Chapter 3: The Disciple

Towering at the heart of the magical city of Melgalius stands the Demon King’s castle—the《Tower of Lament》.

This tower, which also serves as a unique magical ritual facility, has an entrance located solely at its pinnacle, with a peculiar structure where the lower the level, the higher its status.

The exterior resembles a quadrangular pyramid, but the part visible above ground consists of the first to ninth levels, known as the《Journey to Awakening》, and the tenth to forty-ninth levels, known as the《Trial of the Fool》.

This section forms the strongest defensive mechanism against external enemies.

The part structurally corresponding to the underground—from the fiftieth level onward—has its internal space warped by magic, drastically altering its hierarchical structure.

There, countless circular levels stack vertically, forming a labyrinthine structure, yet it contains residential districts and intricately interwoven structures.

And at its outer perimeter, an infinite sky stretches out.

A wondrous place, hardly believable as an underground realm.

From the fiftieth to the eighty-ninth levels—the《Gatekeeper’s Station》—it’s a second capital where the magicians under the Demon King reside, a utopia for those magicians.

On a terrace within an aerial garden built along the outer perimeter of this tower district—

“…”

A woman stood silently.

She was a woman of ethereal beauty, like a fairy.

Her silver hair flowed like molten pure silver, and her slightly upturned, emerald-green eyes gleamed.

Draped loosely in a white-based mantle, she gazed absently at the infinite sky stretching beyond the terrace.

That vast sky held an eternal night.

An impossibly massive moon glowed before her eyes.

As the woman gazed at the night sky without purpose—

“Lady Syr Viesha-sama!”

Suddenly, the area behind her grew bustling, and several men, seemingly magicians, appeared and bowed before her.

“Is something the matter? How is the progress on the burial of the bodies?”

The woman called Syr Viesha glanced toward the interior of the tower.

There, countless corpses lay scattered—the corpses of magicians.

Each body was in a gruesome state, some charred, others partially missing limbs.

“No, that task is still… During the battle three days ago, during Sora’s invasion… our losses were far too great… In just a few days, it’s simply…”

“I see. Please continue with the burial tasks. Even if they were sinners steeped in sin, leaving them exposed like this is far too pitiful.”

“Sinners? Them?”

At Syr Viesha’s words, the reporting magicians exchanged puzzled glances.

“With all due respect, they were magicians. What sins could they possibly have committed…?”

“…Never mind. Please forget I said anything.”

Syr Viesha shook her head weakly.

“More importantly, you have something to report, don’t you?”

“Y-Yes…! Just moments ago, someone claiming to be Sora’s disciple suddenly appeared in the eighth district of the royal capital, Melgalius!”

“…Disciple…?”

Syr Viesha furrowed her brow.

“I hadn’t heard anything about her having a disciple… Is this information reliable?”

“Y-Yes! It comes from a trustworthy source!”

The magicians responded, shrinking back slightly.

“Furthermore—this disciple is displaying behavior that incites the people of the Fool, using Sora as a banner.”

“That’s strange. Wasn’t Sora banished to another dimension by Titus-sama three days ago in that battle? To nullify any resurrection or revival magic…”

“Y-Yes, but… according to this disciple, Sora has already returned to Melgalius.”

“…”

“We couldn’t ignore the situation, so Lord Accelo Iero, the《Iron Cavalry General》guarding the surface entrance, has moved to deal with this insolent individual claiming to be her disciple.”

“…I understand.”

Syr Viesha closed her eyes and spoke.

“I will handle this matter. Please continue with your tasks.”

“Yes, ma’am!”

“Currently, Titus-sama is performing a crucial magical ritual beyond the《Gate of Wisdom》to achieve his ultimate goal. This is the most critical time… Under no circumstances can we allow rebels to reach Titus-sama. Everyone, fulfill your duties to the utmost!”

““““Yes, ma’am!””””

With that exchange—

The magicians hurriedly scattered to carry out their respective duties.

But—

“…”

Syr Viesha remained still, silently staring at the night sky outside.

‘Is that alright?’

Behind her, a low voice accompanied the silent appearance of a shadow.

A demonic figure, cloaked entirely in a scarlet robe, otherworldly in presence.

The depths of the hood held an infinite abyss, its expression unreadable, not a single glint in its eyes.

At its waist hung two magical blades, brimming with immense cursed power—

“…《Demon Blade General》… Al-Khan…”

Syr Viesha turned to face the demonic figure.

The demon—Al-Khan—posed a question to Syr Viesha.

‘Is that alright? To me, it seems you’re neglecting your duties. What’s happened to you, Syr Viesha, renowned as the most loyal to the king, O《Verdant Wind General》?’

“…”

At Al-Khan’s accusation, Syr Viesha fell silent for a moment…

“I don’t understand.”

After a moment of hesitation, she murmured softly.

“I believed in Titus-sama’s ideals… I devoted myself to him for the true happiness of this world… But was that truly the right thing to do?”

‘…’

“Sora’s invasion the other day. She stormed this《Tower of Lament》alone, defeating the ruling class of magicians one by one… reaching Titus-sama’s very throat. That tenacity.

To me… it felt as though she carried the will of the people living in this world… as if she were the voice of every soul rejecting us.”

‘…’

“Will you purge me? For speaking such blasphemous words?”

To Syr Viesha’s question—

‘I don’t care.’

Al-Khan replied.

‘Now, as ever, I seek only a true lord worthy of my service. I have no interest in trivial matters. That is the true desire of I, the “blade.”’

“You never change, do you…”

‘Like I once saw in Titus, I saw potential in Sora as well… But will it come to pass? Are they worthy of being that vessel… or perhaps…’

“…”

After a brief silence, Syr Viesha murmured.

“…Why… did it come to this…?”

‘…’

“Our Demon Generals have dwindled significantly. Via Dhol, the《Flame Demon Emperor》, Jarl Zia, the《Marshal of Justice and Crime》, Varu Vhol, the《Thunder God General》, and Ha Dessa, the《Death Law General》, were all vanquished by Sora. And Le Silva, the《Silver Dragon General》, surrendered to her… No, it’s more accurate to say she was freed from the ‘Key’ and returned to her true self.”

‘…’

“Only three of us remain… the《Verdant Wind General》, the《Demon Blade General》, and the《Iron Cavalry General》… The invincible Demon Generals, who transcended humanity by abandoning it, have been defeated to this extent by a human magician—by the irrational will of those who resist us.

I’ve been shown the strength of humanity anew.

If humans are this strong… then what I’ve done… Titus-sama’s ideals—were they merely imposed, an unnecessary evil?”

‘Aren’t you overestimating them? The strength you speak of is Sora’s individual valor, not something that applies to humanity as a whole.’

“…Is that so?”

To Syr Viesha, who harbored such doubts, Al-Khan continued.

‘In any case, we are magicians, not knights who hold loyalty as a virtue. “If thou desirest, cast the desires of others into the furnace.”… Do as your heart desires.’

With those words—

Al-Khan turned on his heel and departed.

“…Where are you going?”

‘To fulfill my mission. My role is to guard the eighty-ninth level, the《Gate of Wisdom》.’

Al-Khan walked away, vanishing into a rising black mist as if he were a phantom—

“…”

Syr Viesha gazed into the void, as if seeing Al-Khan off.

“…What I… What I must do… What I can do…”

Eventually, Syr Viesha extended her hand forward.

With a graceful motion, she drew a circle in the air.

The circle filled with magical energy, becoming like a mirror.

Reflected in that mirror was an image—

The figure of a rebel fighting Accelo Iero on the surface.

“…He’s… Sora’s disciple…?”

Syr Viesha watched the rebel’s battle with a solemn expression.

And she was astonished.

(For a mere human… to be capable of this…)

Humans were powerless beings.

That was why Syr Viesha had once abandoned her humanity… to stand against a certain great threat.

Yet, the sight of this rebel—a human resisting those who were no longer human—was somehow dazzling.

(…Sentimentality. For someone like me, who has already abandoned humanity, to think of such things now is pointless…)

As Syr Viesha watched the rebel’s battle—

(…What?)

She suddenly noticed.

Behind the rebel, a silver-haired girl wielded wind magic to provide support.

“This girl…”

She didn’t know why.

She didn’t know why, but—

“…”

Syr Viesha couldn’t take her eyes off the girl.

Forgetting Accelo Iero and the rebel, she stared at the girl, drawn to her as if entranced—

——

‘Ooooohhh—!’

It charged forward. On the grand avenue cutting through the magical city in a cross, a black horse galloped with mighty limbs, pulling a massive chariot in a reckless dash.

With each kick of the horse, the stone-paved ground shattered and upheaved.

The wheels, spinning wildly, spewed blue flames.

Tracks of blazing blue fire etched the ground, scorching the world in azure—

‘Dieeee!’

The demon driving the chariot thrust a great spear from atop it.

The spear surged forward, carrying the full weight of its tremendous physical force.

“《O Silver Ice Wolf・Clad in Blizzard・Charge Through》—!”

Glenn chanted Black Magic [Ice Blizzard].

“《Roar, Warhammer of the Storm》—《Strike (Zwei)》—《Smash (Drei)》!”

Sistine chanted Black Magic [Blast Blow].

Both were infused with Nameless’s《Ars Magna》.

Thus, their magic, elevated to a power unthinkable for modern magic, was unleashed.

From Glenn’s hand, a tempest of massive ice boulders roared.

From Sistine’s hand, a relentless barrage of ferocious wind hammers was released.

The magic squarely struck the charging demon—Accelo Iero.

But—

‘It’s useless!’

Accelo Iero’s Adamantite body didn’t yield in the slightest.

It repelled and deflected everything, its charging momentum undiminished.

“White Cat!”

“Got it! 《O Shining Guardian・Fivefold Wall》—!”

Sistine improvised a variation of Black Magic [Force Shield].

A honeycomb-structured magical barrier appeared, five layers thick, blocking Accelo Iero’s charge.

But—

‘Useless! Useless! Uselessss!’

Accelo Iero’s chariot smashed through all five layers of the barrier head-on.

With a sound like shattering glass, the magical barriers crumbled and vanished effortlessly.

—In that instant.

‘Useless!’

Accelo Iero’s great spear surged toward Glenn and the others.

“Kh!?”

“—Ugh!?”

Glenn pushed his physical enhancement spell to its limit, while Sistine activated《Gale Kick》, and they scattered, leaping into the air—just as the chariot tore through the gap.

A tremendous shockwave resounded, the magical city trembling.

The sturdy horse’s hooves flattened the ground, buildings and all, kicking up massive pillars of dust that swirled.

The blue flames from the wheels ignited, setting the district ablaze with a brilliant glow.

Buildings caught in the wake collapsed one after another like sugar sculptures—

“…W-what the hell is that thing!?”

Glenn, who had leapt to the roof of a nearby building to escape, could only twitch his cheek at the sight of the destruction below.

“If we get caught in that, no counter-spell will matter… It’ll turn us into mincemeat in an instant…”

At that moment, a shadow fell over Glenn’s world.

Sensing something, he looked up—

‘Shiiiiii!’

There was Accelo Iero, atop the chariot.

Having completely outmaneuvered Glenn, he thrust his great spear toward him—

“A-a chariot moving like that is just ridiculous!”

Despite his shock at the chariot’s movements, far beyond anything Glenn knew—

—Glenn felt no panic.

Bang!

Glenn drew a flintlock pistol from behind him and fired without aiming.

The magical gun,《Queen Killer》.

With a sharp crack tearing through the air, the bullet flew in a spiraling, diffusive trajectory centered on Glenn.

The bullet struck Accelo Iero’s temple, causing him to reel back slightly.

That impact shifted the spear’s trajectory, missing Glenn.

“Oooooh—!”

Glenn delivered a spinning kick, altering his falling trajectory and escaping the area.

“《O Sword of the Wind King》—!”

In that moment, Sistine, soaring like the wind across the rooftops, unleashed a spell.

Black Magic [Air Blade].

But her target wasn’t Accelo Iero—it was the horses tethered to the chariot.

Three sharp wind blades, slicing through even a vacuum, flew toward the horses—

‘Foolish!’

But the wind blades, which surely hit the horses, were repelled and shattered.

‘Did you think such “Fool’s Fangs” could pierce my Adamantite steeds!?’

Accelo Iero’s chariot landed.

A massive impact. The ground shattered, trembling up and down.

Its overwhelming presence and destructive power completely repelled Glenn and Sistine’s attacks—

“Tch…! So that’s the《Black Chariot》!?”

Glenn shouted, recalling the fairy tale The Magician of Melgalius.

“Accelo Iero was supposed to have troublesome magical weapons like the《Ship of Flames》or the《Giant of Light》—cheating Demon Generals, weren’t they!?”

“We need to find a way to drag him off that invincible chariot…!”

Sistine landed beside Glenn like a gust of wind.

“Right. But—”

“White Cat, leave this to me.” Glenn said, fixing his gaze on Accelo Iero dozens of meters away across the main street.

“Huh!?”

“I need you to guide the residents of this area to safety.”

Glenn drew his other pistol.

A percussion revolver—Glenn’s greatest partner, the magic gun《The Penetrator》.

“…Besides, that guy’s my responsibility. You get that, right?”

“…!”

“Please.”

“Got it… Don’t you dare die on me while I’m gone…!”

Instantly grasping Glenn’s intent,

Sistine activated《Gale Kick》and vanished like the wind.

‘You think I’ll let you escape!?’

Without hesitation, Accelo Iero swung his mighty adamantite arm, hurling a massive spear toward Sistine’s exposed back.

The spear, spiraling through the air with a vacuum in its wake, flew straight toward Sistine’s back—

“Like I’d let you! Idiot!”

Glenn brandished his magic gun《Queen Killer》.

The bullet head, which had been hovering in the air after being fired at Accelo Iero, darted like lightning, striking the spear with a resounding clang.

Clang! The spear’s trajectory veered off course.

With that strike, the bullet head finally lost its power and fell to the ground… but Sistine seized the moment to disappear gracefully from the scene.

‘…You use some awfully peculiar magic… What are those iron tubes?’

“Hah! Who knows…?”

Facing an irritated Accelo Iero, Glenn holstered《Queen Killer》behind his waist.

This single-shot magic gun required a one-minute reload time.

And its attack power was somewhat effective against Accelo Iero. It couldn’t deal damage, but it could deflect attacks or stagger him.

For Glenn, whose magic lacked potency, this magic gun was the cornerstone of his fighting style.

(The problem is how to buy time for that reload…)

Honestly, he desperately wanted Sistine’s support.

Even with Nameless’s《Ars Magna》enhancing him, Accelo Iero was far too much for Glenn to handle alone.

But—here, Glenn had to fight alone.

Sistine’s help was likely not allowed.

Why?

(Because it’s not written… That’s why.)

What a troublesome situation.

If he were still alive, Glenn would’ve wanted to punch Loran Ertoria in the face.

(But I’ll do it! That’s got to be the key to opening a path for her… for Celica!)

With that resolve,

Glenn pointed at the distant Accelo Iero and began chanting a spell.

“《O fierce Thunder Emperor・with the spear of auroral light・pierce through》—!”

A spear of auroral lightning shot from his fingertip.

It flew straight toward Accelo Iero’s head—

‘It won’t work!’

Unfazed, Accelo Iero cracked the reins, spurring his chariot into a charge.

Effortlessly deflecting Glenn’s lightning spear, the chariot closed in on him with relentless destruction, its wheels tearing through everything in its path.

Fast. Too fast.

The chariot’s charge was like a streak of blue and black lightning.

“Tch—!”

Pouring all his mana into a physical enhancement spell, Glenn instinctively dove to the side to evade the charge.

He successfully dodged it.

Yet—the shockwave from the charge slammed into Glenn’s body, sending him flying.

“Gwaaahhh—!?”

Glenn’s body crashed into a building’s wall, causing it to collapse.

Without Nameless’s《Ars Magna》, his body would’ve been shattered to pieces, dead on impact.

“Guh… cough… Damn, that’s rough…!”

Pushing aside the rubble, Glenn spat blood and struggled to his feet.

Across the street, the demonic figure atop the chariot, which turned with an agility unthinkable for such a vehicle, locked onto Glenn once more.

Accelo Iero,《Iron Cavalry General》.

A fearsome demon whose body was forged from adamantite, impervious to all physical and magical attacks.

His fists and hand strikes alone held power far surpassing ordinary weapons or magic.

And one of the mobile weapons he wielded—《The Black Chariot》.

This chariot was akin to an activated magic device, rendering Glenn’s [Fool’s World], which merely suppressed spell activation, useless against it.

In short, for Glenn, Accelo Iero was the worst possible matchup.

(But… even so, in this world, I’m the only one who stands a chance against him…)

Glenn glanced at the grip of his beloved gun tucked into his belt.

The problem was how to get close to Accelo Iero, who rode that monstrous chariot.

How to create an opening.

(Argh, no use overthinking it! I’ve got no choice but to do it…!)

Spitting blood, Glenn fixed his gaze forward.

‘Die!’

Accelo Iero cracked the reins again, urging the black horses forward—

With widespread destruction in its wake, the chariot charged toward Glenn once more.

“Raaah—! 《O crimson lion・in your righteous fury・roar with madness》—!”

At the very least, hoping to blind him,

Glenn chanted Black Magic [Blaze Burst].

‘Useless, useless, useless!’

Undeterred by the explosive pressure or the raging flames,

Accelo Iero closed in on Glenn, thrusting his massive spear straight forward—

————

Glenn was pouring every ounce of his strength into battling Accelo Iero.

—No, it could hardly be called a battle anymore.

It was merely Glenn desperately fleeing as the chariot relentlessly pursued him.

Every attack Glenn unleashed was utterly ineffective against Accelo Iero, while each charge of the chariot took a heavy toll on Glenn’s body.

“Tch—!”

Diving into a narrow alley, Glenn rolled and swung his left arm, unleashing countless steel threads from a mechanism on his wrist.

A steel thread barrier, taught to him by Bernard, was instantly woven like a spider’s web.

‘Useless!’

The steel thread barrier, capable of slicing an unwary foe into pieces, was effortlessly torn apart as Accelo Iero’s chariot charged straight through.

Not a single scratch marred Accelo Iero.

“Shh—!”

Glenn leaped, pulling out an explosive crystal and biting its detonation seal to activate it.

He hurled the crystal at the chariot pursuing him below.

Boom!

The explosive crystal detonated, unleashing a massive blast that struck the chariot—

‘—Useless!’

But the chariot sliced through the flames, charging onward, without so much as a scorch mark on Accelo Iero.

Glenn fled further, further.

Accelo Iero pursued, pursued.

“Damn it! If that’s the case…!”

Turning right at a fork in the road, Glenn sprinted, luring Accelo Iero along.

Glancing up, he confirmed a massive bell tower atop a building—

“Take this!”

Glenn threw several knives.

The silver blades soared, embedding into the bell tower’s supports.

Etched with the [Weathering] rune, the knives caused the supports to crumble rapidly—

With a groan, the massive bell tower collapsed under gravity, falling toward the street.

Its overwhelming mass crashed down onto Accelo Iero, who was charging with his chariot.

A tremendous impact echoed. Dust clouds rose. The magical city trembled.

But—

‘Useless!’

Blowing even that aside, Accelo Iero spun the chariot’s wheels furiously, closing in on Glenn and thrusting his spear—

“How the hell do I stop you…!?”

As Glenn leaped back, he unfurled a scroll.

A magical barrier of light deployed to shield half his body—

‘Useless!’

The chariot’s charge, a streak of blue and black, roared past.

The spear grazed the magical barrier, shattering it effortlessly—

“…Guh!?”

Caught by the shockwave, Glenn was sent flying down the main street.

He bounced repeatedly, tumbling spectacularly to the end—

—Such power, without even a direct hit.

This was no battle.

And then—

‘Raaahhh!’

Showing no mercy, Accelo Iero urged his chariot forward, pursuing, pursuing, pursuing Glenn.

The massive spear, spun overhead, roared with a howling gale.

The wheels spun furiously, blue flames blazing along their tracks.

“Damn it—!”

Using the momentum of his tumble, Glenn sprang up, leaping backward, kicking off a nearby building’s wall two, three times to reach its rooftop—

‘You won’t escape!’

But Accelo Iero manipulated the reins.

The black horses pulling the chariot leaped, soaring high into the sky.

Crash!

Smashing through the building’s wall, the chariot reached the rooftop.

And, chasing Glenn across the rooftops, it resumed its relentless advance.

With mobility that defied the very concept of a chariot, it pursued Glenn endlessly.

‘You think you can escape my wheels, which have crushed entire armies!?’

“That’s not what a chariot’s supposed to do!”

Even as he shot back with defiance—

(56, 57, 58—)

Glenn was counting the seconds precisely in his mind.

And then.

‘Raaahhh!’

The moment Accelo Iero’s spear was about to catch Glenn—

“—60! Exactly one minute! Reload complete!”

Glenn drew and fired《Queen Killer》with lightning speed.

Twisting his body, he fanned the gun from his right hip.

A bullet with the force of a small cannon erupted from the muzzle, weaving unpredictably through the air.

‘Ngh!?’

The bullet head arced, striking the spear aside, zigzagging to scatter the black horses, then slamming into Accelo Iero’s chest, sending the chariot reeling backward—

“Tch—!”

Seizing the moment, Glenn slammed a smoke bomb into the ground, creating a cursory smokescreen, and darted into a nearby alley.

Not to escape, but to conceal his next “move.”

‘You pest, scurrying around like that… you cunning fool!’

To Accelo Iero, Glenn was blatantly inferior.

The magic Glenn used was all low-grade, mocked as “Fool’s Fang” by their kind—barely qualifying as magic.

That alone made him an object of disdain, but this man, Glenn, also employed bizarre weapons and tools in every way possible.

To Accelo Iero, who firmly believed magic was supreme, the ultimate truth ruling this world, failing to crush such an opponent instantly—being stalled like this—was nothing short of humiliating.

‘You… you, you!’

Rage. Fury. Passion.

Accelo Iero burned with anger, determined to crush Glenn as quickly as possible, pursuing him relentlessly—

—Meanwhile.

The people of the magical city watched Glenn’s battle.

They watched from a distance.

The citizens of this ancient super-magic civilization, all capable of using the so-called “Fool’s Fang” magic.

Now, the entire city’s populace observed Glenn’s fight with their magical sight.

“What… is that…?”

“He’s fighting… against Lord Accelo Iero,《Iron Cavalry General》…?”

In this era of super-magic civilization, humanity was divided into two kinds.

Those compatible with High Runes, the chosen ones who could wield true magic, “Mages.”

And those incompatible with High Runes, only able to use Low Rune pseudo-magic, “The Fool’s Subjects.”

An insurmountable gap in power existed between Mages and the Fool’s Subjects, who could never defeat a Mage. Thus, they could not, must not, resist.

The Fool’s Subjects were slaves, servants, livestock to the wise Mages.

That was the absolute, universal law of this world, this era.

And yet—

“He’s fighting…? Standing up to him…?”

“Who… is that man…?”

“That magic… it’s not a Mage’s. He’s one of the Fool’s Subjects…?”

“And yet… he’s fighting…!?”

The Mages who ruled this world stood at its pinnacle, shining brilliantly in the dark night sky, crushing those who groveled beneath them—the title of such beings was “Demon General Star.”

Yet a member of the Fool’s Subjects was challenging a Demon General Star.

He might only be fleeing, but a Fool’s Subjects was fighting desperately.

As the people watched Glenn’s valiant struggle through their magical sight, their hearts began to align.

Namely—futile, meaningless, foolish, a dog’s death.

“Ha… what an idiot that guy is… getting so worked up…”

“There’s no way he can beat the Mages…”

“Even Sora couldn’t win… fighting is pointless…”

“Good grief… that guy’s bound to die soon enough…”

Everyone in the magical city scorned Glenn as a fool.

And they scorned Sora, who had rebelled against the Demon King.

“Hurry up… just die already…! It’s pathetic…!”

“How long are you going to keep this up…!? You’re such a nuisance…!”

“Hurry, hurry, hurry…!”

‘Hahaha! Why don’t you just give up!? That’s the limit of you Fool’s Subjects… livestock!’

Toying with the defiant Glenn, Accelo Iero laughed mockingly.

But Glenn, refusing to yield, shouted back.

Battered and bleeding, spitting blood, he shouted undaunted—

“Shut up, you idiot! Don’t underestimate humans!”

Glenn’s state of affairs greatly irritated the people of the Magic City.

“So annoying…!”

“It’s infuriating…! What’s with that guy…!?”

“Hurry up and die already… Just drop dead…!”

The crowd’s frustration and discomfort toward Glenn grew without bounds.

However—

Hardly anyone among them ever thought to stop watching the battle.

The pinnacle of the mages who reigned over the world as their absolute superiors—Demon Generals.

The clash between one of these Demon Generals, who had long oppressed them, and a single Fool’s Subject.

They couldn’t tear their eyes away from this fight. They simply couldn’t.

It was strangely captivating, drawing their gazes irresistibly.

Indeed.

Even if the people outwardly resigned themselves to despair and hopelessness,

deep in their hearts, they held onto a faint hope.

The hope of witnessing a Fool’s Subject defeat a mage.

Though no one voiced it, deep down, they vaguely yearned for such a scene.

“Hmph…”

“It’s pointless. It’ll never work anyway…”

“No matter how hard they try, a Fool’s Subject can’t beat a mage…”

But then,  just as everyone was brushing it off with such excuses… it happened.

In a certain corner of the Magic City—at the execution plaza, now reduced to rubble, as the gathered crowd watched Glenn’s battle, a young girl with red hair and purple-flame eyes, whom Glenn had saved from execution, suddenly murmured,

“…Why… is that man fighting all alone…?”

Her words struck a chord.

““““……!?””””

The adults around her froze in place.

Meanwhile, in another district of the Magic City,

“This way! Hurry! Move quickly!”

Amid the distant clamor of battle, Sistine led the panicked, fleeing crowd to safety.

At times, she had no choice but to use magic to intimidate them, but Sistine skillfully guided their evacuation.

In the midst of this, she used her magical senses to observe Glenn’s battle from afar.

“Se-Sensei…!”

Seeing Glenn on the verge of being overwhelmed, Sistine felt an urge to abandon her post and rush to his side.

But—no, she couldn’t.

It wasn’t written in the plan.

Besides, Sistine, who knew Glenn’s strategies and tactics well, had to take the lead in evacuating the people so he could fight without holding back.

Otherwise, it would only bring Glenn closer to death.

(I have to endure… Endure…! Sensei will surely pull through…!)

Indeed.

This battle wasn’t entirely without hope of victory.

But the future was always uncertain, adrift in a sea of possibilities.

Glenn’s fate—remained unknown.

(For now, I have to make sure Sensei can fight without worry…!)

Swallowing her impatience, Sistine pressed on with her duty.

…

…

And then, someone was watching Sistine from a back alley.

“…Just who are you…?”

A silver-haired woman clad in a white cloak—Syr Viesha.

Perhaps using some kind of magic, no one seemed to notice her presence.

“…”

Syr Viesha observed Sistine closely for a while.

Then, as if struck by some thought, she began to approach Sistine silently, slowly, reaching out toward Sistine’s back, completely unaware—

“Wait! Sora! Where are you going!?”

Le Silva grabbed Celica’s arm and shouted.

“Let go! I’m going to help Glenn!”

Celica turned back, yelling with a furious expression.

They were in a certain part of the Magic City—a void-like space, pitch-black and empty, constructed on the city’s underside through magic.

A single mirror-like object floated in the space, reflecting the outside world—the Magic City.

And in that mirror was the scene of Glenn’s battle with Accelo Iero.

“That idiot…! Why did he come to a place like this!? Why couldn’t he just stay put in that temple!? What was La’tirika doing!?”

“Calm down, Sora! This isn’t necessarily a bad development!”

With strength unimaginable from her slender arms, Le Silva held back Celica, who was trying to break free.

“Glenn, right? He’s fighting Accelo Iero for us! If Accelo Iero’s attention is focused on Glenn and he’s pulled away from guarding the《Tower of Lament》, you’ll have a chance to infiltrate it again! This is actually an opportunity!”

At that, Celica grabbed Le Silva by the collar and roared,

“That’s not the point! He’s my disciple!”

“—!?”

Stunned by Celica’s ferocity, Le Silva fell silent for a moment…

“I-I’m sorry…”

Then, lowering her eyes apologetically, she apologized.

“I never imagined you’d care so much about someone like that…”

“…Tch.”

Regaining her composure, Celica released Le Silva.

“If you get it, let go of my hand. I’m done hiding!”

But Le Silva didn’t let go.

“Even so… you can’t, Sora. You can’t go out there now.”

Looking straight into Celica’s eyes, Le Silva spoke calmly.

“Why not!?”

“How many more times do you think you can fight at full strength!?”

Celica froze at Le Silva’s words.

“Don’t think I haven’t noticed! You’re already exhausted! You might still manage to clear out small fry with a light use of《Fool’s Fang》, but a serious fight against a Demon General? You can’t handle that anymore! If you fight now, you won’t have enough left to face the Demon King!”

“T-that’s…!”

“Do you understand!? If you can’t defeat the Demon King, you won’t be able to send your disciple back to the future!”

“If Glenn dies before that, what’s the point!?”

Tears welled in Celica’s eyes as she shouted.

“Even so, what can you do right now!? That Demon General is the natural enemy of a pure mage like you. Please, hold back! Stay here…!”

“But…!”

“And… doesn’t he have it? Your disciple has a trump card to defeat that Demon General!”

“—!?”

Celica’s eyes widened at Le Silva’s words.

“When we were watching Accelo Iero… you mumbled something, didn’t you? That ‘if Glenn were here, that guy wouldn’t stand a chance.’”

“T-that was…”

“Honestly, I thought you were joking. I mean, Glenn’s clearly a Fool’s Subject. I assumed there was no way he could harm Accelo Iero. But—”

Le Silva looked again at Glenn’s battle in the mirror.

She stared into Glenn’s eyes, unwavering despite his battered state, fixed on his enemy.

“Those eyes of his… No, it’s not a joke or a bluff. …There really is something, isn’t there? A way to defeat Accelo Iero.”

“…”

Celica fell silent.

But that silence spoke louder than words.

“Then let’s believe, Sora.”

Le Silva took Celica’s hand, looking up at her earnestly.

“I know it’s frustrating for you, but… you came back from the future, and your disciple followed you to this era.

His fighting like this… it must be fate.”

“…”

“Let’s believe in him, Sora. Your disciple. Let’s believe he can break through this checkmate, this closed-off future!

It’s strange… seeing Glenn fight like that, resisting injustice with all his might… in this rotten world, it’s like I’m seeing a ‘human’ for the first time in ages! I can’t shake the feeling that he’ll do something incredible…!”

“…No… he’s just… a mediocre, third-rate…”

Celica started to deny it but shook her head and fell silent.

(…What am I saying? Just a mediocre, third-rate mage? Sure, if you only look at his skill as a mage, maybe. But—)

All this time.

Always. Always.

Hadn’t Glenn kept pushing forward?

Straight ahead. To do what he believed he had to do. To reduce the number of people who’d suffer, even if it meant getting battered and broken, fighting desperately, so desperately.

Sure, there were times his spirit broke, and he fell into despair—

But even then, didn’t Glenn crawl back up, stand tall, and fight for someone else’s sake… accomplishing the impossible time and time again?

Even she herself had been saved by Glenn countless times.

If it weren’t for Glenn, she wouldn’t be here now. In every sense, she’d have been done for long ago.

So—

(Please… Glenn…!)

Clenching her trembling fist tightly, Celica prayed.

(Forgive me for being so useless, always relying on you… Help me…! And please… don’t die…! I’m begging you…!)

With that prayer, that desperate plea,

Celica kept her eyes fixed on Glenn’s battle through the mirror—

“Why is that man fighting alone? Why isn’t anyone helping him?”

At the girl’s innocent question, the adults around her froze for a moment.

Then, they hurriedly began to make excuses.

“That man… h-he’s a bad guy!”

“Yeah, yeah! He’s a terrible person who defies our great King Titus!”

“That’s why Lord Accelo Iero, under King Titus, is delivering divine punishment…”

“We can’t possibly help someone like that, right?”

But the girl pressed on.

“But… he saved me…”

“T-that’s…”

“I didn’t do anything wrong, but they were going to kill me… and he saved me… So, who’s really the bad one here…?”

“N-no, that’s not—!”

“Everyone says he’s bad, but… I don’t think so! I think he’s the one who’s right! The real bad guy is probably the king!”

“This child, how dare she say such things!”

“I didn’t raise you to be like this! You’re a disgrace—”

The girl’s parents began to rage at her words, but a certain phrase suddenly flashed through their minds, and those of the surrounding adults…

“Aren’t you ashamed?”

“…”

Unable to retort to the girl, they all fell silent.

As a solemn atmosphere enveloped the scene, the girl spoke softly.

“Hey… that man… he’s amazing, isn’t he…?”

“…Huh?”

“I mean, he’s fighting… Against that Demon General we were all so scared of… He’s fighting all alone…? I…”

Suddenly, the girl’s voice broke, and tears spilled from her eyes.

“…My tears… won’t stop… Fighting for someone else… it’s… it’s so… it makes my heart feel so warm…”

A murmur spread through the crowd, growing louder.

That murmur slowly spread, little by little,

…something in the people began to change.

It wasn’t just that one corner of the city.

Across the Magic City, the people watching Glenn’s battle… were beginning to awaken.

They were different from “livestock” like themselves.

The sight of a “human” defiantly resisting injustice was stirring them awake.

Things they’d taken for granted, resigned themselves to, accepted without question.

They began to doubt, to question…

And gradually, they recalled the human dignity and anger that had been completely stripped from them—

Amid this, someone, somewhere, spoke up.

“Maybe… three days ago, during that battle… if we hadn’t just stood by, thinking it was hopeless… if we’d fought alongside Sora against the king’s army… would something have changed?”

“…No way it would’ve changed. We’d just have died a pointless death.”

“But even now, we might die today, or maybe tomorrow… There’s no future for livestock…”

“…Haha… you’re right. The way we are now… we’re already as good as dead, aren’t we…?”

As the crowd’s murmurs of self-reflection grew louder,

“…I… I…!”

The girl, tears streaming as she watched Glenn’s battle, said—

“Guh—!? Cough! This is getting rough…!”

Pushing aside the rubble pinning him down, Glenn staggered to his feet.

“Haa… haa…! Huff… puff…!”

Glenn was already battered beyond measure.

His body was covered in bruises and lacerations, soaked in blood, with several broken bones.

Even with Nameless’s《Ars Magna》enhancing his defensive magic, it was like paper before Accelo Iero’s attacks.

‘For a Fool’s Subject, you’ve held out well. I’ll give you that…!’

Accelo Iero, on the other hand, was unscathed.

He drove his ferocious chariot, circling Glenn provocatively.

‘Honestly, you’ve been more trouble than any mage I’ve ever fought!’

Against a typical top-tier mage, he could simply crush them and their magic with his chariot.

The more confident a mage was in their magic, the less they relied on petty tricks like Glenn’s.

Thus, before this chariot, they were utterly powerless.

‘But it’s over now. You’re at your limit, aren’t you?’

Clang! Accelo Iero manipulated the reins, turning the horses.

Positioning the chariot to face Glenn head-on, he stopped.

‘This time, I’ll crush you with a full-force charge. Don’t worry—take this head-on, and your body will be pulverized, not a scrap of flesh left in this world.’

Accelo Iero adjusted the reins.

The black horses began to paw the ground, and the blue flames enveloping the chariot’s wheels flared higher and higher with each passing moment.

The distance between them was about twenty meters.

Even at that distance, the intense heat scorched Glenn’s skin—

(Damn it…! I need an opening… I need an opening…!)

Glenn gritted his teeth, glaring at Accelo Iero, who was steadily amplifying the power of his chariot.

(Just for a split second…! If I could just find an opening to get in close…!)

Glenn had exhausted every trick in the book to create even the slightest gap, but as expected of a battle-hardened Demon General Star, Accelo showed not a single hint of vulnerability.

That chariot was, in essence, a mobile fortress.

A devastating weapon that crushed everything in its path, yet it promised an impenetrable defense like a castle wall.

Breaking through it was no small feat. Glenn knew that, but—

(Was it hopeless after all!? Was a fairy tale nothing more than a fairy tale…!?)

Glenn gnashed his teeth, his strategies depleted.

And right before his eyes—

The chariot’s power surged higher and higher.

A palpable aura of violence coursed through its wheels and frame.

Until, at last—

The moment arrived when the tautly drawn arrow was finally released.

“Die—!”

Accelo Iero raised his whip for the final strike.

“—!?”

All was lost—Glenn braced himself for death in that very instant.

Boom!

Suddenly, a small explosion of flames erupted at the side of Accelo Iero’s head.

Naturally, Accelo Iero was unscathed. His adamantine body didn’t even bear a single scorch mark.

But—

‘…Who’s there?’

Accelo Iero froze.

He hadn’t anticipated this. The idea that, in this demonic city, there could be another fool daring to oppose them was unthinkable.

As Accelo Iero’s eyes darted around—

“Haa…! Haa…!”

From a distance, a red-haired girl stood with both hands outstretched, glaring at Accelo Iero.

‘Foolish. To think such a cheap imitation of magic… the Fool’s Fang could defy me?’

“Uuahh…! Onii-chan…! I-I’ll… fight too…!”

The girl rapidly chanted spell after spell.

Her magic… was even less refined than the modern magic Glenn and his allies used.

Using Low Runes, it was called the Fool’s Fang in this era—a clumsy technique scorned by true mages.

Yet, even so—

Boom! Boom! Boom!

The girl hurled small fireballs, attacking Accelo Iero.

“Hmph… Pathetic…!”

Accelo Iero spat in irritation.

As he raised his great spear to hurl it at the foolish girl, spinning it above his head—

“Uwooooohhh—!”

“We won’t let you kill that girl!”

“Die, you Demon General Star—!”

“You lackey of the Demon King—!”

Suddenly, countless presences surged around Accelo Iero, surrounding him.

It was the populace—those who had until now completely submitted to overwhelming injustice and given up entirely.

“Ngh—!?”

Caught off guard by this unforeseen turn of events, Accelo Iero stiffened.

The people began chanting spells with desperate fervor.

They wielded the so-called Fool’s Fang, the mocked imitation of magic, with all their might.

In the next moment, fireballs, explosive blasts, lightning flashes, wind blades, and ice shards—various pseudo-magics—rained down on Accelo Iero from all directions.

Each individual strike was far too weak to cause any damage to the demon.

But—

“Damn you! Quit mocking us!”

“We’re not your livestock! Don’t screw with us!”

“Don’t underestimate humans!”

“Drop dead, you monster! Monster!”

Everyone unleashed the smoldering rage buried deep within their hearts, attacking Accelo Iero with unbridled passion.

And once that fire was ignited, it could no longer be stopped.

Seeing this, other citizens, swept up by the heat and momentum, began to rise up one after another… unleashing a concentrated barrage on Accelo Iero.

““““Waaaaaahhhhh—!””””

‘Impossible…!? For mere livestock to harbor such passion…!?’

Accelo Iero could only stand in shock.

By now, killing one or two would do nothing to quell the tide.

Their anger had become a raging river, spreading throughout the demonic city, beginning to stir and pulse—

‘You…! Mere fools daring to defy mages—!’

In a fit of rage, Accelo Iero thrust his great spear into the ground.

The sheer force generated a tremendous shockwave, violently spreading outward.

It blew away the surrounding crowd, silencing them.

“Kyaa!?”

The red-haired girl, too, was helplessly knocked back by the blast…

Glaring down at the pitifully weak masses, Accelo Iero sneered.

‘See that, you fools!? This is the difference in power between us! Did you livestock seriously think you could surpass your master just by banding together—!?’

Overwhelming.

Indeed, the Demon General Star was overwhelmingly powerful.

He was not an opponent they could defeat, not someone they should have dared to defy—

That dark thought crossed the minds of everyone who had risen in passionate rebellion… at that very moment.

“《Zero’s Focus》—!”

The voice came from above.

As Accelo Iero looked up—there was Glenn.

Glenn descended from the sky, charging fiercely toward him.

Seizing the fleeting moment of Accelo Iero’s distraction caused by the unexpected uprising, Glenn dove straight into his guard.

“Grr—!?”

Accelo Iero gritted his teeth in frustration.

At this close a range, the chariot couldn’t run him down.

The chariot was controlled by reins, making it impossible to react in time.

The great spear was lodged in the ground, leaving no chance for a counterattack.

In other words, Glenn’s next attack was guaranteed to land—

(No matter! My adamantine body is invincible! It’s infuriating that a mere fool has climbed onto my sacred saddle, but—it’s still no problem!)

Accelo Iero poured strength into his arm to yank out the great spear.

He tugged at the reins to maneuver the chariot.

(Come at me! The moment your pathetic Fool’s Fang breaks… that will be your end!)

Looking closely, Glenn held something strange in his right hand.

A stick. A small stick. It seemed to be made of iron…

What could he possibly hope to do with such a trinket now?

(Laughable! Just a fool, after all…!)

As Accelo Iero sneered inwardly—

In midair, Glenn thrust the small stick straight forward—

And with its tip, he struck Accelo Iero’s chest.

And then—he shouted.

“《Fool’s Penetrator》—!”

Bang!

——

—No one could stop the adamantine demon anymore.

—When all had fallen into despair, it was the disciple of the Mage of Justice who stood against him.

—With a small stick, he struck the demon’s chest.

—And, miraculously… the demon suddenly collapsed and died.

From Chapter Ten, Verse Fifty-Seven of The Magician of Melgalius