Chapter 5: The Final Encounter

Glenn, accompanied by Sistine and Rumia, set out from Fejite in a covered wagon.

From Fejite’s northern wall gate, they traveled north along the Aarg Road, which connected Fejite to the imperial capital, Orlando.

The landscape, once greeted by vast, majestic farmlands, was now a silver world blanketed in snow. The cold, crisp air felt as though its pristine purity pierced their lungs.

They followed the gently undulating and curving road northward, traveling alongside a dense forest to the east.

At a certain point, they veered off the main road, heading west.

They retraced the route Glenn had taken with Celica during a previous ruin expedition.

Straying too far from the road was undesirable due to the risk of encountering magical beasts, but with the Researchers of Heavenly Wisdom leading the undead army and The Last Key Legion《Ultimus Clavis》 gathering in the north, Glenn judged it best to keep as much distance as possible to avoid any potential threats.

“Still… it feels kind of nostalgic, doesn’t it?”

A voice called out from above Glenn, who was holding the reins at the driver’s seat.

Sistine had poked her head out from inside the wagon, looking down at him.

“To think that the time we went to investigate the Taum Celestial Temple… it was only about half a year ago, wasn’t it?”

“Now that you mention it, yeah, just about.”

“Yes. Back then… right… we went to reinvestigate my grandfather, Redolf Fibel’s magical thesis… about the time-space transfer function of the Taum Celestial Temple.”

“Oh yeah, that’s right.”

Rumia, sitting primly inside the wagon, joined the conversation.

“Hehe, it feels… strange, doesn’t it? It’s like it happened yesterday, but at the same time, it feels like years have passed.”

“Well, ever since Celica dragged me into becoming a lecturer at that academy, it’s been nothing but one intense moment after another.”

As the wagon swayed, Glenn let his thoughts drift to the journey so far.

So much had happened, truly.

Glenn’s appointment as a part-time lecturer and the academy bombing incident.

The Magic Tournament and the attempted assassination of the queen.

The field study expedition to Cyneria Island and Re=L’s [Project: Revive Life] incident.

Sistine’s marriage commotion and Jatice’s《Angel Dust》incident.

The investigation of the Taum Celestial Temple and the encounter with the demon.

The battle with the Researchers of Heavenly Wisdom behind the scenes of the social ball.

The study-abroad incident at St. Lily Magic Girls’ Academy.

The “Fejite’s Worst Three Days” and the《Ship of Flames》incident.

Eve’s demotion and the hidden academy commotion.

The battle with the Silver Dragon in the frigid snow mountains of Snowria.

The one-on-one duel with Albert in the ruin city of Mares.

The infinite loop of the Magic Festival representative selection tournament.

The clash with the Thirteenth Holy Execution Squad—Last Crusaders behind the Magic Festival.

Nearly being trapped within the Memoirs of Alicia III.

And to top it all off, Lord Ignite’s coup, “The Hour and a Half of Flame”—

“Ugh, I’m done. What even is my life as a lecturer?”

Recalling all these events, Glenn let out a massive sigh.

He couldn’t believe he’d been caught up in so many incidents.

“Y-Yeah, for you, Sensei, this is beyond just bad luck, isn’t it?”

Even Sistine could only offer a wry smile.

“Do you… ever regret becoming a lecturer at the academy, Sensei?”

Rumia asked, her voice tinged with unease.

Glenn fell silent for a moment.

“Nah, I don’t regret a thing.”

Then, with genuine sincerity, he answered brightly.

“Sure, at first, I hated the idea of working, and I never wanted to deal with magic again. Looking back, it’s been nothing but trouble… but there’s been so much more—happy moments, fun times. I can say with my chest puffed out that becoming a lecturer was worth it.”

“Sensei…”

Glenn looked up at the sky.

The sky was heavy with dark, overcast clouds, as if snow could fall at any moment.

But there was a single break in the thick clouds, where radiant sunlight poured through, scattering and sparkling across the landscape.

“Yeah… now that I think about it, the day Celica pushed me to become a magic lecturer was the start of everything for me…”

“…Professor Arfonia…”

At Glenn’s soliloquy, Sistine fell into a solemn silence.

“If that’s the case… we absolutely have to save Professor Arfonia, don’t we?”

Rumia smiled brightly.

“For you, Sensei, Professor Arfonia is the one who shaped who you are now—a great benefactor. So now it’s your turn to save her and repay that debt, right?”

“Don’t worry, Sensei! Rumia and I will give it our all to help you!”

“Yes. Let’s save Professor Arfonia together.”

“Yeah, you’re right… I’m counting on you two.”

Glenn let out a small laugh.

But his smile quickly faded, and he fell silent.

“…Huh? What’s wrong, Sensei?”

“Wait… are we not reliable enough after all?”

“No, it’s not that. It’s not that at all…”

At that moment, something was weighing on Glenn’s mind.

(…Nameless…)

Glenn recalled Nameless’s words once more.

—Glenn… in the near future… you will visit the Taum Celestial Temple with Celica once again…

—And after that… you will be forced to make a great choice. You will have to weigh the things most precious to you on a scale…

(What did she mean by that? With Celica? …Isn’t this a bit off?)

Nameless’s prophecy was close but not quite right… it felt strange somehow.

If Nameless could truly see the future, why did she say “together”?

Shouldn’t it have been something like, “You and Celica will visit the temple”?

(And that’s not the only thing bothering me…)

“After that, you will be forced to make a great choice.”

(Sure, I’ve had to make big choices up to this point… whether to save Celica or stay in Fejite… but is that really what she meant? What does “after that” mean? Is this just a slight discrepancy in wording, like the first part of the prophecy?)

Even if Glenn confronted Nameless directly, she likely wouldn’t give him a clear answer.

Perhaps it wasn’t that important. But…

(Damn it… I’ve got a bad feeling about this… Celica…)

Gritting his teeth, Glenn gripped the reins tightly, desperately trying to suppress the strange premonition welling up inside him—

——

And so, Glenn and his companions steadily progressed toward the Taum Temple.

Along the way, Glenn let Sistine and Rumia take naps while he handled the reins.

By the evening, when the air began to carry the chill of night, they reached the Taum Celestial Temple.

Perched atop a sheer cliff, the massive, hemispherical stone temple stood unchanged.

Despite its snow-covered exterior, it looked exactly as it had half a year ago.

“The Taum Celestial Temple… Is Professor Arfonia really here…?”

Ignoring Sistine’s murmur, Glenn approached the entrance lined with stone pillars.

He crouched down in front of the entrance, brushing away the nearby snow.

From his pocket, he pulled out a small cloth bag and sprinkled the powder inside around the area—a special magical reagent that glowed in different colors based on the wavelength of residual mana.

“…There it is. This purple glow is Celica’s mana residue.”

“So, Professor really is inside this temple?”

“Yeah, no doubt about it.”

Glenn stood and turned to face Sistine and Rumia.

“Sorry, but we’re short on time. It’s gonna be a forced march, but I want to start exploring the ruins right away. You two okay with that?”

“Yes. We took naps on the way here.”

“We’re ready to go, Sensei!”

Rumia and Sistine answered energetically.

And so, with backpacks filled with several days’ worth of food, water, and exploration gear, Glenn and his companions ventured into the Taum Celestial Temple—

——

The Taum Celestial Temple was a structure carved from a single massive rock, its passages, walls, ceilings, and rooms all made of stone.

The inner walls were densely etched with geometric patterns resembling celestial charts, greeting Glenn and his companions in the same form as half a year ago.

But unlike then, the geometric patterns now pulsed with ominous red and blue mana, glowing dully with a low hum that shook the entire ruin.

And then…

“SHAAAAA—!”

Far more powerful and ferocious wraiths roamed the ruins in droves.

These failed spirits—some resembling shadowy human figures, others like winged fairies or floating souls—came in various forms and charged toward them.

They surged forward in a swarm.

But.

“《Magic Bullet》—《Volley》!”

Sistine stepped forward, chanting a spell with an additional verse.

From the five fingers of her left hand, five concentrated mana bolts fired.

Black Magic [Magic Bullet]—activated simultaneously in a volley of five.

Compared to half a year ago, Sistine’s spell had grown significantly in power and precision, tearing the approaching wraiths to shreds, scattering them like mist.

“—Hmph!”

Glenn, too, drew his percussion revolver with his right hand, holding it at his hip while fanning the hammer with his left for rapid-fire shots.

Six enchanted bullets, fired with practiced speed, ripped through the wraiths.

“We did it!”

“Yeah!”

Having dispatched the swarm of wraiths in one fell swoop, the two high-fived overhead.

“Good work, you two.”

Rumia, who had been ready to support with her《Silver Key》, praised them.

“Still, I heard this ruin was rated S-Rank Danger Level Exploration, but it’s kinda manageable, isn’t it?”

“That’s thanks to you two. If I were alone, I’d be in serious trouble by now.”

Looking at his dependable students, Glenn could only give a wry smile.

“But… even accounting for that, something feels off.”

“Off? What do you mean?”

At Glenn’s doubt, Rumia tilted her head curiously.

“The wraiths are too docile.”

“!”

“As Eve said, this ruin’s exploration danger level is S. Normally, S-level wraiths would be far more aggressive and relentless in their attacks. But these ones feel like they only attacked because we invaded their territory.”

“Now that you mention it…”

“To me, it feels like the wraiths in this ruin are hiding, afraid of something. It’s convenient for us, sure, but…”

“We can’t let our guard down, right?”

Glenn nodded at Rumia’s conclusion.

Then, Sistine piped up with a question.

“By the way… what exactly did Professor Arfonia come to this ruin for? And what does it mean that she’s never coming back to Fejite?”

It was the same fundamental question nagging at Glenn.

“I don’t know. Nameless didn’t tell me anything. But the deepest part of this ruin has the《Corridor of Stars》, right? I’m betting it’s related to that.”

“The《Corridor of Stars》… the path leading to the deep layers of the academy’s underground labyrinth, the《Tower of Lament》, right?”

“Then… we should prepare for the possibility that this exploration might take us to the deep layers of the《Tower of Lament》.”

“Yeah, exactly.”

Celica’s true intentions were still unclear. The only certainty was that she had no intention of ever returning to Fejite.

(Celica…)

Glenn pulled a pendant with a red magic crystal from his pocket and gripped it tightly.

Until he could shove this pendant in Celica’s face, Glenn had no choice but to press forward.

(Wait for me, Celica. I’ll bring you back, no matter what…!)

With renewed determination, Glenn continued deeper into the ruins.

——

And so.

One day passed, then two, then three…

The ruin exploration went surprisingly smoothly.

True, countless wraiths and traps blocked their path.

But Glenn’s experience, Sistine’s magic, and Rumia’s ability overcame them all.

Having a perfectly mapped-out ruin from their previous expedition helped immensely.

It hardly felt like an S-level exploration, it went so smoothly.

Glenn and his companions steadily conquered the Taum Celestial Temple—passing through the First and Second Ritual Halls, the Chapel, the Third Ritual Hall, the Observatory, the Mausoleum, the Great Corridor, and the Chamber of Stars.

As expected, they didn’t find Celica along the way, but that was within their expectations.

With about one more day’s journey, they would reach the deepest part of the Taum Celestial Temple—the main objective, the Great Planetarium Chamber—when it happened.

——

Glenn and his companions were taking a break in the middle of a ruin passageway.

They had cleared the surrounding area of wraiths and thoroughly checked for traps, securing a safe zone.

They spread blankets on the floor to sit and lit a portable oil stove to boil water in a pot, dissolving solid soup mix to make warm soup.

“Here, Sensei.”

Rumia handed Glenn a cup filled with soup.

“Thanks.”

Glenn took the cup and sipped the steaming soup.

The hot liquid warmed his tired, chilled body.

“~♪”

Meanwhile, Sistine, a short distance away, was examining the patterns on the ruin’s walls.

It seemed she’d grown accustomed to the expedition, and her passion for magical archaeology had been reignited.

“Hey, White Cat, don’t wander too far.”

“I-I know, geez!”

Sistine pouted at Glenn’s warning.

As Glenn sipped his soup, passing the break time idly, Rumia suddenly murmured.

“I wonder… how Fejite is doing right now…?”

Inside the ruins, they were completely cut off from the outside world. Magical communication and ley line connections didn’t work here.

“If things are going as expected, the Last Key Legion《Ultimus Clavis》should be reaching Fejite about now…”

“……”

Even the steadfast Rumia couldn’t help but let her expression darken.

Glenn patted her head reassuringly.

“It’s fine. Trust them. I do.”

“…You’re right. There’s no point worrying about it here.”

“Exactly. Besides, once we bring Celica back, our forces will get a massive boost, and saving Fejite will be a piece of cake.”

Grinning, Glenn downed the rest of his soup.

“Alright, you two. Break’s over. We’re almost at the Great Planetarium Chamber…”

As Glenn stood and stretched—

Vmmm…

Suddenly, the mana flow within the ruins shifted, and an ominous rumble began.

“What the—!?”

Glenn instinctively shielded Rumia, scanning their surroundings warily.

The patterns on the walls, previously glowing faintly red and blue, began to flicker strangely, their shapes shifting as they emitted an eerie purple light.

Rumble… A low, heavy vibration shook the ruins.

“W-What’s happening!?”

Sistine, who had been a bit farther away, jumped back from the wall in a panic.

“I don’t know! But something’s bad! White Cat, get over here—!”

As Glenn called out to Sistine while staying alert—

“S-Sensei! Rumia! The floor!”

——

Sistine’s warning echoes sharply.

“What!?”

Instinctively, Glenn looks down… and sees a magic circle glowing beneath their feet, one that wasn’t there before.

“O-oh no…”

And in the next instant—

Whoosh!

Suddenly, Sistine vanishes from Glenn and the others’ sight.

No—it wasn’t just Sistine. Their entire field of vision had changed.

The place where Glenn and the others now stood was no longer the corridor where they had been resting moments ago.

It was an entirely different location—some room within the ruins.

The magic circle beneath their feet remained, but Glenn, Rumia, and Sistine had been completely separated.

“What the—!? No way, a teleportation trap!?”

“Sistie!?”

Glenn and Rumia stand in stunned disbelief.

They had meticulously checked this area for traps to ensure it was safe.

For a trap like this to activate so suddenly was beyond reason.

As they take in their surroundings, they notice the patterns on the walls have shifted, the purple light has faded, and the low hum and vibrations have ceased. The ruins have returned to their serene state.

“Damn it!”

Glenn pulls a gem-shaped communication magic device from his pocket to contact Sistine.

“Sensei!” Sistine’s flustered voice crackles through the device.

“White Cat, you okay!?”

“Y-Yes… I’m fine… What about you, Sensei…?”

“Yeah, Rumia and I are safe.”

“A teleportation trap… but why now, all of a sudden…? We thoroughly checked the area for traps, didn’t we!? This is just…”

“…”

As Sistine’s anxious voice reaches him, Glenn’s mind races.

The strange fluctuations they’d seen in the ruins earlier—if those had caused the trap layout to shift, creating a trap beneath their feet, it would explain things.

(The question is, why did the trap layout change at this exact moment…?)

Some ruins are designed to automatically alter their trap configurations or types.

But the Taum Celestial Temple shouldn’t have such mechanisms. If it did, it wouldn’t have been classified as an F-rank ruin, the lowest danger level for exploration.

(The only possibility is something deliberate… Someone took control of the ruins’ core and manually altered the trap layout… forcibly?)

Glenn places his hand on the magic circle beneath him, casting a spell to analyze it.

(As I thought. There are traces of someone’s forced intervention…)

So, who could have done this?

It couldn’t be Celica. Even if she were capable, she wouldn’t pull a malicious stunt like separating Glenn and Sistine at a time like this—not even as a prank.

Which means—

“…White Cat, be careful. There’s someone else in these ruins besides us.”

“What!?”

Sistine’s tense atmosphere carries through the communication device.

“This is someone’s deliberate, hostile setup against us. And if they went to the trouble of separating us, they’re not done yet. Whoever they are, they’ll definitely make a move against us now that we’re split up.”

“Se-Sensei…”

“What should we do…?”

To calm the rattled Rumia and Sistine, Glenn speaks with deliberate composure.

“First, stay calm. Our top priority is regrouping.”

Glenn surveys the surroundings and uses a magical coordinate spell to pinpoint their location on the map.

“Tch, we’re pretty far apart… It’ll take about half a day to regroup with White Cat. No choice, though…”

As Glenn mutters bitterly, Sistine’s voice cuts through the device.

“No way! That won’t do!”

“Huh? But…”

“Sensei, you need to reach Professor Arfonia as soon as possible, don’t you!? We don’t have time to leisurely regroup! We’re already cutting it close as it is…”

“Y-You… but still…”

As Glenn hesitates, grappling with the decision—

“Sensei, let’s move forward.”

Rumia speaks with resolute determination.

“What!? Even you, Rumia!?”

“I checked the map just now. Sistie and us are about the same distance from the Planetarium Chamber. If we all keep moving forward, we should be able to meet up there.”

“But still…”

“Sensei, I agree with Rumia.”

Sistine’s voice, having overheard Rumia, chimes in.

“Since they used a separation trap instead of a lethal one, the act of separating us must have some purpose. Even if we try to regroup, we’ll likely face interference.”

“Even so…”

As Glenn continues to waver—

“Sensei, please… trust us!”

Sistine’s words, brimming with fierce resolve, strike Glenn’s ears.

“We came with you to help you reunite with Professor Arfonia… to support you! Not to hold you back!”

“—!?”

Looking over, Glenn sees Rumia gazing at him, her eyes burning with the same unyielding determination.

With both of them pleading like this, he has no choice.

“…Alright. I trust your judgment. Let’s meet at the Planetarium Chamber.”

“Yes!”

“Be careful, Sistie. Leave Sensei to me.”

Though separated by distance, their hearts are united.

With a nod of agreement, Glenn, Rumia, and Sistine set off on their respective paths—

——

Clack, clack, clack… Sistine’s footsteps echo as she walks.

She cautiously navigates the ruins’ corridor alone.

This wasn’t her first time in such a situation… During their exploration of the academy’s underground labyrinth, she had been separated from Glenn by a trap.

Back then, she had panicked pathetically, unable to analyze what she could or couldn’t do, running around desperately just to survive. But now, things were different.

(Stay calm, assess my resources, my mana, and the situation around me. Keep my mind steady, always searching for the best move and acting on it… In this crisis, I’ll embody the way of a true magician. I didn’t come here to drag Teacher down.)

Though she feels some unease, Sistine isn’t the type to let that stop her anymore.

Compared to the zero-mana zone they faced before, this situation barely qualifies as a crisis.

It’s been half a day since she was separated from Glenn. Every spirit or trap she’s encountered so far, Sistine has overcome. She’s no longer just a student—she’s a fully-fledged magician in her own right.

(If the map is correct, the next area is the Great Observatory… Once I pass through there, I’ll reach the Planetarium Chamber…)

As expected, Sistine spots the end of the corridor ahead—an arched entrance leading to another room.

She steps into the chamber.

“…!?”

The space is vast, so immense that, aside from the wall behind her, the walls on either side and the ceiling are shrouded in darkness, impossible to see.

Of course, it’s not infinite. By following the walls, she could reach the exits to other rooms. It’s just that the dome-shaped chamber is so massive it creates the illusion of endlessness.

Scattered throughout the space are countless stone pillars, their surfaces etched with mysterious patterns.

The pillars vary greatly—some are a mere meter in diameter, others stretch up to ten meters; some are short enough for Sistine to see their tops, while others disappear into the darkness of the ceiling, their ends out of sight.

“…As always, such a mysterious space… What’s its purpose?”

Sistine lets out a breath, awed by the mystical and enigmatic scene.

Normally, she’d linger here, lost in magical archaeology musings, but every second counts now.

“…If I remember the route correctly… it’s north-northeast from here.”

Checking the map in her mind, Sistine begins to move forward.

But—at that moment.

Thump… Her heart pounds sharply.

She senses a faint ripple of mana in the air, the telltale shift that accompanies someone casting a spell.

Her survival instincts scream in warning.

“—What!?”

Sistine instinctively dives to the side, rolling across the ground.

In that instant, one of the towering stone pillars ahead glints at its peak—and a bolt of lightning streaks toward her at terrifying speed.

It mercilessly pierces the spot where Sistine had stood just moments ago.

That spell was—

“[Lightning Pierce]!?”

Sistine rolls to her feet, quickly regaining her stance.

“Who’s there!?”

Casting aside her backpack, she looks up toward the direction of the attack and shouts—

“Hyahahahahahaha—!”

With an ear-piercing cackle, someone clad in fierce winds leaps from pillar to pillar, rapidly closing in on Sistine.

Finally, the figure lands a dozen meters away from her. The impact of their landing sends a whirlwind spiraling outward, raging through the surroundings.

The person who appears is—a thuggish man, like a street punk.

Yet the mana he exudes and the vile killing intent radiating from him scream that he’s no ordinary man.

“Nice dodge! I’ll give ya a gold star for that! Gyahahahaha!”

“W-What…!? You…!?”

The moment Sistine sees him, her eyes widen as if they might tear. A violent chill runs through her body, her heart constricting as if wrung like a rag.

She could never forget. She would never forget.

The man who twice tried to defile and kill her, the epitome of depravity and wickedness—his appearance and name are seared into her memory.

—Jin Ganis.

“H-How are you here…!?”

As Sistine stands dumbfounded, Jin sneers.

“Hyahahahahahaha—! Long time no see, White Cat-chan! I’m back from the dead! I just couldn’t resist wanting to savor you! With all the pent-up frustration from last time as extra spice, let’s make this a full-course feast of a ripe little kitten, shall we!? Hyahahahahahahahaha—!”

Jin’s maniacal laughter echoes through the vast dome, reverberating wildly.

“—!?”

For Sistine, this is the return of her worst nightmare.

Sistine—

—Meanwhile, at the same time.

In another vast chamber, strikingly similar to the one Sistine is in.

“Tch… So that’s how it is.”

Glenn steps forward, shielding Rumia behind him as he faces the man before them.

“…It’s been a while, Glenn Radars.”

The man exudes an overwhelming presence, so intense it feels like it could crush them just by standing there.

Glenn has faced this man in combat twice before.

The first time was during the academy bombing incident when he was a part-time instructor.

The second was during the “Fejite’s Worst Three Days.”

His name—

“Reik Fohenheim… Back from the dead again, huh? You’re one persistent bastard.”

To Glenn, who stands ready and alert, the dark-coated man—Reik—speaks.

“The day of our rematch… I’ve been waiting for this moment.”

“Well, I sure as hell haven’t been!”

As Glenn shouts—

Crack! A sound like chains snapping erupts from Reik’s body.

In the next instant, Reik’s mana and presence swell even further.

His body begins to transform… growing larger, sprouting horns on his head, leathery wings on his back, and jagged scales across his skin.

Reik is becoming something inhuman.

“This time, I’ve released all three [Dragon Chain Seals]—Number One, Number Two, and Number Three… Now, Glenn Radars… show me the world that lies beyond endless battle… show me the meaning of my clan’s cursed purpose…!”

The moment Reik fully transforms into a humanoid monstrosity—

A torrent of violent mana pours from him, raging like a storm through the dome.

Reik begins to exude the overwhelming presence of a dragon, the apex of the natural world.

To an ordinary person, facing such a transcendent being would leave no choice but to give up in despair.

But Glenn…

“You’re an idiot, you know that? A real damn fool.”

He speaks as if pitying Reik.

“You got a second chance at life. You could’ve found something fun to do, lived a little. But no, you’re still obsessed with your original mission. What a damn fool.”

To Glenn, Reik isn’t a friend or even someone he’s shared many words with.

All Glenn knows about Reik is that they’ve fought to the death twice… and that Reik is bound by the cursed mission of the Fohenheim family, possessed by the power of dragons. That’s the extent of the dossier-like information he has.

They’re enemies, destined to kill each other. There’s no hope of understanding one another.

Yet—Glenn can’t help but feel a strange sense of empathy and pity for Reik’s grotesque, transformed form.

“Rumia, let’s do this. Lend me your strength.”

“…Yes.”

With a firm nod, Rumia activates《Ars Magna》.

And Glenn raises his gun, aiming at Reik—

——

“‘[Project: Revive Life]’ and its resurrection of the dead… This is likely their final revival, for both of them.”

In a certain place, Felord observes Glenn and the others through magical vision, speaking calmly.

“After all, it seems that Jatice Lowfan, of all people, raided the organization’s hidden laboratory, destroying the backup data, the ritual site, and the spells themselves…”

Even Felord, usually unflappable, seems mildly exasperated by the persistent interference of that thorn-in-the-side “Justice”.

“But, sending him—Jin—after Sistine was a stroke of luck. Don’t take it personally… This is a trial I’ve set for you.”

In the pitch-black darkness, Felord smiles.

“Sistine… I know you can overcome something like this. I don’t know a single weak-willed girl who’d fail at this level. But when you do overcome it…”

Felord pulls a single key from his pocket—a green key.

“This final key…《Jade Wind General》Syr Viesha will be yours. When that time comes, you’ll earn the right to walk the path to truth alongside me… Oh, how thrilling… To walk with my dear, lovely Sistine once more…”

He shifts his magical vision from Sistine to Glenn.

“Now, as for the ‘The Fool’… How will he fare, I wonder? Even I can’t quite figure him out.”

He gazes at Glenn with a hint of curiosity.

“No matter how you look at it, he’s not a major player like ‘Justice,’ ‘The Star,’ or ‘The Magician,’ capable of shifting the entire board. Yet, strangely, he always ends up entangled at the center of it all… an irregularity.”

Felord’s lips twist into an amused grin.

“Well, he’s just a minor irregularity, that’s all. For now, I’ll use him as a tool to gauge the perfection of my beloved angel…”

Muttering to himself, Felord continues to smile softly in the darkness—