Templi] of the Third Order《Heavens Order》of the Researchers of Heavenly Wisdom—smiled with unsettling warmth.

“Ugh…!?”

“No way…”

In that instant, Christoph and Bernard felt a chill run through their cores.

They understood just from facing him—the sheer abnormality of this man, Powell.

Powell had long discarded the mask of a virtuous priest, no longer bothering to conceal his true nature.

Confronted with that monstrous essence, fear coursed through every fiber of their beings, their very souls vehemently rejecting the instinct to fight.

The overwhelming pressure, magical power, presence, and even the majestic aura Powell exuded—everything about him belonged to a realm of unimaginable, otherworldly magnitude, unlike anything they had ever encountered.

Truly, a demon—a most ferocious and vile wall had appeared before them.

“Hmm… Now that I think about it, it’s been, what, eight years? I’m glad to see you looking so well, Abel.”

“Shut up! Don’t call me by that name! My family, my sister—you stole them! Don’t you dare say you’ve forgotten!”

Albert roared with unbridled fury, but—

“Oh, of course I remember. Clear as a warm spring day.”

Powell maintained his carefree demeanor, unshaken.

“Yes, back then, there were the children… and your dear sister, Aria… Everyone was so happy… Truly, those were good times. Even someone like me couldn’t help but think, for once, that family was something truly wonderful.”

“And who was it that stole and destroyed it all, driven by base, wicked desires?!”

“It couldn’t be helped, Abel. It was all for the Grandmaster, for the grand truth… for the wisdom of the heavens. It was a necessary sacrifice.”

“I told you not to call me that! My name is Albert Frazer! I’m a war demon who’s clawed his way back from hell to drag you down into it!”

The hatred and rage erupting from Albert seemed to know no bounds.

Its intensity was such that it might consume him entirely.

“Heh, I like that. That fierce passion… that fury… Abel, you truly are…”

Powell stroked his chin with satisfaction at Albert’s display, but…

Suddenly…

As if a weight had lifted, Albert regained his usual calm composure.

“Oh? What’s this, Abel?”

“…I don’t have time to entertain you right now.”

Albert spat the words coldly, brushing Powell off.

“Step aside. If you don’t, I’ll force my way through. That’s all.”

“Hoh? That’s unexpected.”

Powell tilted his head curiously at Albert’s response.

“You seem surprisingly composed. I thought you’d lose yourself to rage. Could it be… you’ve forgotten the anger and hatred from that day?”

“…”

At Powell’s words, a nostalgic scene flickered in Albert’s mind—

 

Back when he was still called Abel, an ignorant boy.

Back when his beloved sister, Aria, was always by his side.

Back when the children at the orphanage laughed with joy every day.

Those vivid images surfaced in his mind, only to shatter like glass.

How foolish, how blind, how happy he had been back then—

 

“Of course, I’ve never forgotten a single day. In fact, the moment I saw you, I nearly lost myself in a pathetic fit of rage.”

Indeed, Albert, usually so calm and composed with ice-cold judgment,

had been unable to control his emotions in that moment.

“But… I learned something from a certain man.”

Glaring at Powell with eyes still burning with fury, Albert declared,

“A certain man…?”

“That man wouldn’t lose sight of what he needs to do, even if he wavers.”

“…”

“…Old man. Christoph.”

Albert stepped forward and spoke.

“Get ready. Her Majesty is in danger. We need to return at once.”

At Albert’s quiet but forceful command,

Christoph and Bernard, who had been overwhelmed by Powell’s presence, nodded firmly and readied themselves.

As expected of seasoned mages, they had already cast aside fear and doubt.

But seeing Albert rally his comrades, Powell—

“Haa… Abel. You’ve become a disappointingly dull man.”

He muttered, his tone tinged with disappointment.

“I see now—how weak. A true magician should embrace their desires and cravings. No wonder you feared and rejected that ‘Blue Key.’

If you had given in to your rage and thirst for blind vengeance, coming at me with murderous intent, there might still have been some ‘potential’ in you.”

“Say what you want. Your ‘potential’ can go to hell. It makes me sick.”

“Hmm… Still, it’s such a pity to let talent like yours slip away to their side… What to do, what to do…?”

Powell raised his arm, adorned with a ring.

“You see, my role here was to delay the three of you.”

“…?”

“After all, the three of you are ‘heroes’ in your own right… If you reached the Queen’s side too soon, this carefully orchestrated chaos might be resolved prematurely. My plan was to rough you up a bit and remove you from the board…”

The ominous ring on Powell’s finger gleamed with dark light, and a massive demon summoning circle, like a pit of the abyss, began to form around them.

“This is a good opportunity, Abel. I’ll re-educate you… just like the old days when you called me Master.”

And then, countless demons were summoned around the trio, ready to strike.

Grotesque demons of various forms assembled in ranks, surging toward Albert and his companions—

“《O Golden Thunder Emperor, purge the earth entirely, weep to the heavens and pierce through》!”

Albert clutched the silver cross at his chest, using it as a catalyst to chant his spell.

Black Magic [Punishment Horizon].

A B-rank military spell, [Plasma Field], uniquely refined by Albert and recently perfected as his own magic formula.

A holy thunder spell to annihilate evil demonic beings.

“Raaaaaahhhhhhh—!”

Dozens of sacred lightning bolts danced down from the heavens in unison—

Striking, piercing, and impaling the approaching demons.

A deafening roar accompanied the blinding aurora that seared the battlefield, burning away all vision.

 

~ ~

 

“What the hell… are we even doing—!?”

Glenn roared as he fanned the pistol holstered at his hip in rapid succession.

The muzzle roared. Countless deadly thorns spewed forth.

They pierced the imperial mage soldiers charging from the front.

As the soldiers fell, blood spraying, Glenn ignored them—

“《O silver ice wolf, Cloaked in blizzard, Race through》—!”

Glenn shouted the incantation for Black Magic [Ice Blizzard].

A storm of freezing air and ice shards erupted from his left hand.

It blew away a squad of mage soldiers on his left, who had formed ranks to fire [Lightning Pierce].

“Damn it… Damn, damn, damn—!”

But then, toward Glenn,

“Raaaaaahhh—!”

Three mage soldiers, rapiers charged with mana and held at the ready, charged mercilessly.

“Kuh—!?”

Caught in the chaotic mana biorhythm after casting his spell, Glenn could only grit his teeth and brace himself, unable to counter.

“《Roar fiercely, Blazing Lion》—《Roar》, 《Roar》!”

Boom! Three searing fireballs arced through the air.

A vortex of flames and heat erupted around Glenn, blasting away the attacking soldiers.

“This isn’t the time to wallow! Pull yourself together!”

It was Eve.

With magical flames dancing in her right hand, Eve stood protectively behind Glenn.

“I know! I get it, damn it! But… but—!”

Glenn gritted his teeth, surveying the surroundings, and roared again.

“This is insane—how is this fair!?”

It was a battlefield straight from hell.

Pools of blood spread across the ground, and blazing flames scorched the sky.

Conflict. Chaos. Screams of the dying. The clash of lives. Countless souls perished moment by moment.

The Imperial Royal Guard, deployed to protect the Queen, and the regular army under her direct command faced off against a rogue imperial division, controlled by some unknown force.

Both sides, belonging to the same nation, collided head-on, slaughtering each other in a brutal frenzy. Hundreds of soldiers clashed, swords crossing, unleashing magic and carnage, grinding each other down.

Fellow citizens of the empire—comrades just days ago.

“Why…!? How did it come to this…!?”

Not wanting to kill. Not wanting to use beloved magic to take lives. Such naive sentiments had no place in this cruel reality.

To protect, to survive, they had to fight.

They had to kill.

“Raaaah—! 《O Fierce Thunder Emperor, with the spear of auroral light, pierce through》!”

Each time Glenn shouted a spell, a life was snuffed out.

Each time someone chanted, someone vanished.

“Take down the Queen! Kill her—!”

“Protect her! Hold the line! Burn your lives to ash if you must—!”

“Raaaaaahhhhh—!”

As groups clashed fiercely, blades flashing in a storm of steel—

“Guh—!?”

“Gah… ha…!”

People died in droves. They fell.

A grim reaper, a whirlwind of death, swept through the battlefield, swinging its scythe indiscriminately at friend and foe.

Mercilessly, meaninglessly, cruelly fleeting.

 

BOOM!

 

A rogue army’s explosive flame spell roared, detonating near Glenn.

“Gwaaaaahhh—!?”

“Gyaaaaah—!?”

Allied Royal Guards were blown apart, scattered into the air.

“Hey! Hold on! Hey!?”

Glenn lifted an unknown Royal Guard, but—

“H-Her Majesty… please… protect…”

With vacant eyes, the blood-soaked guard muttered those words… and went limp, lifeless.

“Damn it!”

—And then.

“Raaaaaahhh—!”

Fossil nimbly struck down several rogue soldiers and leaped back to Glenn’s side.

“Glenn-sensei, mourning the dead is a privilege of the living. Focus on surviving first.”

There was no time to question why Fossil was proving unexpectedly capable in battle.

“But what do we do!? It’s only a matter of time before we’re overwhelmed!”

“…Yes, you’re right.”

“Yeah, this is bad.”

Eve and Fossil clearly shared Glenn’s assessment.

Their faces were visibly etched with urgency.

Then, Glenn glanced toward the center…

“…!”

There, guarded by the Royal Guard, Alicia watched the battle with a grim expression.

Under her authority as Queen, Alicia had repeatedly called out to the rogue army, but none listened.

It was clear the enemy imperial forces were under some kind of mind-control magic.

And because of something so trivial, innocent citizens were killing each other.

To protect the Queen—or to kill her.

Even Glenn could imagine the turmoil in her heart.

(Damn it—damn, damn, damn it all—!)

But Glenn was utterly powerless to change it.

The rogue army was overwhelming.

No matter how many they defeated, more kept coming.

The Royal Guard, the elite of the elite, masters of sword and magic, would normally outclass regular mage soldiers. But, their sheer numbers were far too great and were being pushed back.

The urban terrain prevented the rogue army from leveraging their numerical advantage to overrun them instantly, allowing a fragile balance to hold. But it was only a matter of time before they were worn down.

The complete annihilation of their forces was inevitable.

“Damn it… what do we do!? What do we do…!?”

As Glenn gnashed his teeth in this hopeless situation,

“…Glenn-dono. Eve-dono. This is the end.”

A young man, likely the commander of the Royal Guard, appeared before Glenn.

“Soon, the rogue army’s encirclement will break through our defenses.”

Why does he know my name? There was no time to ask.

“Captain!? Isn’t there something we can do!?”

Glenn reflexively shouted.

The commander responded with resolute determination.

“The southern side of the encirclement is the only weak point, due to the city’s layout and troop deployment. If I lead the Royal Guard in a full assault to break through there, we might—”

“…!?”

“Whether there’s a path to escape Milano beyond that, I don’t know… but it’s our only chance…!”

“Wait. You… you’re planning to be a sacrificial pawn!?”

Eve, realizing the commander’s intent, cried out in anguish.

Even if they opened a path, charging into the heart of such a fierce battle—especially as the vanguard—would mean almost certain death.

But the commander, with a serene smile, replied,

“Most of the officers capable of commanding the front lines have already fallen. If I don’t lead the charge myself, we won’t find life in this death.”

“Wait! If you, the commander, die, who’ll lead the troops… what about Her Majesty!?”

The commander looked between Glenn and Eve…

“Eve-dono, I entrust command of the troops to you… and Glenn-dono, protect Her Majesty.”

“…!?”

“I leave the rest to you both. With you two, the remaining soldiers will accept it.”

“Wait, wait—hold on!?”

Glenn grabbed the commander’s shoulder.

“Eve, former head of the Special Missions Annex and Centurion, I get, but why me!? I’m just—”

“Because it’s you.”

The commander gave a radiant smile.

“Actually… I’ve always admired you. Glenn Radars, former Executive Number 0,《The Fool》, Holy Knight.”

“Wha—!? You know about my military days…!?”

“That’s not all. Half a year ago… during the Magic Tournament at the Magic Academy, I was in awe of your feats.”

“…!?”

“In the military, and even after leaving it… your countless ‘legends’ always stirred my heart. You were my idol, my hope, Hero.”

“It might be a bother to you…”, the commander added with a wry smile.

But it was clear that Glenn’s legends had been a pillar of strength, helping him overcome countless hardships… a gentle smile filled with gratitude.

Glenn was speechless at the commander’s expression.

The commander drew his sword and declared boldly,

“Proud Royal Guard! Now is the time to repay our great debt to Her Majesty! Those who would uphold her will to the very end, follow me—!”

“Raaaaaahhhhh—!”

“Her Majesty—! Long live the Queen—!”

A resounding war cry echoed—

The Royal Guard formed ranks and charged.

Naturally, a barrage of rogue army Offensive Spells rained down on them—

But they didn’t stop.

Blown apart, battered, they cut into the enemy’s front lines—carving a path.

Nameless heroes, literally forging a “path of blood.”

“Captain…”

They couldn’t let that resolve, that determination, that entrusted duty go to waste.

“Eve, I’m counting on you to command the remaining forces. I’ll… protect Her Majesty.”

“Yes… understood.”

Thus began a desperate drama to break through the encirclement while protecting Her Majesty the Queen—

 

The Royal Guard’s all-or-nothing charge shifted the tide.

They shattered the rebel army’s southern front, creating an opening.

With this strike, the Royal Guard’s commander-in-chief and several captains met a valiant end—but their souls’ roars undeniably carved a path forward.

And, though it was by circumstance, Eve’s command, having taken over the unit’s leadership, was nothing short of brilliant.

“First and Second Squads, report remaining forces! Third and Fifth Squads, secure the eastern streets! Seventh Squad, take position! Nine o’clock, enemy vanguard—fire a salvo of Offensive Spells! Shoot!”

By now, there was no one left to lead but Eve—in such a situation.

Using magic, Eve grasped the status of all units and the entire battlefield, issuing precise military commands without pause.

An ordinary officer would have long been overwhelmed by the sheer volume of information and the chaos of the battle, yet she handled it all alone.

Gradually, she pushed back the rebel army tightening their encirclement, carving out an escape route.

“Oooooooohhh!”

And Glenn, moving with even sharper precision than usual, fought like a lion.

He protected the Queen, battling rebel mage-soldiers who breached the defensive line Eve had established.

“—You’re not getting through here!”

Magic, pistols, Imperial Military Combat Technique, makeshift magical tools.

Mobilizing every ounce of his being, he shielded the Queen from the rebel army’s fangs, defending, defending, defending—

“Glenn!? Are you alright!? Oh, those terrible wounds…!?”

“I’m fine, Your Majesty! Come on, hurry, this way! Run!”

Protecting and fortifying the Queen’s safety, the group narrowly escaped the encirclement, continuing to slip through.

But despite Glenn and Eve’s valiant efforts, it was in vain.

The Queen’s allied forces gradually wore down, exhausted, and were cornered.

(Damn it… at this rate…!)

In the midst of fierce combat, as Glenn gritted his teeth at the unfavorable tide of battle, it happened.

(…Hm?)

Glenn noticed an odd sensation in his pocket.

Something was inside that pocket. That was the source of the strange feeling.

(What’s this, at a time like this…? Could it be…?)

Honestly, he’d had a faint hunch. It was probably what he thought.

But should he take it in hand?

To take it in hand would mean—

(…I…)

Glenn hesitated for a moment, wavering.

But eventually, with reluctant resolve, he pulled it from his pocket and held it to his ear.

 

(…No good…!)

While deftly commanding the army and wielding flame magic on the front lines, Eve gritted her teeth.

(The odds were already against us, but the rebel commander is just too skilled!)

Indeed.

Though Eve’s impromptu leadership was precise, the rebel commander was a step above.

They always anticipated Eve’s moves one or two steps ahead, maneuvering their forces with effortless grace.

Eve, out of sheer stubbornness, avoided checkmate on the battlefield—but it was only a matter of time.

(If it weren’t for this commander, we might’ve escaped Milano!)

And—Eve recognized this commander’s tactics and rhythm.

She’d faced this style countless times in war games and simulations.

And—this situation spoke volumes.

In such a scenario, only one person could execute such a brilliant strategy.

(No way… is it really true? Is this rebel army…!?)

There was no time to dwell on it.

Eve chanted flame spells in rapid succession while continuing to lead the army—

 

The allied forces protecting Her Majesty fought desperately to escape Milano.

West, south, then west again, they battled across the city, frantically seeking a way out.

But the rebel army, as if mocking their efforts, anticipated their moves, applied pressure, and slowly, steadily crushed them—

And eventually—

 

“It’s over… damn it all.”

Glenn looked up at the sky in disbelief as he spoke.

This was the plaza in front of St. Paulis Cathedral, in Milano’s western district.

There, the Queen, Glenn, Eve, and the surviving allied forces huddled together—

And surrounding the entire area in a wide circle, the rebel army had them completely encircled.

The Queen’s remaining allied forces numbered a mere 150 or so. Roughly half their original strength.

In contrast, the rebel army, thinly spread across the city, had about 4,500 troops left. The odds were so overwhelming that even considering a fight was absurd.

“I’m… sorry… Your Majesty…”

“No. You had no obligation to serve me, yet… you did admirably, Eve.”

Alicia offered gentle words to Eve, who hung her head in regret.

“Geez… come to think of it, why the hell are you sticking with us so dutifully?”

Glenn glanced at Fossil, standing boldly beside him, and said in exasperation.

“You’re a complete outsider, aren’t you? You could’ve just bolted.”

“What nonsense. You’re going to join me on that ruin expedition, right? Don’t tell me you’re planning to break your promise? I absolutely won’t forgive that!”

Whether Fossil was stubbornly honorable or just clueless, Glenn couldn’t tell.

Shrugging at the enigmatic Fossil, Glenn turned to Eve.

“Oi… isn’t there something we can do?”

“There isn’t.”

Eve muttered bitterly.

“…It’s checkmate. I have no moves left.”

If that was the case,

they could fight to the last soldier,

or accept the inevitable surrender demand that would surely come soon.

Either way, there was nothing more Glenn could do.

“Damn it all…”

Glenn cursed weakly, utterly exhausted.

As the allied and rebel forces braced for their final clash, the tension thick in the air, two figures, guarded by multiple escorts, appeared in the plaza.

Those figures were—

“Lord Ignite…!”

“Father… Sister…!”

Lord Azel Le Ignite and his heir… Lydia Ignite.

Eve stared at the two in shock.

She’d suspected as much.

In this situation, only a handful of people had the power and ability to orchestrate such a grand coup. By process of elimination, it was obvious. She’d been certain.

Yet, even so, Eve couldn’t believe this reality.

“F-Father…”

“H-hey… Eve…?”

Stumbling forward,

Eve stepped out, one step, then two, as if possessed.

“Why… how could you…!?”

Saying these words would mean the end of the Ignite family, irrevocably.

Knowing this, Eve couldn’t help but demand the truth.

“Why did you betray the Empire!? Why start a coup!? If you do this, the Ignite family—why, why would you!?”

“Silence.”

Lord Ignite coldly rebuffed Eve’s desperate plea.

“How long will you cling to such lowly ambitions? As expected of a woman tainted by base blood. Even after being disowned once or twice, you still don’t understand.”

“T-that’s not… I…”

“Still don’t get it? Still can’t see it? The tides of this turbulent era.”

Lord Ignite glared coldly at the flustered Eve, speaking with conviction.

“At last, what I feared has come to pass. An unprecedented crisis looms over this world.

In this era of chaos, filled with hardship and suffering, a strong leader is needed to guide our Alzano Empire… and the world itself toward a better path. A true, resolute ruler who can make decisions and move forward, even if it means staining their hands with blood—that is what this world needs now.

And we, the Ignite family, are the ones worthy of standing at the pinnacle of that dominion.”

“F-Father… what are you saying…?”

“Do you understand? This uprising is a minor matter in the face of the greater cause. A necessary sacrifice for the sake of true justice. If you get it, then shut up.”

There was no reasoning with him.

Eve, as a last resort, turned to Lydia, pleading.

“Nee-san! Is this okay!? Do you understand what you’re doing right now!?”

“Hey, Eve! Calm down!”

Glenn grabbed Eve’s arm as she seemed ready to lunge at Lydia.

But Eve’s cries, her desperate pleas, didn’t stop.

“The Ignite family is the cornerstone of the Empire’s magical and martial traditions, bearing the duty of the powerful! Weren’t we meant to protect the weak and powerless!?

To dispel the darkness with the noble flame of magic, to illuminate and guide the path for the people of this world… isn’t that the proud meaning behind the name《Lord Scarlet》Ignite!?”

“…”

“Nee-san—are you truly convinced that what you’re doing now is just!?”

But to Eve’s desperate questioning,

“Um… who might you be?”

Lydia responded with a serene smile, brushing it off lightly.

“‘Nee-san, nee-san’—how distasteful. My only sister is Aries.”

“…Huh? …N-Nee-san…?”

“I don’t know who you are, calling me ‘Nee-san.’

But what Father… what Lord Ignite says is absolutely correct.

Besides, I am Father’s daughter. As his daughter, it’s only natural to swear loyalty and obey him unconditionally, isn’t it? And that is my greatest joy.”

She said such things, half-genuinely delighted, radiating happiness.

Only now did Eve realize. Something was wrong. Something was off.

Her sister was never like this.

Gentle yet playful, overflowing with kindness and a sense of justice—that was the sister she knew.

The sister of old and the sister now didn’t align in the slightest within Eve’s mind.

Her appearance, her voice, were identical to Lydia’s down to the smallest detail… but that was something else, something resembling her beloved sister.

Why, how had this happened?

What had changed her sister so drastically?

Eve couldn’t even begin to imagine—

“…”

But now, something within Eve broke irreparably.

Eve’s knees buckled, and she stared at the ground with hollow eyes.

“Lord Ignite…”

Then, Alicia VII spoke solemnly.

“Am I… not enough? Am I so unreliable, so unworthy of the king’s mantle, that you cannot entrust the Empire to me?”

“In short, precisely so.”

Lord Ignite replied, looking down on her.

“You’ve barely managed to keep the country running thus far because we lived in a fleeting era of peace. In a peaceful world, even a woman like you could play the role of king.”

And who do you think has been desperately protecting that peace all this time?

Oblivious to Glenn’s inner thoughts, Lord Ignite continued coolly.

“But from now on, you are inadequate. In this turbulent era, the Empire cannot survive by propping you up. If you care for the nation, step down here.

Even I find this painful, my beloved Queen. But this is for the greater good.”

“Even so, is there not a proper way to go about this, Lord Ignite?”

Despite the situation, Alicia responded with unwavering resolve.

“Such a reckless, opportunistic method, taking advantage of this chaos… it will surely lead to greater turmoil and confusion. How many meaningless sacrifices will result?

Do you think the Empire’s people or the leaders of other nations will accept this approach?”

“It’s not about whether they accept it. They will be made to. The means for that are already in place.”

“By… manipulating your soldiers through some means?”

“…”

Lord Ignite remained silent at Alicia’s accusation.

“Lord Ignite… I’ve long had concerns, but you always believe your own judgment is the most correct, dismissing and denying all others outright. Your perspective is narrow.

You constantly look down on others, treating them with contempt. You see everyone else as mere pawns or tools for your convenience, never giving them a second thought.

Indeed, your abilities are exceptional. You are a once-in-a-generation prodigy.

But who would follow someone like you, who cares nothing for others?

In the end, you understand nothing about humanity.”

“Hmph… that’s why you’re limited to where you are.

My superiority over others is simply an undeniable fact.

And I, Ignite, am the one who can turn the impossible into reality.”

“…Lord Ignite…!”

“The script is already written. Queen, you foolishly plotted world conquest, attempting to capture the leaders of other nations in this reckless act. And I will be the one to punish you.

Bear the infamy of a tyrant and become the foundation of a new era, ignorant Queen.”

Raising his hand as if to signal the end of the discussion,

“Now… before the final command, I’ll give you one last chance, Eve.”

“…!?”

Suddenly addressed, Eve looked up in surprise.

“That command of the Queen’s army earlier… it was you, wasn’t it? Your skill in countering Lydia’s tactics so effectively is commendable. It seems you still have some use. It would be a pity to let you fall here.”

“…Father…? What are you…?”

“Very well, Eve. I permit you to return to my service.”

“Huh…?”

Eve let out a dumbfounded sound at Lord Ignite’s words.

“Did you not hear? I’m saying I’ll allow you back into the Ignite family, at the lowest rank.”

“…”

“Come back, Eve. That’s an order.”

“…”

“Or… will you defy me, Eve?”

(What… is he saying? This father. This man.)

…Impossible. Eve thought in a daze.

In this situation, no matter how much she valued her life, to submit to her father here… was unthinkable.

Even if everything went according to Lord Ignite’s plans, what then?

The Empire would clearly descend into chaos.

After all, Lord Ignite’s ugly ambitions knew no bounds. Once in power, turmoil and war were inevitable. A world-spanning war.

The students of Alzano Imperial Magic Academy, Eve’s only refuge, would be mercilessly conscripted into the military, sent to fight in wars against other nations—and most would not return alive.

The faces of her students flashed through Eve’s mind like a revolving lantern.

The faces of the children who admired her, calling her teacher, instructor.

(Me, complicit in such a thing…? Impossible…! No matter what… even in death, that’s absolutely impossible!)

Yes, impossible. It couldn’t be.

And yet—

(Yet, why… why am I…!?)

Staggering, Eve stood…

One step, then another. Was she walking toward Lord Ignite?

Was she about to kneel before him…?

(Oh, no… I… I’m truly, utterly hopeless…!)

Her body, her thoughts, refused to obey.

She couldn’t resist. No matter what, she couldn’t defy her father’s words.

(…Why… why…!?)

When Lord Ignite’s cold eyes fixed on her, when she heard those words,

Eve felt as though a curse bound her, rendering defiance impossible.

She was terrified. Just thinking of resisting brought on strange sweats and uncontrollable hyperventilation.

Her heart’s pounding and the trembling of her entire body wouldn’t stop.

“Come now, Eve. It’s an order. All you need to do is obediently follow my commands.”

“…Ah… aah… aaaaah…”

The battle was already decided. The hierarchy was firmly established.

At that moment, Eve’s heart had utterly submitted to Lord Ignite.

—But.

As Eve, on the verge of crossing a point of no return, began to step toward Lord Ignite…

It was then.

A hand gripped Eve’s shoulder firmly from behind.

“…Eh?”

That someone’s hand pulled her back with a forceful tug…

And held her tightly.

That someone steadied Eve’s body, grasping her shoulders securely.

She felt the warmth of their body against her back.

Eve, trembling, looked up at the one holding her.

It was…

“…G-Glenn…?”

“Don’t listen to that jerk.”

While glaring at Lord Ignite with eyes burning with quiet fury, Glenn scolded Eve.

His grip on her shoulders remained strong, resolute in not letting her go.

(…Ah…)

In an instant, the terror dominating Eve vanished.

Her trembling stopped. Her hyperventilation ceased.

(No way… that unbearable trembling… how could it just… stop…?)

Paying no mind to Eve’s astonishment,

“Hey, you traitorous scum,”

Glenn barked, raising his pistol.

“To hell with you. Don’t go sprinkling weird powder on my comrade. If you’re so desperate, take me down first.”

At that moment,

“Ah…”

A nostalgic voice from someone, sometime long ago, flashed through Eve’s mind like lightning—

 

—To hell with that.

—I won’t forgive anyone who lays a hand on my little sister.

—If you’re going to try, you’ll have to deal with me instead—

 

“You… if it isn’t Glenn Radars.”

Lord Ignite glanced at Glenn,

His eyes filled with disdain, as if looking at loathsome trash.

“It’s been a few days, hasn’t it? The failure of life, the foolish loser who threw everything away for a single woman.”

“Hahaha, I’m flattered! To think my name’s reached even the top brass, the Supreme Commander of the Imperial Army? Guess I’m not such a nobody after all, huh?”

Glenn responded to Lord Ignite’s icy demeanor with as much bravado as he could muster.

“Hmph. But you’re a cruel man, aren’t you?”

Lord Ignite sneered at Glenn.

“Why hold Eve back on a sinking ship like that? You called her your comrade, didn’t you? If you truly cared for her, shouldn’t you let her go?”

“Haha, a sinking ship, huh? Which one of us, you idiot?”

Glenn’s lips curled into a fierce, mocking grin.

“Let me make one thing clear… we haven’t lost yet.”

“Pathetic. Just empty bravado. You can’t even see reality.”

“Before we get to that, who the hell would trust you with Eve?”

“Oh?”

“Sure, if Eve genuinely wanted to go with you, I wouldn’t stop her. She has the right to choose her path.”

“Then I fail to understand. Right now, Eve is acting of her own will…”

“Oh, really!?”

Glenn roared fiercely at Lord Ignite’s shameless claim.

“That’s exactly why I can’t trust you with her! Her own will!? Don’t make me laugh! Take a good look at her face before you spew that garbage!”

“—!?”

“What kind of man wouldn’t hold back a woman who’s crying and trembling like this!?”

“G-Glenn…”

Eve stared at Glenn’s profile, dumbfounded by his passionate outburst.

But Lord Ignite—

“Kuk, hahaha, fuhahahahahaha! Glenn Radars, you’re awfully invested in my daughter, aren’t you!?”

He simply laughed, loud and mocking, ridiculing everything about Glenn.

“Eve, how did you seduce this man!? Could it be with that beauty and figure inherited from your lowly mother!? You’re no different from her, are you!?”

“Y-You bastard…!?”

Glenn couldn’t fathom it. What kind of man was this?

How could such a nauseatingly vile man exist in this world?

“How was my daughter’s ‘performance,’ Glenn? From the looks of it, she must’ve been quite satisfactory.”

“Shut up! Don’t open your mouth again! Don’t you dare insult her…!”

“Hmph, it’s the truth, isn’t it? After all, that woman should be your hated enemy! You lost the woman you loved because of her decisions!”

“—!?”

In that moment, Sera’s face flashed through Glenn’s mind—and then faded away.

“Yet you defend her so fiercely!? Hahahaha! There’s no other explanation for it!”

Lord Ignite continued his scornful, derisive laughter, spitting on everything—

“~~~ !”

Eve, stung by the cruel insults, could only stifle her voice and let tears fall.

“…You…! Are you really her father…!?”

(No good. I can’t let this guy keep spewing his poison.)

(I have to shut him up, or I’ll go mad.)

Glenn’s vision turned red with rage.

As his fury reached its breaking point, ready to explode—something stopped him.

Somewhere in Glenn’s heart, Sera’s gentle, watching smile appeared.

At the critical moment, it made him realize something.

“Wait… why? How do you know that?”

“Hm?”

“How do you know that Sera died because of Eve’s decisions back then?”

Glenn pressed on, his voice sharp, as Lord Ignite fell silent.

“It doesn’t add up. The only ones who knew about that were the Special Missions Annex members who fought on the scene. In the official reports, Eve’s decisions were deemed somewhat forceful but perfectly rational… No one would easily conclude that Sera died because of Eve.”

Exactly. That’s why so many in the military saw Glenn as “a traitor who fled for inexplicable reasons” or “a coward who broke under the loss of comrades.”

“So why… how do you know that Sera died because of Eve’s decisions…?”

To Glenn’s question,

“Hmph, isn’t it obvious? Because it was my order.”

Lord Ignite answered casually, without any attempt to hide it.

“What…!?”

“During the final phase of the Jatice Incident… that foolish daughter of mine tried to divert frontline forces to support you and Sera Silvers. An irrational move that would have diminished our gains. So, I corrected it. Rationally.”

“…”

“Well, I had my eye on Sera Silvers for quite some time… I wanted her under my command, but I suppose it was a bit of a shame.”

Glenn… looked down at Eve in his arms, stunned.

Eve, avoiding his gaze, kept her head bowed… silent, her body trembling slightly.

As if ashamed, as if filled with regret, she remained wordless.

Desperately avoiding Glenn’s eyes… as if in confession.

And so—Glenn understood everything. It was all true.

Without hesitation, he made his decision.

Glaring at Lord Ignite with piercing intensity, he declared,

“Lord Ignite… I’m going to take you down.”

His voice was chilling, even to himself.

“Hmph. A weakling barking loudly. Do you even understand the situation?”

As if fed up with the conversation, Lord Ignite raised his hand.

At his signal, Lydia, standing by, relayed orders to the encircling rebel army—

And the surrounding magical soldiers snapped back into combat readiness.

“Don’t you get it? The fight is already over. There’s nothing you can do.”

The surviving royal guards, protecting the queen, braced themselves for their final stand.

“To begin with, there was never anything you could do, Glenn Radars. The world has an unstoppable current. Only a select few, like me, can defy and redirect that flow.”

“…”

“A mere commoner like you can only be swallowed by that great current. You’re powerless alone.”

To Lord Ignite’s mocking words,

“Yeah, you’re right… pathetic as it is, I can’t do anything alone. Not now, not ever.”

Surprisingly, Glenn admitted it readily, reaching into his pocket to pull something out.

He flicked it upward with his thumb.

It was a halved gem—a magical communication device.

When, and with whom, had he been communicating…? The device was still active.

“That’s why we all work together. Now, and always—”

Glenn declared boldly—right at that moment.

 

“《Obey me, people of the wind・I am the princess who commands the breeze》—!”

A clear, resolute girl’s voice rang out.

In that instant,

A tempest roared, as if dozens of localized storms had erupted simultaneously, sweeping through the area—blowing the encirclement outward, completely shattering one section of it.

“What—the!?”

Except for a few skilled individuals like Lord Ignite and Lydia, who hastily deployed magical barriers, no one could withstand the dragon-like whirlwinds writhing in the storm.

And then, descending from the sky, cloaked in gales—

“Sensei! Sorry to keep you waiting!”

“—We’re ready! Let’s do this!”

It was Sistine and Rumia.

They held hands, with Rumia fully activating《Ars Magna》to support Sistine.

“Thanks! With you two lending a hand, we’re unstoppable!”

“But, Sensei, hurry! Even with Rumia’s ability assisting, this wide-range, high-output spell won’t last more than a minute!”

“Got it!”

Kicking off the ground, Glenn charged.

As he ran, he high-fived Rumia’s outstretched hand—

And then dashed straight toward Lord Ignite like a bolt of lightning.

“I won’t allow it.”

Naturally, Lydia moved to intercept.

She prepared to counter Glenn’s charge with flame magic.

—But.

“YAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHH!”

A girl, transformed into a blue flash, shot toward Lydia like a bullet.

It was Re=L.

“—!?”

Re=L’s massive sword swung at Lydia.

Though Lydia instinctively blocked with her flame-infused arm, defending herself,

In such a ferocious storm, she couldn’t hold her ground—

“AAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHH!”

“Kuh—!?”

Blown back by Re=L’s forceful swing, Lydia was caught in Sistine’s [Storm Grasper].

Like a leaf tossed in the storm, Lydia was forced to retreat.

“Impressive…!?”

Still, managing to regain her balance in the chaotic tempest and counter with flames toward Re=L was remarkable—

“OOOAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHH!”

But in that opening, Glenn closed the distance to Lord Ignite.

In the brief moment he’d high-fived Rumia,《Ars Magna》had infused his fist.

Charging at Lord Ignite—

His all-out punch shattered Lord Ignite’s barrier—

“DAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHH!”

“GUWAAAAAAAHHHH!?”

And landed squarely on Lord Ignite’s face.

“You… YOUUUUUUU!?”

Blown back, Lord Ignite was also caught in [Storm Grasper], retreating helplessly.

“That’s one for me, huh? Heh… you’ve been cheating like crazy on your own… so it’s only fair we get to use a little cheat too, right!?”

“GLENN RADARSSSSSSSS! YOUUUUUUU!”

Lord Ignite, face red with rage, screamed as he was swept away by the wind.

Glenn flipped him off as he watched him go.

Then, before the bewildered Alicia and her allied guards,

“Your Majesty! This way!”

Elsa, along with Levin, Rize, and other students from the imperial team, appeared.

“We’ve prepared a safe place to take shelter for now!”

“Hurry, please! We don’t have much time!”

“Please, trust us for now, Your Majesty!”

Alicia’s confusion lasted only a moment before she made her decision.

“Understood. Thank you. Lead the way.”

“Yes!”

“Those who can move, assist those who cannot! We’ll retreat from this place together as much as possible! Hurry!”

““““Yes, ma’am!””””

Amid the raging storm, the surviving soldiers, revitalized by the queen’s orders, moved with newfound vigor, like fish returned to water.

The surrounding encirclement tried to stop them—

But Sistine’s ferocious [Storm Grasper] wouldn’t allow it.

At last, a path to survival had opened here.

“It’s thanks to you, Eve. Because you held out this long, we made it in time.”

“…Glenn…”

Glenn extended a hand to Eve, who sat dazed on the ground.

“Come on, let’s go. We’re not done yet. Right?”

Staring blankly at Glenn’s strong, reassuring smile, Eve… after a moment, weakly took his hand—