Chapter 5: Bringing Back from the Brink

“…It’s… over, huh?”

At the edge of the rooftop of a towering, trapezoidal temple.

Confirming through Black Magic [Accurate Scope] that Glenn had sunk into the pitch-black water, Albert muttered quietly after a long silence.

He felt the impact. He was certain. The final slash Albert unleashed had undoubtedly pierced Glenn’s left chest—his heart—with pinpoint precision. A fatal wound.

And it wasn’t a blow that could be mitigated by the defensive capabilities of a mage’s ceremonial robes or [Tri-Resist].

If Glenn survived that, he could no longer be considered human.

But—his opponent was Glenn, the tenacious survivor who had endured countless hellish missions.

Albert remained vigilant, using far-seeing magic to cautiously scan the surrounding area.

“…”

But—five minutes passed, then ten—

Nothing changed in the area where Glenn had sunk.

No sign of Glenn’s body floating to the surface.

Finally satisfied, Albert disengaged [Accurate Scope] and lowered the fingers he had kept poised for a follow-up strike.

“…”

With his sharp expression unchanged, Albert narrowed his eyes, a hint of melancholy in his gaze.

(I’m sorry.)

Staring into the darkness, Albert quietly reflected.

In that moment, Albert’s figure seemed emptier and more solitary than ever.

(I won’t ask for forgiveness. Hate me as much as you want. But even so, I’ll move forward.)

Then, as if praying for Glenn’s soul, Albert made the sign of the cross and offered a silent prayer—

(Your regrets, I’ll carry them to hell with me. At the very least—…)

—That was when it happened.

“Geez, don’t go carrying burdens on your own, you idiot. What a damn joke.”

Those blunt words struck Albert from the side like a punch.

“—!?”

Albert braced himself and turned toward the voice.

Reflexively, he extended his left fingers, activating the pre-chanted spell [Lightning Pierce] with a delayed trigger.

But it fizzled. No lightning shot from Albert’s fingertips.

“Gotcha, didn’t I? Nailed it, huh? Heh, your thought patterns are always so predictable.”

And in the direction of the voice—where Albert’s fingers pointed—

A new figure stood at the edge of the trapezoidal temple’s rooftop.

That figure was none other than Glenn, the man Albert was certain he had killed moments ago.

Glenn was soaked from head to toe. In his left hand, raised triumphantly, he held the Fool’s Arcana.

Within a 50-meter effective range—[Fool’s World] finally manifested its power.

“Finally caught you in my range, you bastard. Made me work for it…”

To Glenn, who grinned smugly with a victorious air—

“Impossible… How?”

Albert asked sharply, yet calmly.

“Huh? Ain’t it obvious? I swam through the aqueduct, headed further east, and then bolted through the unmarked southeast route. Even a guy like you left yourself wide open—”

“No. My shot definitely pierced your heart.”

“Oh, that…”

Glenn pulled something from his pocket.

It was a magic crystal, split cleanly in two.

“This is a magic crystal I poured every ounce of defensive magic I could muster into, concentrated to its absolute limit. I tucked it into my chest pocket to protect my heart. Classic trick, sure, but… your sniper precision turned out to be your downfall, huh?”

“…That’s absurd.”

Albert responded coolly.

“I see. Indeed, focusing defensive magic into a single point could block my shot. If it’s concentrated, that is. But that leaves everything else completely unguarded.”

“…”

“My final shot carried a current and voltage that would incapacitate you with the slightest graze. I didn’t need to hit your heart—your head, leg, or arm would’ve sufficed. So why? Why did you choose to protect only your heart? Why bet on that?”

“Ain’t that obvious? …I believed in your skill.”

The moment Glenn declared that boldly, Albert’s eyes narrowed slightly.

“When you snipe with intent to kill, you always aim for the heart, ensuring instant death… to take down your target with certainty and spare them unnecessary suffering.”

“…”

“So I trusted you… trusted that you’d aim for my heart with perfect precision!”

For a moment, Albert gazed silently at Glenn.

Then…

“Heh… heh heh…”

Albert’s shoulders trembled as he let out a restrained chuckle.

“…You’re something else. That’s why I didn’t want to cross you.”

“Hah! Look who’s talking. I’m done dealing with a monster like you. I’d rather face a demon king or an evil god—way less hassle!”

For a brief moment, they exchanged exasperated smiles…

“Alright, the fight ain’t over yet… hell, it’s just getting started!”

…and Glenn shifted into a boxing stance.

“This whole area is under the control of [Fool’s World], centered on me. Meaning, this brawl’s gonna be settled with these.”

Indeed, their magic had already been nullified.

So then—

“…I see. Simple enough to understand.”

Albert, too, assumed a stance, one rooted in some form of martial art, with calm confidence.

Unlike Glenn’s old-school boxing-based Imperial Military Combat Technique, Albert’s stance was markedly different.

Slightly hunched, half-turned, with his left palm extended forward as if beckoning—this was his stance.

A mysterious martial art from the far east—Koppou.

“Just so you know—I’m no slouch in close-quarters combat either.”

Uncharacteristically, Albert declared this with a provocative tone, almost as if enjoying himself.

“Heh… that’s exactly why I can’t stand you.”

Glenn flashed a fearless, feral grin, slowly measuring the distance between them.

A fleeting moment of stillness, a few seconds of silence.

And then—

“Raaaaaaaargh!”

“—Hmph!”

Both poured their remaining mana into full-throttle physical enhancement spells—

Glenn’s right straight, launched from his charge, was like a bolt of lightning.

Albert’s left palm strike, delivered from a firm step, was like a raging gust.

—The two, transformed into a tempest, clashed head-on.

“…Heh heh heh… he’s finally done it, hasn’t he…!”

At that moment, Cyrus muttered with satisfaction.

“Yes. Glenn has drawn Albert away from the temple. That temple was the perfect sniping position for《The Star》. As long as《The Star》held that ground, we couldn’t approach. We couldn’t achieve our goal. But… now we can finally move.”

Within the scene observed by the mage using far-seeing magic—

Glenn and Albert were locked in a ferocious clash, the night sky of the ancient city their stage.

Both darted across crumbling structures, leaping and sprinting—trading fists and kicks in a relentless exchange.

When a bit of distance opened between them, Glenn fired his pistol, while Albert hurled knives.

Bullets and blades collided in a shower of sparks, deflected—

—and beneath, Glenn and Albert clashed again.

Albert maneuvered to gain the advantage of magical range—beyond the 50-meter reach of [Fool’s World].

But Glenn clung to him with dogged determination, refusing to let the gap widen.

Glenn’s fist smashed into Albert’s cheek, and in retaliation, Albert’s knee drove into Glenn’s stomach.

Shouting at each other, Glenn and Albert traded blows, blows, and more blows.

Moment by moment, both grew increasingly battered. Their fight, born of intimate knowledge of each other’s tactics, began to take on the bizarre form of an impossibly sophisticated slugfest.

“…Let’s go. Now’s our chance.”

Cyrus urged the mage observing Glenn and Albert’s battle.

“Everything is already prepared. The remaining tasks won’t take much effort. We must perform the ritual now. If we do… victory is ours.”

“…Right. Let’s hurry.”

“Keep monitoring Glenn with far-seeing magic while we move.”

The two nodded to each other.

Blending into the darkness, they began heading toward the now-vacant temple—

“Oraaaaaaah!”

Atop a domed structure—

Glenn charged at Albert, a whirlwind in his wake. Channeling every ounce of momentum from his step, he unleashed a storm of left and right punches, followed by a spinning back kick.

“Kuh—”

Albert countered, deftly parrying Glenn’s onslaught with minimal, circular arm movements, then ducking to dodge the incoming kick.

In the same motion, he retaliated with a low, whirlwind-like leg sweep—

“Too slow!”

Glenn leaped over the sweep, twisting his torso to deliver a crushing downward kick aimed at Albert’s head.

But in that instant—

“—Hmph!”

Albert’s body swiftly rolled to the side.

Glenn’s kick sliced through empty air.

Albert tumbled down the domed roof—

—and kicked off its wall.

Albert’s body soared, arcing through the night sky above the urban ruins.

“You’re not getting away!”

Glenn sprinted forward, leaping after Albert with sharp momentum.

As Albert landed on the roof of a nearby cylindrical structure—

“Daaaaah!”

Glenn, squeezing every bit of strength from his body, unleashed a piercing punch at Albert.

But that strike, tearing through the air—

“Too predictable.”

—was effortlessly dodged as Albert tilted his body. In one fluid motion, he entangled Glenn’s extended arm with his left hand, grabbed Glenn’s collar with his right, and spun like a top.

“—Whoaaaaa!?”

Flung by Albert, Glenn hurtled toward the main street below with tremendous force.

“—Tch!?”

Glenn twisted midair, barely managing to land on all fours before crashing into the ground.

Instantly, he kicked off the earth, vanishing with a leap backward.

—In that split second, Albert, who had leaped after the thrown Glenn, drove a piercing hand strike like a javelin into the spot Glenn had occupied moments before.

Crack! The stone pavement shattered under the force, a pillar of earth erupting—

“Glenn—!”

Albert burst through the earthen pillar, chasing Glenn—closing in.

A palm strike like artillery fire—Glenn dodged.

A spinning back kick like a whip—Glenn evaded.

A flurry of hand strikes like a meteor shower—Glenn deflected them with his fists, one after another—

Glenn retreated with leaps, while Albert pressed forward.

In the flowing torrent of the main street, a furious exchange of blows unfolded.

As their breathtaking melee shifted between offense and defense, Albert shouted.

“Listen, Glenn! Your tactics were brilliant! That battlefield was stacked in my favor in every way! Yet you turned it around! It’s your complete victory, no question!”

“Oh, honored to receive your praise!”

Glenn caught Albert’s relentless palm strike with crossed arms, leaping back.

“But back off! I don’t have time to waste on you!”

“Oh? And what’s that supposed to mean?”

While fending off Albert’s ferocious onslaught, Glenn pressed, but—

—Albert didn’t answer.

“Heh! Clamming up, huh? Too bad, I’m carrying Re=L’s life on my shoulders! I’m not backing off without a damn good reason!”

“It’s for the future of this empire, that’s all I’ll say! Even now—”

“Hah! That’s a bold claim, you bastard! Coming from the guy who tried to assassinate Queen Alicia VII and killed his own allies!?”

“—!”

Albert’s expression sharpened as he relentlessly pressed Glenn, leaving no room to breathe.

Seeing that, Glenn’s lips curled into a triumphant smirk.

“Heh, you’re always like this! You never talk about the important stuff! You try to shoulder the heaviest burdens all by yourself, silently! That’s what pisses me off about you!”

Suddenly, Glenn stopped retreating—and took a fierce step forward.

Thud! He smashed his forehead into Albert’s, a brutal headbutt.

The ferocious impact rattled both their brains.

Facing each other, they locked hands, pushing against one another in a test of strength.

“I’m starting to figure out what you’re trying to do! And what you’re carrying! That’s exactly why—I can’t forgive you!”

“For what?”

“For deciding to sacrifice Re=L so easily!”

Glenn roared, glaring at Albert from point-blank range.

“Yeah, even for you, Re=L’s life being on your scales was probably unexpected, right!? But you prioritized your mission and your beliefs!”

“What’s wrong with that?”

“You, of all people, could’ve found another way, couldn’t you!? You’re a hell of a lot stronger and more skilled as a mage than I’ll ever be!”

“—!”

“Are you really willing to carry the death of a comrade—Re=L’s death—for the sake of your mission!? That’s too heavy a burden! You’re not as cold-blooded or detached as you think you are!”

“It’s the surest way to save the nine. To save nine, I cut one. I can’t risk the nine to save one. That’s who I am.”

Then, Albert glared back at Glenn from point-blank range and suddenly roared.

“What are you even saying!? What’s your point!? You came here to save Re=L, didn’t you!? Then shut up, kill me, and save her! I won’t complain! We both have things we won’t yield on! We won’t back down! So we fight! That’s all there is to it, isn’t it!?”

Albert, unusually, let his emotions flare.

This stubborn bastard’s not gonna back down, Glenn thought.

If Glenn could at least tell Albert what he was aiming for right now—maybe Albert would stop. Maybe he’d call off the fight and cooperate.

(But—I can’t say it.)

Right now, he couldn’t say it. He couldn’t tell Albert.

There was no telling where their battle or conversation might be monitored.

No, knowing the cautious Cyrus, he was almost certainly using magic to keep tabs on whether Glenn would betray him or team up with Albert to rebel.

If Cyrus caught even a hint of Glenn joining forces with Albert to oppose him, it’d be game over. Cyrus, ever prudent, would likely prioritize his own safety, abduct Re=L, and retreat. That would mean failing to save Re=L.

Glenn had to make Cyrus believe he was still a pitiful puppet dancing to the tune of Cyrus’s Sefirot Map.

He had to fully deceive Albert into thinking he was on Cyrus’s side.

(In other words, to save Re=L and redeem Albert…)

He had to win against Albert.

Glenn had no choice but to win.

If he lost and let Albert head to the temple now—everything would be over.

He couldn’t let Albert interfere with Cyrus’s plans right now.

So—

“Hey, Albert!”

Glenn caught Albert off guard, driving a knee into his stomach.

“Guh—!?”

Without missing a beat, Glenn broke their locked hands, spun around—and slammed into Albert with a fierce shoulder charge.

“Ngh—!?”

The force of the impact lifted Albert’s body for a split second—Glenn stepped in sharply.

Pouring every ounce of his mana and spirit into it, he unleashed a right fist.

Albert blocked it with both arms crossed in front of him.

But the force was too much to fully absorb, and Albert’s body was sent flying horizontally—slamming back-first into a nearby wall.

“…Tch.”

But the damage was minimal. Albert, still brimming with resolve, glared sharply at Glenn and readied himself.

To Albert, Glenn boldly declared.

“I’m a greedy guy, you know. No matter what you say, I’ll save all ten. Naturally, that includes you. And to do that—I’m gonna have to take you down right now. Grit your teeth!”

“Fine… bring it on!”

Albert kicked off the ground, charging at Glenn like a gale.

Glenn, too, launched forward, rushing toward Albert like a tempest.

Once again, their fists collided with a thunderous clash.

Their battle, fueled by unwavering conviction and stubborn pride, showed no signs of ending—

Meanwhile, at that very moment—

“How are Glenn-san and Albert faring?”

“…No issues. They’re tearing into each other. …Hmph, pitiful fools. When positions shift, even former comrades end up like this? I can’t help but feel some sympathy.”

Taking advantage of the fierce clash between Glenn and Albert,

Cyrus and the mage had infiltrated the inner sanctum of the central temple.

“Is that so? I had considered, in case Glenn-san betrayed us, preserving Re=L in frozen stasis for retrieval and waiting for the next opportunity.”

“Well, you’ve got the Sion Library at your disposal, not to mention your backers. It’s not entirely impossible. …Though, it’s a move I’d prefer to avoid if possible.”

“Indeed. After all, Re=L’s precious soul would inevitably degrade due to the effects of Etheric Dissociation Syndrome. But… it seems that concern is no longer necessary.”

“Either way, we should hurry. Albert’s gaining the upper hand. As expected, the gap in experience and talent is starting to show. Glenn might hold out for a bit longer, but time is limited.”

“Yes. Shall we wrap this up quickly, then?”

“Indeed. For this moment, we’ve completed all the preprocessing on the vessel… Re=L. It won’t take much effort.”

Soon, as the two passed through the temple’s corridors, they arrived at a chamber.

It was a dome-shaped ritual room. The floor, ceiling, and walls were adorned with intricate, peculiar patterns resembling a celestial map, lined densely with ancient runes.

At the center of the room stood an altar.

Flanked on either side by towering black monoliths.

Cyrus gently laid Re=L, who slept as if dead, upon the altar.

Then, standing before the right monolith, he deftly inscribed commands onto its surface. The ritual chamber hummed to life as magical energy coursed through the surrounding patterns.

“Activation complete… Please connect the vessel to the relic’s functions spiritually.”

“Understood. …Spiritual connection complete.”

The mage, standing at the left monolith, swiftly operated it, completing the task.

“The Astral Code in question… ‘Source: Sword Princess’?”

“Already installed into the vessel (Re=L). …We’ve had more than enough time, after all.”

“Then all that remains is the rewriting process. At last, that hero will descend upon this world… [Project: Revive Life]… we’ve reached the final, hidden stage of the plan!”

Cyrus drew a magic crystal from his pocket. Placing it on Re=L’s chest as she lay on the altar, the crystal sank into her body, merging seamlessly.

Then, Cyrus chanted his incantation with a resonant voice.

“《Soul Pattern Authentication・Input》—《Restricted Seal・Release》—《Sefirot Map・Deploy》!”

From the spot where the crystal had merged into Re=L’s chest, countless beams of light shot out in all directions—crisscrossing the void, intertwining, and weaving together. A complex, mystical diagram, resembling a tree, unfurled in three-dimensional space around Re=L at its center.

“Heh, it’s beautiful no matter how many times I see it… A perfect Sefirot Map.”

Cyrus gazed at the Sefirot Map, enraptured.

“The root of all life, the origin of all worlds—the ‘Primordial Soul.’ The soul represented by this Sefirot Map is, so to speak, the ‘form of the soul of primordial humanity,’ the moment the Primordial Soul first branched into ‘humans.’ The souls we possess now are nothing but derivatives… degraded souls. …Well, to the untrained eye, it’s just a bizarrely complex diagram.”

“Sion Rayford, the alchemist… truly a genius of his era. To think he not only achieved [Project: Revive Life] but also replicated the soul of primordial humanity in the process.”

“Perhaps, in human form, he might have been the one to eventually reach the [Akashic Records].”

Eventually, Cyrus snapped back to reality, recalling the task at hand.

“Let’s begin, then—the ritual to summon the heroic spirit! The spiritual surgery starts now!”

As Cyrus positioned his hands over Re=L on the altar and his partner turned to the monolith to begin operations—that very moment—

A scorching blaze erupted, engulfing the monoliths before Cyrus and the mage.

“Wha—!?”

Cyrus leapt back instinctively, eyes wide.

The overwhelming heat and ferocity of the flames mercilessly scorched their skin.

Many ancient relics and structures were treated with Pseudo-Etheric Coating.

This “Temple of Revival” was no exception, impervious to destruction by fire—but the blaze rendered their work impossible.

And then.

“…That’s far enough.”

Clack.

A cold voice and the sharp sound of footsteps echoed through the ritual chamber.

“Hmph. So you’ve finally revealed the Sefirot Map. I see… using a soul pattern unique to an individual as the key… that’s how you sealed and concealed it? Well, I’ve been waiting for this moment.”

A figure appeared at the entrance, confidently flipping their coat as they strode toward Cyrus and his companion.

“I won’t let you do as you please with Re=L!”

“Return Re=L to us!”

Two young girls dashed from the corridor’s depths, flanking the figure on either side.

“Y-You’re—Eve!? Eve Ignite!?”

“And that uniform… from that academy…!?”

Indeed, standing before Cyrus were Eve, Sistine, and Rumia.

“…It’s Distrei now.”

“H-How are you here…!?”

Ignoring Cyrus’s shock, Eve glared at the other mage standing beside him.

A woman in her early twenties, with glass-like, icy beauty and long black hair. Though clad in the ceremonial garb of the Special Missions Annex, she was a complete stranger to Eve. Likely a recent addition to the division.

The black-haired woman met Eve’s gaze silently, her piercing stare cold and dark. Her ice-blue irises seemed to have witnessed unimaginable horrors, chillingly vacant.

“You there…”

As Eve began to murmur something toward the black-haired woman—that very moment—

“Eh!? Eve-san!?”

Another figure came rushing from the corridor’s depths, breathless.

“You’re here too, Eve-san!?”

“Illia?”

It was Illia,《The Moon》.

“I-I’m so sorry! Earlier, someone suddenly struck me from behind and knocked me out… and they took Re=L…!”

Joining Eve, Illia turned to Cyrus, eyes blazing with anger.

“Director Cyrus! What in the world are you plotting!? What are you planning to do with Re=L!?”

Then—

“Hey, Illia.”

Expressionless, Eve placed a hand on Illia’s shoulder.

“W-What is it, Eve-san?”

“Enough with the theatrics.”

“Huh?”

“To begin with… who are you?”

The moment Eve muttered those words—

Whoosh! Illia’s entire body was suddenly engulfed in a ferocious pillar of flame.

A delayed-activation fire spell had triggered.

“Kyaaaaaa—!”

Illia’s ear-splitting scream of agony reverberated through the domed chamber.

Yet, faced with such a cruel and gruesome spectacle, Eve’s expression didn’t waver—

And then, a strange phenomenon occurred.

Illia’s charred, carbonized body, collapsing in flames, suddenly warped and twisted. Then, like a reflection of the moon on water disturbed and fading, Illia’s very existence—vanished.

Like a mirage, like a fleeting dream. Nothing remained.

“…I remembered. In the Special Missions Annex… among my subordinates, there was no Executive Officer Number 18,《The Moon》, Illia. That seat was vacant.”

Unfazed by the inexplicable scene, Eve fixed her glare on the black-haired mage.

“Your doing, isn’t it? Quite the audacious trick you pulled.”

“…Hmph. To think my secret art would be seen through.”

The black-haired female mage smirked faintly.

“Well done. My Original Magic, [Moon Cradle]. It’s the ultimate illusion that rewrites reality. This spell uses the moonlight shining in the night sky as a catalyst, casting an illusion not on people, but on the world itself. It can create tangible phantoms in this world, fabricating even the perceptions and memories of those associated with them, manipulating them freely. It deceives the world itself.”

“Deceiving the world…!?”

Though she had anticipated its nature, Eve couldn’t hide her shock.

Ordinary illusions target an individual’s mind, hypnotizing it to perceive false visions. The target is always a single person, so no matter how realistic the illusion, it remains a fabrication seen only by that individual.

But [Moon Cradle] was an illusion cast upon the world itself, deceiving it. If the world was deceived, it was no longer an illusion—it was reality. Thus, the phantoms it created were tangible.

And by the First Law of Magic, the Law of Equivalent Exchange—“The macrocosm, the world, corresponds equivalently to the microcosm, the individual; their changes always influence one another”—humans in a deceived world, under this magical principle, perceive the illusion as undeniable reality.

Without directly dominating a person’s mind, it manipulates their fundamental perception of the world.

Such was the nature of the spell [Moon Cradle].

“The world does not tolerate contradictions. Altering its foundations is impossible, but fabricating a single person and deceiving the world is trivial as long as my mana holds. …Indeed, that ‘cute junior Illia’ was a phantom created to deceive you all and manipulate Glenn as I pleased.”

Cold sweat beaded on Eve’s forehead as she brushed off the mage’s words.

She had known. She had rationally deduced that Illia’s existence was some form of advanced illusion.

Yet, even having broken the illusion, she could hardly believe it.

The reality and texture of that “junior Illia” had been so vivid, it was hard to dismiss as mere illusion—and more than that, within Eve’s memories, false though they were, lingered recollections of fighting alongside Illia.

Now, having shattered the illusion, those fabricated memories were fading, her perception correcting that they were impossible—but until moments ago, they had been Eve’s reality.

Terrifying. What a terrifying illusion.

(This isn’t just an illusion anymore… It’s the fabrication of reality itself.)

And—if this black-haired female mage wielded such an illusion, who was she?

From the situation, Eve could make an educated guess—

“You’re the real Executive Officer Number 18,《The Moon》, Illia Irouge, aren’t you?”

“Heh, sharp as ever. Correct. I am the true《The Moon》, Illia. …The sensation of two different ’me’s existing was quite peculiar, wasn’t it?”

The black-haired mage—Illia—gave a faint smile.

“Still, impressive. To see through my illusion. As expected of the former《The Magician》. Your intellect exceeds your reputation—”

“Hmph. It wasn’t me. The one who saw through your fabricated reality was Glenn.”

Cutting off Illia’s smug words, Eve spoke dismissively.

Illia’s brow twitched slightly, betraying a hint of irritation.

“…Glenn? That《The Fool》? …Ridiculous. How could a third-rate like him…?”

“You lot underestimate Glenn far too much.”

Eve snorted, tossing her hair.

“Illia, you made one critical mistake. You didn’t know Sera personally. At best, you knew her through documents or hearsay. To Glenn, memories tied to Sera are sacred, inviolable. He’s not trapped by them, but she’s undeniably a vital part of his soul. You… trampled on that.”

“!”

“Your ‘Illia’ character was meant to gain Glenn’s trust—‘the Sera and Illia who supported his naive dreams,’ right? But since you only knew Sera from reports, the Illia you created was shallow. No matter how much you tried, the real Sera, who shared true hardships with him, and your pandering, fabricated Illia could never be equals in his mind… Glenn’s sense of unease overpowered the false reality you crafted—”

(It’s impossible. The only one who acknowledged my foolish dreams back then was Sera alone… So I couldn’t help but think. Illia… just who the hell is she?)

An illusion cast on the world is like secretly rewriting a part of a dictionary shared by everyone. If unnoticed, people will misinterpret the meaning, but once noticed, recognizing and piercing through it becomes simple.

To the silent Illia, Eve continued calmly.

“Lies always unravel. I had my doubts, but when Glenn told me Illia’s existence itself was suspicious, I followed his instructions and shifted my surveillance from him to Re=L, whom Illia was tending to. I transferred the temporary Servant contract I had with him to Re=L, using her as a familiar to monitor her, which naturally let me observe the state of Re=L’s soul.”

Pointing at Re=L on the altar, Eve condemned them.

“And what do you know? At some point, a strange Astral Code had been inserted into Re=L’s soul. And the ‘Illia,’ supposedly skilled in forensic magic and responsible for Re=L’s spiritual care, didn’t notice it at all—despite being the first who should have. It was the epitome of a farce.”

“I see. So that’s what made you doubt the junior ’Illia.’ My illusion still has room for improvement.”

The real Illia smirked wryly.

“In truth, I should’ve used the illusion to conceal the tampering with Re=L entirely. But that would’ve prevented me from monitoring the code’s integration progress. My [Moon Cradle] is an illusion cast on the world, so I, too, am under its influence, deceiving even my own perception. So, for camouflage, I created the ‘Illia’ character to confirm Re=L’s condition as normal… Yare yare, things don’t always go as planned.”

“Once I realized your target wasn’t Albert’s elimination but Re=L herself, the rest fell into place from circumstantial evidence.”

Following Eve’s words, Sistine spoke up.

“This ‘Temple of Revival’… as its name suggests, in the ancient era, hailed as a super magical civilization, it was a facility for resurrecting the dead—that’s the current consensus in magical archaeology. However, its resurrection function has long been broken, and the research to recreate it became [Project: Revive Life]—correct?”

“[Project: Revive Life]—the ritual to revive the dead. Re=L as the test subject. The Temple of Revival. The strange Astral Code inserted into Re=L. With all these pieces aligned, it’s easy to guess your intentions. You planned to overwrite Re=L’s essence… her spiritual body, with someone else’s, to resurrect another person, didn’t you?”

Rumia followed, her voice sharp with accusation.

“Just who are you people? I can’t believe you’re with the Empire. …At the very least, you’re connected to The Researchers of Heavenly Wisdom, aren’t you?”

“Yare yare, such clever young ladies.”

Cyrus maintained his composed smile, shrugging.

“Indeed, you’re correct. Chief of the Imperial Court Mage Corps’ Special Missions Annex… that was merely a title I assumed to gain access to the tightly guarded Sion Library. My true title is Leader of Heaven’s Cross, Cyrus Schumacher.”

“—!?”

Cyrus’s confession left Eve, Sistine, and Rumia stunned.

Heaven’s Cross. A covert organization within the Empire, yet tied to The Researchers of Heavenly Wisdom—a cancer eating away at the nation from within.

Why was its leader here, of all places—?

Ignoring their shock, Cyrus continued, his voice dripping with fervor.

“Heh heh… I’ll avoid specifics, but [Project: Revive Life]—within our ranks, it’s already an established technique.”

Sistine’s face paled, her eyes widening at Cyrus’s claim.

“N-No way! That can’t be! That ritual—”

“Indeed. After Sion’s passing, that ritual typically requires a certain ‘Ability’ to be performed… originally.”

Cyrus glanced at Rumia as he spoke.

“But do you recall? The time at the Platinum Magic Research Institute, when Burks Blaumohn attempted [Project: Revive Life]?”

“Burks…!?”

During the field study expedition to Caineria Island, Burks had captured Rumia, aiming to use her Ability, [Ars Magna], to achieve [Project: Revive Life]—a despicable mage.

“He was researching the replication and extraction of Abilities from Ability Users. He himself had acquired several Abilities through those experiments.”

“Replication and extraction of Abilities…? N-No, you don’t mean—!?”

“Exactly. In that short time, he succeeded in partially replicating Rumia-san’s Ability, albeit imperfectly. It’s called [Para Ars Magna]… Honestly, it’s a degraded version of [Ars Magna], but… we utilized it to develop a highly precise method to successfully execute [Project: Revive Life] in limited cases.”

“~~~ !?”

Sistine recalled Jin Ganis and Reik Fohenheim, who appeared during Fejite’s worst three days. She had wondered how those supposedly dead individuals had returned… Could it have been—?

“But—it’s still not enough.”

Cyrus shook his head, shrugging, and continued calmly.

“Indeed, using [Para Ars Magna], we can perform ‘Project: Revive Life.’ But those revived this way only last a month. It’s beyond Etheric Dissociation Syndrome. Their body, soul, and spirit reject each other, disintegrating and dying. In essence, their ‘lifespan expires.’ For a ritual that demands such a steep price, this is far too inefficient.”

It made sense upon reflection.

A body, soul, and spirit—all crafted from different materials, forcibly combined to revive someone. Spiritual rejection was inevitable.

“But—doesn’t it strike you as strange? Why is Re=L-san, born from the same ‘Project: Revive Life,’ perfectly fine?”

“!?”

“True, Re=L-san’s Etheric Dissociation Syndrome is a flaw from the still-imperfect ‘Project: Revive Life.’ But with proper treatment, she can live nearly as long as any of you.”

Why doesn’t she collapse? Why doesn’t she suffer spiritual rejection? Heh heh, this is where Sion’s greatness shines… For her, he used a substitute soul, ‘Alter Ether,’ crafted with a high-fidelity replica of the primordial human soul—‘Para Origin Ether.’”

“Wha—!?”

Eve, Sistine, and Rumia could only stand dumbfounded.

“Do you understand!? The greatness of Sion Rayford! His genius! The root of all life, all worlds—the Primordial Soul. The primordial human soul is the form of the soul when the Primordial Soul first branched into ‘humans’! In other words—it can become anything! It can branch into anything! The true completion of the resurrection ritual [Project: Revive Life] hinges on the existence of this ‘Para Origin Ether’!”

Cyrus turned to Re=L, sleeping on the altar, his voice thick with fervor.

“That’s why we waited for this day, when she’d collapse from Etheric Dissociation Syndrome! This state, where the bond between body and soul weakens, is the perfect opportunity to rewrite the ‘Para Origin Ether’! Missing this chance would mean never catching up to Sion’s monumental achievement!

But rewriting something as advanced as the ‘Para Origin Ether’ required the limited soul-manipulation functions still active in this ‘Temple of Revival’! That’s why we brought Re=L-san, with her limited lifespan, all the way here!

All that’s left is to actually rewrite Re=L-san’s ‘Astral Code’! With that success data, we can optimize the current imperfect resurrection technique—then [Project: Revive Life] will truly be complete! Naturally, Re=L-san’s personality and memories will be erased, but that’s a trivial matter! Do you understand!? The era is about to change! Hyaha, hyahahahahahahahaha—!”

Cyrus’s maniacal laughter echoed before the stunned Eve and the others.

They couldn’t bear to listen to his deranged voice for another second.

“Hmph… Why do villains always feel the need to blabber on about things no one asked? Well, I suppose I’m glad to know what I wanted, but still.”

Eve stepped forward, her gaze cold as if looking at filth.

“But it’s over now. I won’t let you complete such a deranged ritual.”

“To make Re=L suffer for something like that… to use Sensei like that…!”

“We won’t let you use Re=L for such a thing…!”

Sistine and Rumia readied themselves as well.

Eve raised her right hand, declaring triumphantly.

“You failed, Cyrus. To perform the ritual, you embedded the Sefirot Map into Re=L through spiritual surgery. Until now, we couldn’t act because we didn’t know where or how you hid the Sefirot Map or what seals protected it.

But if you were going to perform the ritual on Re=L, it was obvious you’d have to use the Sefirot Map at some point. All we had to do was wait—wait for the moment you revealed it and unsealed it.

In other words, the rest is simple. We beat you down here and take Re=L back. This is an enclosed space—no moonlight, so your vaunted world-deceiving illusion can’t activate. Prepare yourself; I won’t hold back.”

Then—

“Kukukuku…”

Suddenly, Cyrus began to chuckle softly.

“…What’s so funny?”

“Oh, nothing… It’s just, Eve-san, didn’t you say it yourself? ‘Why do they talk about things no one asked?’”

“…?”

“Let me answer that question. …Obviously, to buy time. Right, Illia?”

In response to Cyrus’s words,

Illia, who had been quietly meditating and standing nearby, silently waved her hand with a swift motion.

And then—

Crack! In an instant, web-like fissures ran freely in all directions across this world.

CRASHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!

As if glass were shattering, the world itself broke apart.

“Wha—!?”

Caught off guard by the sudden turn of events, Eve’s eyes widened as she froze in place.

Fragments of the shattered world fell into the abyssal void that appeared on the other side.

And then, before Eve and the others, who stood in the emptiness of the void, the dark abyss gradually regained color and form, reconstructing images and reforming the world.

The scene that appeared before Eve and her companions was—

“N-No way—!? The ritual has already begun!?”

The flames enveloping the monolith had already vanished, and the device was now manifesting its programmed functions.

Countless glowing letters and patterns raced across the altar and Re=L’s body, lying upon it.

“Damn it, an illusion!? That wasn’t aimed at the world—it was targeting our minds—”

“Exactly! The ritual—Re=L’s Astral Code rewriting process—started long ago! And—”

“—!?”

It was at that very moment.

Thud.

As Eve and her group tried to rush toward the altar, their eyes suddenly became vacant, and they collapsed to their knees on the spot.

“…[Moon Cradle]. You are already embraced within the arms of my illusory moon.”

Illia raised her index finger, where a light glowed like a white moon, and looked down at the motionless Eve and her companions without a trace of sentiment.

“You let your guard down. Did you think [Moon Cradle] was merely a spell to deceive the world? Naturally, like any standard illusion, it can also dominate the minds of others. In this case, a catalyst like moonlight isn’t even necessary.”

“And your [Moon Cradle] absolutely penetrates all mental defenses, doesn’t it? My, what a terrifying spell.”

Illia and Cyrus spoke as they gazed down at Eve and her group, who remained silent and utterly still.

“Now, within my [Moon Cradle], what kind of dreams are you all seeing? A dream where you’re acknowledged by your clan, walking a path of glory alongside a long-lost friend? Or perhaps an exhilarating dream of journeying with your beloved grandfather toward a castle beyond the skies? Or maybe a gentle dream of living peaceful days with your mother and sister, never having been cast out from your home?”

“Yare yare. You’ve completely trapped their minds within a mental world, haven’t you? They’re as good as broken now, aren’t they? You’re quite ruthless, Illia.”

And with that, Cyrus leisurely approached Eve and the others.

Eve and her companions remained motionless, their eyes vacant. They couldn’t move. They showed no sign of moving.

“Well, not that it matters… since you’re all about to die here anyway.”

And then, he drew a knife with a glint.

Raising it above Eve’s head—

“Become the foundation of my glory—and DIE!”

—he swung it down toward the back of Eve’s head without the slightest mercy.

…………

Sleepy.

The drowsiness gnawing at my consciousness had become almost violent in its intensity.

“…I’m sorry, Re=L.”

Princess whispered apologetically while holding me tightly.

“My world is encroaching upon yours… It seems I was brought into your world to become you…”

Princess was saying something that I didn’t quite understand.

All I knew was that I was so sleepy.

When I slightly opened my heavy eyelids… I saw a strange sight.

Something odd was spreading from Princess’ body.

It was… I didn’t fully understand, but it was probably a world.

A vast sea and infinite sky, gleaming with the golden brilliance of a setting sun.

A single sword stood thrust into the shimmering sand of a lonely twilight world, with nothing else around.

That world of Princess’… was overwriting the world I loved so dearly.

If this continued, my beloved world would be swallowed up by Princess’ world and vanish completely.

“I’m sorry… I’m so sorry… I’m trying to hold it back, but… in the end, I’m just a replicated record of Astral Code… I can’t resist the command…”

Princess held me tightly, apologizing over and over with a pained expression.

“…It’s okay.”

But I mumbled softly, fighting back the drowsiness.

“I can still… hear everyone’s voices.”

Yes, I could hear them.

My beloved world was already crumbling and falling apart.

But even so, I could still hear them—Keep fighting, don’t give up, come back!

The voices of everyone I loved were reaching me.

Even now, in this very moment, they were sending me their strength.

“Sistine and Rumia are close by, trying to save me.”

I could feel the presence of my beloved friends, so clearly.

“And…”

Yes. Glenn.

Surely, that person I loved so much was fighting to save me, too.

“So… it’s okay.”

“…I see. You’re strong, aren’t you?”

At that, Princess gave a faint smile and said,

“Then shall we believe together… in the people you love so much?”

“Mm…”

And so,

At the center of a world collapsing and being overwritten,

Princess and I held each other tightly, as if to confirm each other’s existence—

“RAAAAAHHHHHHHH!”

Glenn sharply swung the muzzle of his gun and pulled the trigger.

The fiery line of bullets deflected the incoming silver glint—a knife.

Glenn tried to fire rapidly in succession—

Click! The hammer struck with only a dry metallic sound.

“…Hmph, finally out of bullets, huh?”

Albert kicked off the roof of a building, leaped, then kicked off the wall of a spire to leap again, closing in on Glenn.

“Shut up! You’re out of knives after that one, aren’t you!?”

Glenn discarded his pistol and readied his fists, facing Albert as he descended.

He twisted his body to dodge Albert’s diving kick.

Blocking the fierce palm strike that followed with his elbow, Glenn leaped back.

Albert pursued, closing in like a gale—

“Goddamn it, just give up already, you bastard!?”

Glenn continued to parry Albert’s hand strikes and palm blows, barely managing to keep up under overwhelming pressure.

“I can’t! You may not know this, but even now, a terrifying ritual is likely progressing in that temple! I have to stop it—for my comrades, and for this country!”

“I already figured that much out, you idiot!”

Glenn roared back, deflecting Albert’s attacks with his fists.

“No, you don’t understand the gravity of the situation at all! Do you know what will happen if that ritual is allowed to proceed!? All the legendary heroes who once supported and protected the Alzano Empire will be resurrected—and they’ll turn against the empire, siding with The Researchers of Heavenly Wisdom!”

“—!?”

“Heroes so formidable that the phrase ‘one against a thousand’ feels inadequate, who fought through a turbulent era! If that happens, this country will undoubtedly fall! The sacrifices among the people will be unimaginable! Glenn, I’m sorry, but you need to give up on Re=L and walk away from this!”

“I’ll handle all of that somehow, damn it! Can’t you figure that out!? Have a little faith in me, you jerk!”

“You can say such naive things because you don’t know the threat of《The Moon》!”

“—Guh!?”

Albert’s thrusting kick pierced Glenn’s abdomen.

Glenn slid back, scraping the roof with his feet until he reached its edge.

“Knowing you, you’ve probably got comrades moving to support you behind the scenes while you keep me occupied, right? Eve? Or maybe Fibel?”

“What, you’ve figured out that much, huh…!? Then—”

“But it’s futile.”

Albert declared with certainty.

“By now, they’re likely trapped in Illia’s illusions. Your plan is guaranteed to fail.”

“…!?”

“Of course, it’s not that your strategy was flawed. It’s just that Illia Irouge《The Moon》is far more dangerous and powerful than you could have imagined.

Her world-deceiving illusions are one thing, but her true terror lies in her interpersonal illusions. Absolute penetration of mental defenses—no one in this world can escape her illusions.

Yet, I alone could fight her advantageously. That’s why everyone entrusted this to me, believing in me as they headed into mortal danger. I have to live up to their faith.”

“I get it. Your sniping range outclasses Illia’s interpersonal illusion range, doesn’t it? That’s why you stubbornly held your ground at the temple, keeping them at bay.”

Glenn wiped the blood trickling from the corner of his mouth, breathing heavily.

“But… it’s already too late, isn’t it? They’ve infiltrated the temple and are carrying out the ritual. …It’s all because my strength wasn’t enough.”

Albert muttered regretfully before Glenn, who fell silent, and removed the glove from his left hand.

“All my options are exhausted. In close-range magic combat, no one can defeat Illia《The Moon》. The moment they entered the temple, I lost. …If that’s the case, I have no choice but to use my final measure.”

Glenn’s eyes widened at the pattern engraved on the back of Albert’s now-exposed hand.

“Y-You… that’s—!?”

“Yes. White Magic [Wraithform]—the spell of astral projection.”

Albert responded calmly to Glenn, who was gaping in shock.

“I prepared it in case I was overwhelmed and they managed to infiltrate the temple. If it comes to it, I’ll activate this, abandon my body, and become a wraith. The only way to reliably counter Illia’s illusions, which penetrate all mental defenses, is to become a wraith. By doing so, I’ll take her down.”

“You idiot! You were planning to die!?”

In an instant, Glenn exploded with rage and lunged at Albert.

Yes. Once someone becomes a wraith, they can never return to being human.

And the time a wraith can remain in this world is fleetingly short.

When that time runs out, the soul, separated from its body, will completely vanish from this world.

For a mage, wraithification is truly the very last trump card.

“Sure, if you die, you won’t be affected by mental domination! But—!?”

“Face reality. This is the only way to stop Illia and the others with certainty. …Absolute certainty.”

“B-But…!”

“Even you, standing here talking to me now… there’s no guarantee you’re not an illusion created by Illia. There’s no other way.”

Glenn was rendered speechless by Albert’s words, filled with resolve and determination.

“You considered every worst-case scenario and still chose this to ensure you’d complete your mission…?”

“It’s not like I want to resort to this. I have things I need to do. I can’t afford to die. But right now, I’m entrusted with the lives of my comrades and the future of the empire.”

“…!?”

“You understand, don’t you, Glenn? This is my resolve. I’m heading back to the temple now to deal with Illia and the others. Step aside—”

“Like hell I’ll step aside, you damn fool!”

Driven by raw emotion, Glenn charged at Albert with ferocious speed, landing a brutal right body blow, a left uppercut, and a right straight in a relentless barrage, sending Albert flying.

This time, it was Albert who tumbled to the opposite edge of the roof.

“Guh…!?”

“Haa… haa…! Enough already! You overly serious, stick-in-the-mud idiot…! Have some faith in the people around you! Stop trying to carry everything alone and let us share the burden! You’re always taking on too much by yourself!

You’re so afraid of burdening others that you try to shoulder everything alone, and when you’re backed into a corner, you resort to extreme measures like this! Argh, damn it! Now I really can’t afford to lose to you…!”

“Shut up and be quiet! I had to sacrifice one to save nine… I had to! …Eight years ago, if I had decisively cut that one, I could have saved at least nine! I could have saved them…! But I… I was too soft…!”

Wiping the blood from his forehead, Albert staggered to his feet.

His eyes burned with deep regret—and an unwavering, almost obsessive resolve.

“…Albert… I don’t know what happened in your past, but…”

Glenn, who had been kneeling, also rose unsteadily.

“[Wraithform]? I won’t give you the chance to use that ridiculous spell. Come on, let’s settle this. …Looks like you and I need to have it out, once and for all, to decide who’s right.”

“…So be it.”

“I’ve gotta knock you down, or one day you’ll make a fatal mistake.”

“You talk like you understand.”

“I do understand. Until recently, I was a lot like you. If you can’t trust others and insist on carrying everything alone… then I’ll trust everyone and carry it with them.”

“…!”

“Struggle to save all ten, or sacrifice one to save nine with certainty… There’s no right answer. In the end, the world just is what it is, and all we can do is struggle within it. So… wouldn’t it be easier to share the burden with everyone?”

At that, Albert didn’t respond to Glenn’s question…

“…Come, Glenn.”

As if words were no longer necessary, he slowly raised his fists.

“Heh.”

Glenn, too, grinned faintly and readied his fists.

For a moment, the two stood perfectly still, glaring at each other—

A cold night breeze passed between them—

Slightly cooling their bodies, still flushed from the heat of their fierce battle.

—And then.

Who moved first? What sparked it?

“RAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!”

“HAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHH!”

Raising their fists, they charged at each other—squeezing out the last of their strength and rushing forward.

—.

Cyrus mercilessly drove his knife into the back of Eve’s head as she crouched—

—It was at that moment.

Swish.

“…Huh?”

The knife passed right through Eve’s body.

Her intangible form wavered… and then vanished like a mirage.

“—Like I said earlier.”

Before he realized it, Eve was standing behind Cyrus, her hand tapping his shoulder.

“I’m done with this farce.”

In the next instant, Eve’s hand, gripping Cyrus’s shoulder, burst into flames.

A torrent of overwhelming fire swirled, forming bands that raced across Cyrus’s arms, torso, neck, and legs like serpents, constricting him at ferocious speed—

“—AGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!?”

Cyrus’s agonized screams were cut off as the fiery serpent sealed his mouth, silencing him.

“Ngh—!? Ghh—!? Nngh—!?”

Completely bound by flames, his movements and spells sealed, Cyrus writhed pathetically on the floor.

Yet the flames never extinguished—and not a single burn marred his body.

Black Magic [Flame Bind]. A torture spell that restrained and incapacitated its target, inflicting the searing pain of burning without causing any physical damage.

“Hmph… A grown man whimpering so pathetically over something like this? No wonder you can’t get a date.”

Ignoring Cyrus entirely, Eve turned to face Illia.

“What…!? That was—an illusion!?”

Illia, pinned by Eve’s sharp gaze, widened her eyes and faltered.

“That’s right. Did you think illusions were your exclusive domain?”

Eve raised a finger, igniting a small flame at its tip.

“Don’t underestimate an Ignite who’s mastered heat and flame. Secret Art [Fire Illusion]—a spell that uses the flicker of flames to hypnotize its target. …It’s a hidden trump card, though.”

“The flicker of flames!? N-No way, the flames that engulfed the monolith earlier—!?”

Eve’s [Fire Illusion] wasn’t as potent as Illia’s interpersonal [Moon Cradle], which could pierce through even the most fortified mental defenses and trap its target in an illusion. If one was aware it was an illusion and recognized it as such, breaking free was relatively easy.

In essence, it was a standard illusion spell. Its only unique aspect was that it used fire to ensnare its target.

That’s why Eve had camouflaged it within the flames of her attack to halt the ritual. By ensuring they didn’t perceive it as an illusion, she could exploit a gap in their mental defenses and trap them effortlessly.

Eve’s masterful misdirection had outdone Illia’s absolute illusion.

“An illusion for an illusion, right?”

“You little—!”

Illusions that dominate the mind are highly advanced and specialized white magic.

Only specialists who’ve dedicated themselves to that path can wield illusions at a combat level, and naturally, first-rate practitioners are exceedingly rare. It’s not a skill one can casually master.

Yet Eve had done so effortlessly, and worse, she’d gotten the better of Illia.

Her pride wounded, Illia flared with rage, igniting a white moon-like light at her fingertip and shouting,

“—[Moon Cradle]!”

In response, Eve swiftly ignited a flame at her fingertips and brandished it.

“[Fire Illusion]!”

Instantly, their illusory powers, each vying to dominate the other’s mind, clashed head-on between them. The space between them began to warp and distort.

Naturally, when cast simultaneously, [Moon Cradle] was overwhelmingly superior.

Illia’s illusory power overpowered Eve’s, threatening to engulf her in the illusion in an instant—

“It’s my victory, Eve! Embraced by my phantom moon, perish—!”

Illia declared triumphantly.

“Foolish… Do you really have the leisure to deal with me so casually?”

Even as she was nearly consumed by Illia’s illusion, her consciousness growing hazy, Eve smirked defiantly.

—It was at that moment.

Flash! Sistine suddenly stood up, her eyes wide open—

“《Roar, warhammer of the tempest》—!”

She shouted a spell directed at Illia.

“What!? Impossible!?”

This sudden interference struck Illia like a blow to the head.

(Even if Eve managed to evade by shifting her existence recognition through illusion, my [Moon Cradle] should have undoubtedly affected those girls! It’s an absolute illusion that pierces all mental defenses! There’s no way she could have recovered on her own will—!?)

At that moment, Illia realized.

She noticed Rumia, quietly standing close by Sistine’s side.

(I see, 《Ars Magna》! By super-enhancing the effects of White Magic [Mind Up] and preparing in advance—she took time to recover, but she managed to return by her own will!?)

By the time she realized, it was already too late.

From Sistine’s outstretched left palm, Black Magic [Blast Blow] was unleashed—a colossal wind battering ram, formed by compressing and condensing a vast amount of air, surged directly toward Illia.

“Kuh—!?”

Completely unguarded against Sistine and her group, and preoccupied with her illusionary duel with Eve, Illia was a step too slow.

In a place without direct moonlight, it took a moment’s breath to ensnare someone in [Moon Cradle].

In this situation, there was no time to trap Sistine in [Moon Cradle].

“Then—!”

With the pride of a Special Missions Annex executive, Illia gauged the wind battering ram, dodging it with a sideways leap—and pointed at Sistine.

“《Thunder Emperor’s—》”

Aiming for a gap in Sistine’s mana biorhythm, she attempted to finish her with Black Magic [Lightning Pierce]. Illia’s fluid movements were the honed actions of a professional, refined through relentless training. No ordinary mage could react to such speed.

Illia was certain that in the next moment, Sistine’s heart would be mercilessly pierced.

But—

“Sleep, youuuuuuuuuuuuuuu—!”

It was, for Illia, a bolt from the blue.

Without a moment’s hesitation, Sistine unleashed a second [Blast Blow] from her right palm, striking Illia’s body directly, a fraction of a second faster.

“Gah—!? A Double Cast—!? You’re kidding—!?”

Hearing the sound of her bones shattering, Illia’s face froze in shock—

She was blown horizontally—crashing violently into a wall.

Vomiting blood, she lost consciousness and collapsed to the floor.

“…Not bad, huh? Must be thanks to some good teaching, right?”

Eve glanced at Sistine, a satisfied smirk curling her lips.

“Sistie! Hurry!”

“I know! This type of ancient monolith… yeah, I know how to use it! I read about it in a magical archaeology thesis!”

Sistine and Rumia rushed to Re=L’s side.

(Now, what should I do… a woman only good for fighting?)

Eve crossed her arms, watching their backs as they hurried off.

“How’s it going, Sistie!?”

“I-It’s fine! Good, we’re in time! Her deep subconscious has been slightly overwritten, but the surface personality hasn’t been altered yet! If we stop it now, we’ll definitely make it!”

“Thank goodness!”

“Rumia! Like before, use 《Ars Magna》! With [Function Analyze], let’s quickly grasp the functions of this ruin and save Re=L!”

“Got it! And since we got the Sefirot Map, we need to treat her Etheric Dissociation Syndrome too!”

“Can you… handle that, Rumia?”

“Leave it to me! Cecilia-sensei taught me how!”

(Well… either way, there’s no role left for me here. Honestly, what reliable kids.)

Strangely confident in their victory,

Eve took out a communication magic device and held it to her ear—

It was—at exactly the same moment.

Glenn’s all-out right fist strike,

And Albert’s soul-and-bone-crushing left fist strike,

Their fists, tearing through the air with a roar, crossed at the elbows, striking each other’s heads with perfect, identical timing.

The timing was equal. Yet, in terms of combat skill, physical build, arm strength, mana capacity, and the accumulated fatigue and damage from the battle so far,

Every condition put Glenn at a disadvantage and Albert at an advantage.

If the timing was simultaneous, those factors would make all the difference.

Glenn would lose the clash, and Albert would prevail. That was the natural outcome.

But,

Even so,

“Oooooooooooooooooooh—!”

Glenn—roared. His ferocious spirit surged, as if shaking the very atmosphere.

The impossible—happened.

Slowly,

—Very slowly,

Glenn’s fist—began to push Albert back—pushing further—

“Ooooaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhh—!”

And—finally, it broke through.

“—!?”

Overpowered and knocked back by the force, Albert was sent flying horizontally.

His back slammed into the wall of a building’s spire, shattering it—

“—Guh… ugh…!?”

Slumping against the wall, Albert collapsed powerlessly.

“…Heh! How’s that…!? You done, you bastard!? Cough! Hack!”

Raising his fist, Glenn declared victory. He was in a pitiful state—his face swollen with countless bruises and scrapes, his body covered in welts, swaying unsteadily, his knees trembling.

Yet, the one still standing in the end was Glenn.

“Huff… huff… cough… Damn, my body… won’t move… Why…? Why did I lose…? Does this mean my conviction… my resolve to bear this burden… wasn’t enough…!?”

Albert, equally battered, muttered as if wringing the words out, his head bowed.

“What… the hell…?”

Glenn answered nonchalantly.

“Heh, ain’t it obvious? We both shed our baggage and fought—you to cut down Re=L, and me to protect her.”

“…And what of it?”

“Don’t you get it? It’s a universal truth that a man fighting for a cute girl is always stronger.”

Hearing such a brazen declaration delivered with a straight face,

Albert’s eyes widened in stunned silence for a moment.

“Hmph. It seems… it wasn’t an illusion after all. It was truly real. There’s no way a mere phantom could defeat me.”

Eventually, Albert closed his eyes in resignation…

“…I can’t match you. It’s my complete defeat.”

His lips curled faintly, as if a weight had been lifted.

“…Albert.”

Glenn looked at his former partner. He glanced again at the fist that had struck him.

Indeed—it must have been reluctant. To save nine by sacrificing one. Even with his steel-like resolve to carry it out, even if he could steel himself to sacrifice himself, deep in his heart, there was resistance to cutting down his comrade, Re=L.

That resistance manifested, ever so slightly, in the final step of his commitment.

That’s why Glenn was able to win a contest he should have absolutely lost.

(Honestly… for a man with such deep emotions to hesitate, even slightly, at that final step, how could his heart not ache when sacrificing one to save nine…)

Yet, who could blame Albert for that?

The Imperial Court Mage Corps’ Special Missions Annex was a harsh workplace. Body and soul were constantly worn down by the cruel reality before them.

Glenn, stubbornly trying to be a ‘Mage of Justice’ who saved all ten. Albert, resolute in his choice to play the villain, sacrificing one to save nine. Eve, obsessed with honor and achievements. Bernard, treating battles like a gambler’s thrill. Christoph, blindly devoted to Her Majesty. Jatice, upholding his self-righteous justice… None of them could survive without some form of distortion.

Yet, they all had to fight to save people—

(Albert… this guy’s been carrying this burden alone all this time, enduring it… taking on my share when I was just a naive kid… even after I ran away, he just kept silent…)

Yes, Albert Frazer was a man with such strength.

But there’s no such thing as an unbreakable tree in this world.

Even if he had the strength to endure alone now, one day…

“…You damn idiot… You absolute idiot…”

Muttering in exasperation,

Glenn collapsed spread-eagled on the ground, gazing up at the distant night sky.

…And at that moment,

Clink, clink, clink. A strange metallic sound came from Glenn’s pocket.

“Oh? Just as I thought it was about time… Did it go well?”

Interrupting his conversation with Albert, Glenn struggled to move his weakened hand, pulling out a gem-shaped communication magic device and holding it to his ear.

“…Eve? …I see. And? How’d it go…? … …Yeah, I knew you guys would pull it off… Yeah, we handled things here too. …That idiot Albert? Yeah, he’s finally calmed down… Yup, exactly…”

For a while, Glenn conversed through the gem.

Eventually, he ended the call and spoke to Albert.

“Relax, Albert. It’s over… Eve and the others took down Cyrus and Illia. …Re=L is safe.”

“… …I see.”

Albert muttered quietly, showing no trace of emotion.

“Told you, didn’t I? …Trust me… Trust us.”

Gazing at the sky, Glenn tossed the words out casually—