Chapter 1: Crossing 5853 Years

“…Ugh… …Ah…?”

Suddenly, the dream broke off, and consciousness surfaced.

In a hazy state where dreams and reality mingled, Glenn groaned as he opened his eyes.

“…Where am I…?”

As Glenn sat up, he found himself on what seemed to be a bed in some sort of room.

Beside him, Sistine lay limp, her chest rising and falling, breathing steadily, indicating she was merely unconscious.

Confirming Sistine’s safety with a sigh of relief, Glenn surveyed his surroundings.

It was a peculiar stone-walled room.

The ceiling and floor were adorned with numerous geometric magic circles, resembling celestial charts.

At the center of the room floated an enormous magic crystal, larger than Glenn’s height—unlike any he had ever seen.

Looking at the front and side walls, he saw massive bookshelves. However, they didn’t hold neatly bound books.

Instead, they were filled with countless scrolls and stone tablets.

(…What is this place…?)

Standing up and approaching, he casually picked up one of the items.

The scrolls weren’t made of the familiar paper or parchment Glenn and his companions often used. They were papyrus, crafted from crushed plant fibers. The stone tablets were baked clay inscribed with writing.

(Such outdated writing systems… it’s like something from ancient times…)

As he vaguely pondered this, his memories suddenly came flooding back vividly, and his hazy consciousness fully awakened.

“That’s right… I’m in the past… the ancient world…”

“You’ve finally realized, huh?”

At that moment, a voice called out unexpectedly.

Turning, he saw a white-haired girl emerge from behind the massive magic crystal.

“…Nameless!”

“I told you to stop calling me Nameless. I have a unique name: La’tirika, the Angel of Time.”

La’tirika narrowed her eyes, clearly displeased.

“More importantly, I have a lot of questions for you.”

La’tirika directed her inquiry at Glenn, who was awkwardly scratching his cheek.

“Who are you? Why do you know me? And above all, who is Sora to you?”

At those questions, Glenn recalled his ultimate purpose and stepped toward La’tirika.

“I’ve got plenty of questions myself! Where’s Celica?! She should’ve arrived in this era around the same time as us! Where is she—?”

“Quiet down and calm yourself.”

La’tirika pushed back against Glenn, who was leaning in too close, with a look of distaste.

“Hmph… it seems we both have a lot to discuss.”

“Y-yeah… let’s take it one step at a time…”

Glenn backed off sheepishly as La’tirika sighed.

And so—

After waking Sistine, the three of them gathered around a stone table.

Glenn began explaining to La’tirika as she questioned him.

He spoke of himself, his companions, and what he knew about Celica.

He described their era—the future world.

He mentioned the Grandmaster of The Researchers of Heavenly Wisdom, a demon king who had persisted since ancient times.

The looming threat of the evil god’s summoning, orchestrated by this demon king’s schemes.

And the imminent arrival of the Last Key Legion《Ultimus Clavis》approaching Fejite.

In the midst of this, Celica had suddenly vanished from Glenn’s side.

To pursue her, Glenn had used the hidden function of the planetarium device in the deepest part of the Taum Celestial Temple’s planetarium chamber to travel to this bygone era.

Glenn, alongside Sistine, explained everything calmly and methodically.

“That’s roughly the gist of who we are and our situation.”

Finishing his explanation, Glenn looked at La’tirika.

“Now, it’s our turn to ask questions… but, uh, hey…?”

“Nam… I mean, La’tirika-san!?”

At that moment, Glenn and Sistine were startled.

La’tirika was trembling, her head bowed.

“No way… four hundred years…? What’s that supposed to mean…? For four hundred years, that girl wandered the world alone, without her memories… all to fulfill her mission…?”

For a while, La’tirika was at a loss for words, but eventually, she wiped her eyes with the back of her hand and regained her usual cold expression.

“Sorry for losing my composure. …Let’s continue.”

“Y-yeah…”

“Anyway, Glenn, I understand you’re from the future and a disciple of Sora in that world. So, as we proceed, I need you to promise one thing.”

“Sure. What is it?”

“Don’t tell me—or anyone else in this era—anything else about the future. Absolutely not.”

La’tirika’s expression carried an undeniable intensity.

“W-Why not!? Wouldn’t it be better to share more details!? Since we know about the future—!”

“…Alright.”

Though Sistine protested, Glenn agreed readily.

“Even if it’s unavoidable, I was indeed reckless. It’s not good for me to talk freely about the future, but there’s no issue with you telling me things. That’s our understanding, right?”

“As expected of Sora’s disciple. You catch on quick, which helps.”

Sistine could only pout in frustration at the knowing exchange between the two.

“Alright then… if that’s the case, I’ve got some questions of my own.”

What should he ask first? …Glenn already knew.

And deep down, he suspected he already knew the answer.

The path he had walked thus far had already traced the shape of those answers.

So—this was merely a confirmation.

“Who exactly is Celica?”

“…That’s quite a vague, abstract question.”

La’tirika sighed, pausing briefly.

“But… I understand what you’re getting at. Alright, I’ll explain step by step. It’ll take a while, so bear with me.”

And so, La’tirika began to speak slowly and solemnly.

“First… to talk about Sora, we need to discuss a certain magician.”

“A certain… magician?”

“Yes. You can’t define Sora without talking about this magician.”

Nodding, La’tirika continued.

“…Long, long ago, in a different world from this one, there was a certain magician. In a world dominated by science, he was a rare individual who mastered magic.

And in mastering magic, he became the master of one of the outer universe’s evil gods—us,《The Celestial Taum》—earning the title of《Grandmaster》.”

“!”

“Well, after many twists and turns, his world fell apart all too easily. We tried desperately to help him save it, but… it was futile.

The reason it fell? Well, every world has its share of foolish humans. That’s all there is to it.

In the end, he abandoned that unsalvageable world, traveled through the Dimensional Tree, and arrived in this one.

You might find it hard to believe, but this world was originally an incredibly primitive place with no magic at all… He was the one who first brought magic to it.

Let’s see… for example, numerology, Sefirot, the Major Arcana, runes… Don’t those magical concepts still exist in your era? They all originated from him… but I’m getting sidetracked.”

La’tirika exhaled deeply.

“Anyway, he wielded his magic freely for the people of this world and taught it to those who sought it. Thanks to him, the people of this world, who had lived extremely primitive lives, began to advance rapidly. Their quality of life improved beyond belief.

Of course, the downside was that scientific progress lagged far behind, resulting in a somewhat lopsided civilization.”

La’tirika picked up a stone tablet from the table, giving a wry smile.

“…In any case, this world continued its magical advancement, and eventually, a great nation was born. Before he knew it, that magician had become its king.

And so, he and us,《The Celestial Taum》, watched over that nation and this world as its guardians for a long, long time.

Truly… it was a peaceful, ideal world. Thanks to the blessings of magic, no one died of disease or starvation. No one suffered the sorrows of war. It was a world where everyone could be happy and smile—a world he had once dreamed of in his original world.”

As La’tirika spoke, she gazed at the ceiling, her expression filled with nostalgia.

“But… after a few thousand years, I suppose…

He went mad. Even now, I don’t know the reason for his madness. I… I failed to notice his change until it was too late.”

La’tirika’s hand, resting on the table, clenched tightly.

“He started wars, one after another, crushing neighboring nations and bringing them under his dominion.

Having fully dominated the world, he used countless lives daily as sacrifices for his magical experiments and research, as if they were nothing more than water.

The world fundamentally changed.

He and a small group of privileged magicians who followed him treated all other humans like livestock or slaves, ruling over them in a dark age—a hell manifested in reality.

He and his magicians, in this selfish, artificial world, advanced magic at an accelerated pace. Naturally—there was no shortage of test subjects or sacrifices.

Yes, the man once hailed as a wise king had fallen to become a demon king.”

“…”

Normally, Sistine would light up at talk of ancient civilizations, but even she was left speechless, captivated by the weight of La’tirika’s words.

La’tirika paused for a while, allowing Glenn and Sistine to process everything before continuing.

“Now… let’s get to the main point.

Naturally, I grew fed up with that demon king.

My goddess sister, La’falia, part of《The Celestial Taum》, stubbornly supported him, but I was done with that wretched, despicable man! I didn’t lend him my power to create such a hell! I just—!”

Suddenly, La’tirika’s voice rose in anger.

After taking several deep breaths, she continued.

“…I left the demon king.

And I searched… for someone who could defeat him.

But every human in this world had already succumbed to his immense power and terror. They had no spirit left to resist, reduced to less than livestock, their fangs thoroughly pulled.

That’s why… that’s why I chose Sora.

In a world where everyone knelt before the demon king, she—only she—could stand against him.

Even if it was driven by the destructive hatred and rage born from losing her kin and homeland, she alone had the resolve to fight him.”

Glenn fell silent, his expression bitter, recalling how Celica had often been consumed by an “inner voice” and her “mission to fulfill.”

And the contents of the dream he had just seen—

“I made a contract with Sora. By linking with me, the interface to an outer universe’s evil god, Sora was freed from the yoke of time, becoming an《Immortalist》.

Over a hundred years, I trained her. I taught her every secret of magic I knew. I granted her the authority I held as an evil god through my《Ars Magna》, sparing nothing to forge her into humanity’s strongest magician.”

“…”

“And then… Sora’s battle with the demon king, Titus, began.

It was a long and grueling war. So much happened. Sora fought across the world, battling countless demon generals and the demon king’s armies… and she kept winning.

And finally, in the demon capital, Melgalius, the final battle between Sora and the demon king, Titus, began.

But… even with Sora’s century of hatred, rage, and magical mastery, the demon king, Titus, was too distant, too lofty, too powerful.

In the end, Sora, wielding the power of La’tirika, the《Angel of Time》, was no match for the demon king, Titus, who wielded the power of La’falia, the《Angel of the Sky》.

Defeated in that final battle, Sora was banished across dimensions by the demon king’s magic, completely erased from this era. With Sora’s total defeat, humanity’s last hope was crushed, and all battles—and this world—should have ended.”

“…”

Hearing this, Glenn remained silent for a moment.

“But… Sora returned. To this era.”

“…Yes.”

La’tirika continued heavily.

“As《The Celestial Taum》, we inherently hold authority over time and space. Naturally, the battle between Sora, wielding our magic, and the demon king, Titus, became a struggle for dominance over time and space. No one could predict the outcome of such a battle.

So, I took precautions.

The Taum Celestial Temple, this planetarium device… If, by some chance, Sora was cast out of this era, it was set up to increase her chances of returning, even slightly.”

“…”

“The rest… you know, Glenn. In the future world, you met Sora… spent time together… and she returned to this era to fulfill her mission.”

Glenn fell silent.

Then, Sistine, who had been listening quietly, spoke with a trembling voice.

“Hey, Sensei… doesn’t this story sound familiar…?”

“…”

“Everyone in our era knows the fairy tale ‘The Magician of Melgalius’… A Mage of Justice defeats an evil demon king and saves the princess… that kind of bedtime story…”

“…”

“But we know… ‘The Magician of Melgalius’ isn’t just a fairy tale. It’s a kind of historical record, compiled based on certain historical events.”

“…”

“If La’tirika-san’s story is true… then the protagonist of that fairy tale, the ‘Mage of Justice’ who challenged the demon king… could it be… no way…!?”

At that moment—

“…Celica is Celica. Nothing more, nothing less.”

Glenn muttered softly, calming Sistine’s agitation.

“I get the gist of it. …So? Where’s Celica now?”

“As I said, there’s only one thing Sora, who returned to this era, would do… A rematch with the demon king. In other words… the demon capital, Melgalius.”

“The demon capital, Melgalius… the stronghold of the demon king said to have once existed on the land of Fejite. So, location-wise, it’s Fejite.”

With a clatter, Glenn stood up.

“Where are you going?”

“Obviously, I’m going after Celica. To bring her back.”

Glenn declared resolutely.

“W-Wait a second, Sensei!”

Sistine hurriedly stood, trying to stop him.

“Did you hear La’tirika-san!? Right now, Professor Arfonia is facing the demon king who rules this era in a rematch!”

“Yes, exactly. Three days ago, in their first battle, Sora caused quite a stir, so the demon capital, Melgalius, is likely on high alert.”

“That means if we’re going to help the professor, fighting is unavoidable! But if this is the ancient era, there’s a major problem!”

Sistine glanced at La’tirika.

“Let me ask… the magicians of this era use Ancient Magic, right?”

“Ancient Magic? …I don’t quite understand what you mean.”

“Oh, right… that term might not make sense in this era… Um…”

Sistine began chanting softly, raising her mana.

Her mana activated her spell, forming a magic circle above her raised hand.

It was a spell considered “highly refined” in the Modern Magic of Glenn’s era.

“This is the magic formula from our era. How does it compare to the magic formulas of this era?”

La’tirika looked at the formula and said, exasperated.

“What? That low-level formula… Are you seriously using Low Runes instead of High Runes? It’s like the ‘Fool’s Fang’…”

La’tirika glanced at Glenn.

“You’re kidding, right? In the future, that’s the only kind of low-level magic left?”

Sistine nodded, as if her point had been proven.

“Exactly, that’s what I’m saying, Sensei.”

“…”

“The magic of this era is Ancient Magic. It’s on a completely different level from the Modern Magic we use. Naturally, the demon king and his followers use Ancient Magic. With her memories restored, Professor Arfonia is likely using Ancient Magic as well.”

“…”

“In a battle where Ancient Magic clashes at such a level, would our power even make a difference? Wouldn’t we just be a burden?”

“…”

“It’s painful to admit, but… maybe staying put and waiting is an option?”

Sistine said bitterly.

“It’ll be fine! After all, history is already set, right!? The fact that we’re here from the future means it all worked out, doesn’t it!? If we wait here, everything should turn out fine! And then we can take the professor, who fulfilled her mission, back with us…”

“Hey.”

“Ah!? Sorry!”

Sistine clapped a hand over her mouth, remembering she wasn’t supposed to talk about the future.

“Haa…”

La’tirika let out a deep sigh.

“Well… I had a hunch from watching you two, but I see. So, you came from a future where Sora defeated the demon king.”

“Huh? What do you mean?”

“To put it simply, at this point in time, that outcome isn’t set. No one knows whether Sora will defeat the demon king.”

La’tirika said calmly.

“What!? Why!? We’re here from a time when the professor won—!”

“Come on, that’s not like you, White Cat.”

Glenn interjected, scratching his head as Sistine panicked.

“You’re usually sharper than this. You’re pretty shaken up by this situation, huh?”

“Huh!? What are you talking about, Sensei!?”

“Have you forgotten about the ‘Singularity Theory of the Dimensional Tree’?”

“—!?”

Sistine’s expression suddenly shifted to one of realization as Glenn continued.

“History, you see, is ‘solid.’ It doesn’t change easily. For example, whether I win or lose at chess against White Cat, or whether I choose bread or Shirotte for lunch, it has no impact on the grand flow of history. Everyday life, the world—it all just keeps going, unchanged.

Minor divergences in the branches of history are easily swallowed back into its main current.

But even so, there are definitely turning points that can drastically alter the course of history.

A specific action or event that causes the Dimensional Tree to branch out significantly, giving rise to a ‘what if’ world… a parallel timeline… that’s what a singularity is.”

“And at a singularity… the future that branches out from it isn’t set in stone… it both exists and doesn’t exist equally…?”

“You remembered. That’s exactly right. That’s why I told you and the people of this era to avoid talking about the future. We don’t know what might become a singularity.”

“…!”

“But… right now, in this era, there’s an enormous singularity, isn’t there? That’s right—the battle between Sora and the Demon King. In this era, who wins that fight hasn’t been decided yet.”

“N-no way…”

To a pale-faced Sistine, La’tirika delivers another blow.

“And here’s even worse news. At this moment, you can’t return to your original era.”

“W-what…!?”

“Because the future you’re supposed to return to hasn’t been determined yet. It’s different from Sora’s case, where she was randomly flung somewhere along the Dimensional Tree by the Demon King’s spacetime banishment magic.

For you to return to your era using a spacetime transfer device is currently impossible. You can’t go back to an undetermined future.

That’s exactly why spacetime transfer is so difficult. Going from the future to the past is barely possible, but going from the past to the future becomes exponentially harder. It’s not even a matter of technical limitations.”

“…Even the former is a ridiculous feat of godlike skill from our perspective.”

Glenn scratches his head with a sigh.

“Anyway, for us to return to our era, we can only hope Celica defeats the Demon King… So, how about it, Nameless? Can Sora defeat the Demon King?”

“…You’re really asking that?”

La’tirika furrows her brow and responds.

“I told you before, didn’t I? There’s a clear power gap between Sora and the Demon King. No matter how many times they fight, the result won’t change. Sora will absolutely lose.”

“…!”

“On top of that, I don’t know what happened in your future world, but Sora’s power is clearly weakened right now. She’s barely maintaining the facade of a mage, but in that state, even if she fought a hundred times, she wouldn’t win a single one. …Well, you can pray for a miracle, I suppose.”

Glenn suddenly recalls something.

The battle at Fejite’s《Tower of Lament》—on the 89th floor of the underground labyrinth, where Celica fought Al-Khan《Demon Blade General》 and the damage her soul sustained during that fight.

“N-no way…!”

Sistine, her face filled with despair, stands frozen in shock.

“T-then… not only can we not save Professor Arfonia… we can’t even return to our own era…!?”

“Harsh, but that’s reality. Thanks for the wasted effort.”

Suddenly, La’tirika’s sardonic expression twists into one of anguish.

“That’s why I was secretly hoping… that she wouldn’t come back… Why did that girl have to return…?”

“La’tirika-san…?”

“Isn’t it enough already…? She tried so hard… She could’ve just forgotten everything and lived happily with her disciple… You could’ve chosen that path… So why…?”

For a moment, silence lingers.

Glenn gazes steadily at La’tirika’s pained expression.

“Anyway… it’s all over now… Sora can’t defeat the Demon King. This time, she’ll truly be killed, down to her very soul.

The Demon King’s reign will continue. This dark era, this hell, will go on forever. A world where all living beings are livestock for mages will persist eternally. The future is sealed…”

“…N-no…!”

With a clatter, Sistine stands up.

“W-we can’t just stay stuck in this era! We have to bring Professor Arfonia back… back to our time! Everyone’s waiting for us!”

“Well, at this rate, that era where ‘everyone’s waiting’ won’t even come.”

La’tirika shrugs dismissively.

“But don’t worry, your existence itself won’t vanish. There’s still a parallel timeline where Sora defeats the Demon King, after all.

It’s just that this timeline won’t head in that direction. You’ll simply drift apart from the worldline you came from. It’s complicated, but I can assure you of that.”

“N-no…! I-I…!”

As Sistine stammers in panic…

“It doesn’t matter.”

Glenn mutters quietly.

“The Demon King, saving the world, singularities—none of that grand stuff matters.

But there’s one thing I know for sure. I came here to save Celica.

Waiting or praying? Those weak options aren’t on the table.”

“—!?”

“S-sensei…”

La’tirika is left speechless, and Sistine gasps at Glenn’s words.

Glenn continues, facing the two of them.

“Celica is my family. I’ll bring her back, no matter what. I came this far because they pushed me to do it. There’s no backing down now.

So, I’m going. And if it comes to it, I’ll take down the Demon King myself.”

“…”

Sistine blinked in a daze.

Then, she slaps both her cheeks with her hands—smack!—reigniting her resolve.

“I’m sorry, Sensei… I got too shaken by how overwhelming this all sounded. You’re right… we came here to save the professor.

Hesitating before we even try isn’t like us, is it? Let’s go, Sensei! Let’s rescue the professor together!”

“Heh, looks like you’re getting it, partner. I’m counting on you to watch my back.”

“Yes, sir!”

As Glenn and Sistine solidify their resolve with high spirits, La’tirika lets out a quiet sigh.

“…Glenn, is your resolve born from ignorant bravado, unaware of the Demon King’s power and terror? Or is it ignorance of the fragility of your so-called ‘Fool’s Fang’…?

Either way, you’ve come this far, ready to throw yourself into the fray for Sora’s sake, facing an existence beyond human comprehension.”

She turns a wistful expression toward Glenn.

“Yes… to go that far for Sora… That girl found a wonderful disciple… no, a family, at the end of an uncertain, fleeting world of possibilities.

That’s exactly why… I didn’t want Sora to return to this era… even if it meant committing an unforgivable act.”

“…Nameless?”

Glenn looks at La’tirika with suspicion.

After a moment of silent contemplation, her head bowed, La’tirika murmurs.

“…I’m coming with you, Glenn.”

“!?”

Her declaration leaves Glenn and Sistine blinking in surprise.

“What’s with the shock? You outsiders are willing to go this far for Sora’s sake. So how could I, of all people, stand by and do nothing? After all, this was originally—”

La’tirika lifts her face, locking eyes with Glenn.

“—a fairy tale that Sora and I built together…”

With that, she stands up with determination.

“That said, I’ve lost most of my power due to injuries from the first battle. I’m barely holding onto a semblance of a human body—it’s practically a hollow shell.

My authority as《The Angel of Time》—the《Golden Key》—is almost unusable now. All I can do is—”

As she speaks, La’tirika extends her left hand forward.

Silver particles of light spill from her hand, showering over Glenn and Sistine.

Their bodies surged with mana, filled with an overwhelming sense of omnipotence.

“W-what is this…!?”

“Surprised? This is one of the powers of《The Celestial Taum》, the entity that grants power to others—《The Law of—”

“《The Law of Ars Magna》!? It’s the same power as Rumia’s!”

Sistine blurted out in astonishment, cutting her off.

For a brief moment, La’tirika freezes.

“…The same power?”

“Ah! No, I mean…”

“I see… I don’t know how it works, but in your future world, she exists, doesn’t she? That girl… La’falia. I’ll remember that name, Rumia…”

A chill runs through Sistine as a near-murderous hatred emanates from La’tirika.

Yet, at the same time, there’s an undeniable sadness in her expression.

“…Back to the point. This《The Law of Ars Magna》might feel like it’s just amplifying your mana, but that’s not the whole story.

In simple terms, it temporarily supercharges your magical computation abilities, forcibly opening your spiritual pathways, which makes it feel like your mana is amplified.

Sure, your mana is actually boosted, but it’s not just about increasing mana or amplifying power.”

“So, what does that mean?”

“Honestly, the magic you’re using is pretty weak. As a weapon against the Demon King and his forces, it’s far too feeble.

But even if your weapon is a mere wooden stick, in the hands of a master, it can surpass a skilled swordsman’s fine blade. My power temporarily turns you into that master.”

“Wow…《The Law of Ars Magna》is an incredible power, isn’t it…?”

Sistine, sweat beading on her forehead, marvels in awe.

“B-but… if you have that kind of power, why didn’t you join Professor Arfonia for her second battle?”

“《The Law of Ars Magna》isn’t an omnipotent power that can endlessly enhance someone. If Sora’s magical computation ability is already at the level of a master,《The Law of Ars Magna》becomes redundant. And above all… Sora would never let me come with her. Because—”

La’tirika raises her right hand before Glenn and Sistine.

They both gasp.

The tip of La’tirika’s right pinky has slightly vanished, turning into a translucent spiritual form.

“W-what? Just from using that power…?”

“…I told you, didn’t I? I’m just a hollow shell now. All I can do is wear myself down to use my power… So use my help wisely, okay?”

With that, La’tirika releases《The Law of Ars Magna》

The silver light filling the room fades.

But the tip of La’tirika’s pinky doesn’t return to normal—

“…Got it. Thanks for the help, Nameless.”

Glenn nods with a pained expression.

“…Alright, then. Let’s get moving.”

For a fleeting moment, La’tirika looks like she wants to say something but walks toward the back wall of the room instead.

Placing her hand on the stone wall etched with strange patterns, she chants a spell. With a deep rumble, the wall distorts and opens into an arched doorway.

Urged forward, they pass through the doorway into a large, domed chamber.

At its center sits a familiar device.

“As expected, this is the deepest part of the Taum Celestial Temple… the Great Planetarium Chamber!”

Glenn lets out a surprised shout, glancing between the planetarium device and the room they were just in.

“Wait a second! Then the room we were in was…”

“The Inner Sanctum. The central hub of this ruin.”

“Seriously!? An undiscovered Inner Sanctum was right there!?”

“Talk about right under our noses…”

Sistine’s cheek twitches as she stares at the sanctum’s entrance.

Soon, the entrance distorts and closes.

“Hold on… So, this is the deepest part of the Taum Celestial Temple, right?”

“Yes, it is.”

“Damn… Then just getting to the surface will take days, won’t it!?”

“T-that’s right! What do we do!?”

Glenn and Sistine start to panic.

“If we push ourselves with a forced march, maybe we can make it out in two or three days…?”

“N-no way, that’s impossible… Even if we managed, fighting the Demon King afterward would be…”

“Arghhh! We talked a big game, and it’s already falling apart!?”

As Glenn and Sistine make a fuss, La’tirika sighs in exasperation.

“Ugh… Are you idiots? Were you seriously planning to fight without a plan? …This is going to be a long journey.”

She walks toward the planetarium device and operates a nearby monolith.

The device’s arms begin to spin, activating as mana traces the patterns on the floor…

Before Glenn and Sistine, a ‘door’ formed of blue light appears.

“Obviously, we’re using the《Corridor of Stars》. What’s this magical device for if not that?”

“…Oh!”

“Even within this temple, we mostly use these for movement. There are multiple ‘doors’ set up on each floor. Otherwise, a place like this wouldn’t be practical as a base.”

Huh? There was something like that?

To Glenn and Sistine’s puzzled expressions, La’tirika continues.

“I’ve connected the《Corridor of Stars》to the Demon Capital Melgalius. Pass through this door, and you’ll arrive there instantly. …Come on, don’t dawdle. Let’s go.”

“R-right…”

Urged by La’tirika, Glenn and Sistine step through the ‘door’—

——

“…So, what exactly are the Taum Celestial Temple and that planetarium device?”

—《Corridor of Stars》.

While walking along a path of light in the mystical, fantastical expanse of cosmic space, Glenn questions La’tirika, who leads the way.

“To put it simply, it’s our forward base for conquering the Demon Capital Melgalius.”

La’tirika explains as she walks.

“Do you know where the Demon King has set up his stronghold?”

“…That’d be the old Fejite… the Demon Capital Melgalius, right?”

“Exactly. The Demon King resides in the deepest part of the《Tower of Lament》located there.”

“…The《Tower of Lament》…”

Glenn recalls the vast underground labyrinth beneath the Alzano Imperial Magic Academy.

That labyrinth is known in modern times as the《Tower of Lament》.

And according to Memoirs of Alicia VII, which he’d seen before, the Demon King’s stronghold lies beyond the《Gate of Wisdom》on the 89th floor.

“Hah, so the Demon King’s hiding deep underground, huh? I thought he’d be lounging in a sky castle like in the fairy tales.”

“Yes… it seems that part differs a bit from the fairy tales…”

“…Huh? What are you talking about?”

La’tirika tilts her head in confusion.

“Anyway, the Taum Celestial Temple and its planetarium device were created to conquer the《Tower of Lament》. A woman named Sthena Luisen, who once served as the temple’s high priestess, betrayed the Demon King and joined us.”

“Sthena… Luisen?”

The name Luisen feels vaguely familiar to Glenn.

“Yes. She was a rare genius in spatial magic. Together with Sora, she created this planetarium device and the《Corridor of Stars》.

Using this device, we established multiple return points within the《Tower of Lament》, gradually advancing our conquest.

From the 10th to the 49th floor of the《Tower of Lament》—the《Trial of the Fool》—is an impregnable domain with a zero-mana zone, dungeon regeneration functions, and top-tier defenses.

Even Sora, the strongest mage of humanity, couldn’t have conquered the《Tower of Lament》without the《Corridor of Stars》.”

“I see…”

That explains why the《Corridor of Stars》connects the Taum Celestial Temple to the academy’s underground labyrinth.

“T-then… can’t we use the《Corridor of Stars》to go directly to the deepest part of the《Tower of Lament》?”

“During the last battle, most of the return points inside the《Tower of Lament》were destroyed by the enemy. On the bright side, we managed to neutralize the《Trial of the Fool》’s defense mechanisms, so it’s a trade-off.

Those return points and defenses have auto-repair functions, but both take a long time to restore. So, we have no choice but to charge in directly—and it’s also our chance to strike.”

“…Got it.”

Glenn feels the missing pieces of the puzzle falling into place.

As they continue walking, the exit of the《Corridor of Stars》comes into view.

“Pass through that, and we’ll be in the Demon Capital Melgalius.”

La’tirika turns back to Glenn and Sistine.

“Are you ready?”

“Yeah.”

“O-of course!”

At La’tirika’s question, Glenn nods, and Sistine, slightly nervous, bobs her head up and down.

“…Good faces. Let’s go.”

With that, La’tirika steps forward.

She gently passes through the exit of the《Corridor of Stars》.

Glenn and Sistine follow.

In that instant, their vision is engulfed in white…

The scenery warps and distorts…

A sensation of fading consciousness washes over them…

Gradually, their hazy vision, like heat shimmering in the air, reconstructs a new world before them.

“…!?”

The scene unfolding before Glenn and his companions is—