Chapter 3: The Reignition of《The Magician》

“Hmm… It seems the board has finally been set.”

Gazing up at the sky,

Powell suddenly muttered those words, reining in the surging mana that had coursed through his body.

“However, Abel, I must say I’m rather disappointed in you. Eight long years have passed since then… and this is still the extent of your ability?”

“…!”

Where Powell’s gaze fell… stood Albert.

His condition was dire, the very picture of being battered and broken.

His body was deeply slashed, scorched, and bore not a single unscathed patch.

His right arm was broken, and his right eye completely crushed. That eye, even with the aid of a healing spell, would likely never regain its light.

Propping himself up with one hand and one knee, he barely kept himself from collapsing to the ground, but to anyone’s eyes, it was clear he was utterly incapable of continuing the fight.

His remaining left eye still burned with unyielding resolve and battle spirit, but in his current state, it amounted to little more than futile resistance.

At a slight distance, Christoph and Bernard lay collapsed, equally on the brink of death, their bodies ravaged.

In contrast, Powell was unscathed.

Not a speck of soot marred his body, nor was a single breath out of place.

Three of the Special Missions Annex’s finest had thrown everything they had at him, sparing no means, and this was the result.

He was too strong. Everything about him was on an entirely different level—overwhelming, unmatched, simply too strong.

Truly, a demon—there were no other words to describe Powell anymore.

“So, how does it feel? Are you frustrated? Humiliated? What’s it like to have eight years of effort reduced to nothing in a single moment, unable to even scratch me?”

“…”

“You’re weak, Abel. In that state, you’ll never come close to putting a blade to my throat. Not as a mere human like you.”

Powell spoke as if admonishing Albert, who glared up at him with a gaze that could kill.

“But I’ll say it again and again: your talent is remarkable. To have honed yourself to this extent as a mere human is no small feat. Truly, you have the qualifications.”

“…!”

“You’re a clever one, aren’t you? You must understand. The only way to surpass me is to grasp that key.”

“There’s no shame in it. That’s how it should be. Yes, be honest with your desires. Be more earnest in your quest to surpass me, to destroy me, to avenge those you love. Only then will the path to truth open before you…”

With those words,

Powell’s body began to slowly float upward.

“…Where are you going, Powell…!?”

“Dear me, I’m a busy man, you see. I have preparations to make for the next stage of this performance. Keeping the three of you pinned here should suffice for now—Lord Ignite will handle the rest splendidly.”

“So, that’s all for today. I won’t involve myself further with this board. But the next time we meet—”

He smiled faintly.

Like a father beaming with heartfelt affection toward a beloved son.

“I look forward to your favorable response… to you joining our side.”

With that, Powell’s form melted into the sky and vanished.

“…”

A heavy silence and stillness lingered in his wake.

Once Albert was certain Powell’s presence had completely faded,

“…Damn it!”

He slammed his left fist into the scorched ground in frustration.

“Guh… cough… Don’t… be so down, Al-boy…”

Bernard, staggering to his feet, spoke to Albert.

“That guy’s a real monster… To go toe-to-toe with a freak like that and still be breathing… That’s a win in itself… Guh, ugh! Man, that hurts…”

“…”

But Albert remained silent, his expression grim.

Resigned, Bernard called out to Christoph.

“…Hey… Chris-boy… You still alive…?”

“…Some…how… Yes…”

It seemed Christoph had only just regained consciousness.

He responded weakly, struggling to sit up.

“Guh… Albert-san, I’m so… sorry… for dragging you down…”

“Don’t dwell on it. Without your defensive barriers, we’d have been reduced to ash by his first strike.”

“B-but…! Albert-san… You shielded me and lost your eye…!”

“This is nothing. I can still fight.”

Saying this, Albert lent a shoulder to Christoph, who still seemed too weak to stand, and helped him up.

“Oi, oi, don’t push yourself, Al-boy. None of us can be healed with spells right now… We’ve long passed the limit for recovery. We’ve got no choice but to let our bodies heal naturally.”

“…I know. But Her Majesty is still in grave danger. …Let’s go. We have to do what we must, right now.”

“…Aye, you’re right…”

“Yes…”

Bearing the humiliation of defeat and their wounded pride, dragging their battered hearts and bodies,

The three began to move forward unsteadily.

────.

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

At the call of Alicia VII, Queen of the Alzano Empire, the nations of the world had briefly united to face the existential crisis of the summoning of an evil god’s kin—a threat that could bring about the world’s end.

Seizing the chaos as an opportunity, Lord Azel Le Ignite, Chief of the Alzano Empire’s Integrated Military Staff, who aimed to usurp the throne, launched a sudden armed uprising—a coup d’état.

Under the brilliant command of Lydia, a strategist under Lord Ignite’s banner, the coup forces routed the accompanying armies of various nations, captured their leaders, and brought the entire Milano region under their control.

With their leaders held hostage, the nations were paralyzed, left waiting for the masterminds’ demands and statements, their responses mired in confusion and delay.

Meanwhile,

Lord Ignite, the coup’s orchestrator, sought to frame the uprising and the detention of world leaders as the reckless conspiracy of Queen Alicia VII of the Alzano Empire. He aimed to secure her person but fell just short, as the queen vanished from Milano without a trace.

Yet, convinced she was still hiding somewhere in Milano, Lord Ignite refused to lift the city’s complete lockdown.

As the situation remained at a standstill, precious time bled away uselessly.

Day by day, slowly but surely, the Root continued to emerge.

Trapped in the sealed city, unable to escape, Milano’s citizens lived in fear of the Root’s terror.

The imperial army scoured the city with bloodshot eyes, searching for the queen’s whereabouts.

And—evading their gaze, the queen continued her covert resistance.

Now, the free city of Milano had become a crucible of turmoil, dominated by the dark chaos of upheaval.

Tirika-Falia Cathedral.

Currently, it served as the military stronghold for the coup forces led by Lord Ignite.

In the underground dungeon facility built beneath it, the leaders of various nations, detained by the coup forces, were kept sedated and imprisoned.

In one of the dungeon’s cells,

“You’re persistent. No matter how many times you ask, I have no intention of serving you.”

Bishop Cardinal Fais Cardis, chained to the cold stone wall, spat those words through the iron bars at Lord Ignite.

“You’re a stubborn one, aren’t you?”

Lord Ignite responded, looking down at Fais.

“Can’t you grasp the situation? The tide has already turned. The queen, hiding somewhere, will be captured eventually. It’s only a matter of time. Everything is within my grasp.”

“…!”

“The queen will go down in history as an unprecedented evil, one who, exploiting this world crisis, harbored grand ambitions of world conquest and plunged the world into chaos. And I, having brought divine retribution upon her and saved the leaders of the world, will be hailed as a hero. With that absolute achievement, I shall ascend as the first emperor of the unified Alzano-Rezalia Empire, and in time, I will become the foremost leader of the world. The queen or me… Surely a clever man like you can see which side is the wiser choice?”

“Ridiculous…! As if everything could possibly go so perfectly according to your plans…!”

“It will. Unfortunately for you, it will. Because I possess the Wedge.”

“The Wedge… you say…?”

Fais could hardly believe it, but Lord Ignite’s confident expression told the story.

Lord Ignite had something—something that made the impossible possible.

“And the evil god that will soon be summoned is no concern. I have the final evolution of [Project: Revive Life]—the [Ritual of Heroes’ Rebirth]. The kin of an evil god are nothing before it.”

“What nonsense…!? Do you know how much devastation the Great Magic War caused two hundred years ago…!?”

“Your imagination is lacking. Listen well. Leave the evil god to those who once defeated it. There’s no need for the world to unite.”

“Such a thing…!?”

Overwhelmed, Bishop Cardinal Fais could only listen as

Lord Ignite delivered what seemed like a final ultimatum.

“Bishop Cardinal Fais, I value your abilities. You navigated countless political enemies and obstacles, allied with the queen, and brought about the summit—a testament to your exceptional skill.”

“It would be a pity to lose you here. So, how about it? Join my ranks quietly—”

“I refuse!”

But Fais shouted resolutely.

“I don’t know the secret behind your confidence, and indeed, your abilities are remarkable! But this much I know… If I follow you, the world will surely end…!”

“Hmph. Stubbornness of this degree ceases to be amusing. Very well, as originally planned, you’ll face public execution alongside the queen before the eyes of the world. You’ll bear the sin of conspiring with the empire to plunge the world into chaos and ruin.”

“Even so, I will never follow you.”

Fais maintained his unyielding resolve.

“Let me tell you one thing. You underestimate humanity—underestimate the world itself—far too much.”

“Underestimate? No. My abilities are worthy of ruling the world—”

“I’ll make a prophecy. You believe yourself omnipotent, like a god, but that’s mere arrogance. You’ll surely be tripped up by the very things you’ve scorned and cast aside, falling pathetically to the ground, licking the dirt in your final moments.”

“Hmph. Utter nonsense.”

Deeming further talk pointless,

Lord Ignite turned his back on Fais, who wore a serene, almost enlightened smile.

And with that, he left the cell.

“…So? What’s the situation?”

As he walked through the cathedral’s corridors, Lord Ignite addressed the two girls walking silently beside him—Lydia and Illia.

“The queen’s whereabouts remain unknown.”

Lydia, walking to Lord Ignite’s right, answered calmly.

“Magical investigations have detected localized dimensional rifts and stress in Milano’s Ley Lines. It’s likely that the queen and her faction have improvised some sort of ‘Otherworld’ using the Ley Lines and are hiding within it.”

“Then break it quickly. Drag the queen out of that ‘Otherworld.’”

“It’s impossible with modern magical methods. It appears this ‘Otherworld’ was constructed using some kind of magic that transcends conventional magecraft.”

“Tch… Desperate struggles…”

Lord Ignite spat irritably.

“An ‘Otherworld’ is different from spatial teleportation. They can’t move from that location. As long as they remain within it, the queen cannot escape Milano.”

“Yes, exactly, Father. Additionally, based on the Ley Line survey, the dimensional distortions caused by the ‘Otherworld’ are gradually resolving over time. They cannot remain barricaded in there forever.”

“Sooner or later, they’ll slip up and reveal themselves… They’ll have no choice but to show themselves.”

“Yes, precisely.”

Lydia smiled brightly.

“Hmm… What about the movements of the other nations?”

“Including our homeland, they’re in complete disarray. Some nations have issued condemnations against the empire, but all are directed at Her Majesty Alicia VII. Our information control is flawless.”

Then, Lydia gently turned to Illia beside her.

“Isn’t that right, Illia-san?”

“Y-yes… That’s correct…”

Illia, for some reason, responded haltingly.

“Good work, both of you. I commend your efficiency.”

Satisfied that everything was proceeding largely as planned, Lord Ignite nodded approvingly.

“H-however, my beloved lord… Will this truly go so smoothly?”

Illia, unable to hide her unease, ventured a suggestion.

“Even with the [Ritual of Heroes’ Rebirth], its operational status is still incomplete… Moreover, the revived heroes are back in Ignite territory for fine-tuning.”

“True, the chain of command is currently disrupted, and our information control is effective, but the intelligence agencies of other nations aren’t so incompetent as to let the truth of such a massive incident remain hidden forever.”

“I can’t help but think this was a bit premature—”

“What’s that? Are you defying me?”

“N-no…! I-I was just saying—!”

As Illia hurriedly tried to explain herself,

Paan! A sharp, resounding slap echoed through the corridor,

and Thud! Illia was sent crashing into the wall, collapsing to the floor.

Clutching her reddened, swollen cheek, Illia looked up fearfully…

“…L-Lydia…san…?”

There stood Lydia, her saintly smile unchanged, having mercilessly delivered the blow.

“Illia-san. What are you saying to my father?”

“N-no… I didn’t mean to… oppose him…!”

Crunch. Lydia stepped on Illia’s hand, her smile unwavering.

“A… Aaaah!?”

Crack, creak. Illia’s bones groaned under the pressure, and she let out a scream of agony.

“Everything my father says is correct. If we follow his orders, everything will succeed. My father is the supreme being, and the entire world should kneel before him. Do you understand that, and yet you dare speak to him so?”

“It hurts… It hurts…! I-I’m sorry—Please forgive me! Aaaah!”

“No forgiveness. This is your punishment, Illia-san. Savor it.”

Crunch, snap! Under the relentless force of Lydia’s foot, Illia’s hand shattered.

“~~~~ !?”

Illia let out a voiceless scream, tears welling in her eyes as she writhed in pain.

“Hmph, that’s enough, Lydia.”

Lord Ignite interjected with a cold smirk.

“That woman is still a useful piece. I can’t have her broken by your discipline.”

“Oh no! To think I’d harm one of Father’s precious pieces!”

Instantly, Lydia stepped back from Illia, bowing with comical exaggeration, her voice trembling with feigned remorse as she begged forgiveness.

“My deepest apologies, Your Excellency! Please, forgive me! Forgive me!”

“…!”

Illia looked up at the bizarre Lydia with a servile gaze.

There was something fundamentally wrong with Lydia. Despite her beautiful appearance, her gentle and approachable demeanor like that of a saint, something at her core was off—unnatural.

“…Lydia…san… You’re… already…”

Muttering something under her breath, Illia’s head drooped limply.

Ignoring her entirely, Lydia continued to prostrate herself before Lord Ignite.

“Enough. I have high expectations of you, Lydia.”

“Yes, Father! I will dedicate my all to bring you victory and glory!”

Lydia’s expression shifted to a radiant, flower-like smile, pledging her fierce devotion.

But in the next moment, a shadow of unease crossed her face.

“By the way… Father. May I ask one small thing?”

“What is it?”

“As I swore, I will give my all to serve you.”

“Good. Your loyalty is noted. And?”

“So… um… I… I’m truly your daughter… right?”

At Lydia’s strange question, Lord Ignite fell silent for a moment.

“I’m doing so much for you, serving you with all I have… I’m your daughter, aren’t I? I am, right? Right?”

“…Of course, my daughter. What an odd thing to ask.”

Seemingly satisfied with Lord Ignite’s response,

“Yes, of course! No, I mean… it’s nothing.”

Lydia saluted him energetically and strode off with high spirits.

Her retreating figure, somehow unnatural and distorted,

“…”

Illia could only stare after her blankly.

──At the same moment.

In the public hotel where the Alzano Empire’s representative team had been staying,

an ‘Otherworld’ had been constructed, projected as an image on the underside of reality.

In a grand hall within that realm—

“As expected, the situation is far from favorable…”

Alicia VII, seated at a long table, let out a heavy sigh, her presence weighed down by the somber atmosphere.

On the desk lay a tactical map of Milano.

Around Alicia’s seat, the surviving soldiers, still bearing unhealed wounds, continue their discussions—arguing this way and that—but their opinions seem entirely lacking in substance.

“…Your Majesty…”

Glenn can only watch over Alicia helplessly.

—Two days ago.

When Glenn and his allies were cornered to the brink by the coup forces,

Sistine and the other students coordinated with them, barely managing to escape. Using Rumia’s《Silver Key》and its spatial manipulation ability, they constructed this [Otherworld], where Glenn and the allied forces sought emergency refuge.

They had managed to weather that desperate moment, but it was merely a temporary reprieve.

According to Rumia, this [Otherworld Hideout] could only last for one week.

Beyond that, the world would forcibly correct the dimensional distortion, expelling everyone within the Otherworld back to the outside.

They had to devise a plan to escape Milano before that happened…

“What’s the status of our forces’ recovery?”

To Alicia VII’s question, the soldiers leaning on their canes respond heavily.

“The students from Alzano Imperial Magic Academy have been tirelessly assisting with medical treatment day and night, but… the sheer number of wounded is overwhelming, and progress is slow. Of the 156 remaining soldiers, only about two-thirds are in a condition to fight at full capacity.”

“…And what of Lord Ignite’s… the coup forces’ situation?”

“There’s no sign of them lifting the strict lockdown in Milano. Moreover, they’ve concentrated their forces heavily around the area surrounding this Otherworld. It’s likely the judgment of Centurion Lydia Ignite… They’ve probably figured out most of the mechanics behind our concealment.”

“Have we established contact with the homeland?”

“No good. Communication magic is being completely jammed.”

“…What about the separate Special Missions Annex—《The Star》,《The Hierophant》,《The Hermit》—where are they?”

“No word from them. They’ve either been caught in some accident or—”

“…”

A shortage of troops, a lack of frontline commanders, insufficient information, no geographical advantage…

They were lacking in every possible way, rendering the situation utterly hopeless.

“How pathetic… Even if it was the course of events, to drag children into this… I…”

Alicia presses her head against her clasped hands, hanging her head low.

With her heavy sigh at his back, Glenn quietly leaves the scene.

This [Otherworld] perfectly mirrors the internal structure of the original hotel.

Though its capacity is vastly different, the interior is indistinguishable from a luxury hotel.

Only the view outside the windows is different—a strange, cosmic expanse, an infinite abyss of starry skies stretching endlessly.

As Glenn steps into the hotel’s corridor and walks for a while,

“…Ah, Sensei!”

Three girls, spotting Glenn, rush over to him.

Sistine, Rumia, and Re=L.

“Um… how’s it going? With Queen Alicia and the others…”

“Not great. Even someone like Her Majesty is out of moves this time.”

Glenn shrugs.

“To begin with, she’s a politician, not a military commander.”

“I… see…”

“Mother…”

Sistine lowers her eyes anxiously, and Rumia murmurs with concern.

Re=L, glancing between the two, tilts her head in confusion.

“…Sorry for dragging you all into this.”

Glenn apologizes, looking awkward.

“Please, stop saying that.”

Sistine speaks brightly, as if to encourage Glenn.

“We joined this fight of our own will, not because anyone ordered us to.”

Glenn recalls the courageous offer from Sistine and the others, transmitted through the gem of his communication device during the heat of the recent battle.

“When we told you we’d fight, Sensei, you said, didn’t you? ‘If even one of you doesn’t want to get involved, you don’t have to act.’”

“Exactly. And yet, we chose to act. For Her Majesty’s sake.”

“Yeah. Everyone… said they wanted to fight for Alicia.”

Sistine, Rumia, and Re=L speak in turn.

“We’re not kids anymore. We understand that if Her Majesty falls in this situation… our country will face irreparable consequences.”

“By some twist of fate, we were the only ones who could do something at that moment.”

“Yeah. Probably… we had to act. I don’t really get it, though.”

“You guys…”

“And, look…”

Sistine takes Glenn’s hand, leading him to the floor with the guest rooms.

They walk slowly through the floor.

There—

“Alright! My mana’s recovering! Guess I’ll help with the medical treatment too!”

“Hmph, be careful, alright? Your mana control is sloppy. Don’t make the soldiers writhe in pain again with your healing.”

“Shut up, I got it!”

Kash and Gibul, energetically working on medical treatment.

“Hmph, this bed needs to be moved to that room, right?”

“Amazing… carrying it so easily by yourself… Th-thank you…”

“Yeah, leave the heavy lifting to me!”

Jaill, Lynn, and Colette, diligently handling miscellaneous tasks.

“Still, Ginny-san… you’re incredible… Cutting skin to remove foreign objects, stitching wounds…”

“And you seem so practiced at it…”

“Haha, honestly, I’m better at this than healer spells.”

Wendy, Teresa, and Ginny, skillfully tending to the wounded soldiers.

“The patient in Room 204 has taken a turn for the worse. We’ll perform emergency medical surgery. Levin-san, Francine-san, Ellen-san, Heinkel-san… I need your help.”

“Heh, well, picking me was a fine choice. Let’s go.”

“Y-yes, ma’am! I-I’ll be fine! If I stay calm, I can do this…!”

“I’ll start preparing immediately. Rize-san, please handle the main surgical treatment.”

“…Understood.”

Rize, Levin, Francine, Ellen, and Heinkel, too.

Every single student, despite being dragged into this, works without a single complaint.

Not one of them has given up or fallen into despair.

“Though she’s not here, Elsa-san, as a member of the Special Missions Annex, has secretly slipped out of this [Otherworld] to gather information outside.”

“Yeah. Elsa’s amazing. She’s way better at hiding than me.”

“Everyone’s doing their absolute best, of their own free will, not because anyone forced them.”

“Sure, there’s a lot to worry about. Maria, the evil god… and that Grandmaster of The Researchers of Heavenly Wisdom… the Grandmaster…”

“…White Cat?”

For some reason, Sistine falls oddly silent at a strange moment, and Glenn looks at her suspiciously.

“N-no, it’s just my imagination… just my imagination, right? I mean, it’s impossible…”

“…Something up with the Grandmaster?”

“Huh!? N-no, it’s nothing! Nothing at all!”

She shakes her head vigorously, as if to dispel stray thoughts.

Sistine then looks straight at Glenn.

“A-anyway! Back to the point—we’re fighting because we chose to! So there’s no need for you to feel guilty, Sensei!”

“…”

Glenn gazes at the students, who are desperately doing what they must, with eyes that seem to look at something distant and dazzling.

(Yeah, that’s right. Acting like a protective parent and treating them like kids at this point would be unfair. Man, what’s with these guys… They’re way more mature than I ever was.)

Compared to himself, who once screamed out his emotions, abandoned everything, and ran away, they were so much more…

Yes. They had tamed every hardship and fear with reason, exhausting every ounce of wisdom and means to do what needed to be done, carving out a path forward. They were already splendid mages.

(…Maybe there’s nothing left for me to teach them as an instructor. Maybe they don’t need me anymore…)

A mix of awe, joy, and a faint sense of loneliness washes over him.

Glenn looks at each student with eyes full of distant admiration.

(But there’s still something I have to do. For their future…)

Slap!

Glenn suddenly slaps both his cheeks with his hands, psyching himself up.

Several startled students turn to look at him.

“S-Sensei…?”

“Glenn, what are you doing?”

Sistine and the others blink in surprise, just as confused.

“Nothing. Just thinking I’ll go take on a tough enemy.”

Glenn grins boldly, leaving Sistine and the others behind as he starts walking.

“In a hopeless, throw-in-the-towel kind of situation, you guys are gritting your teeth and giving it your all… It’s our job to step up and meet that effort.”

With those words,

Glenn heads up the stairs toward a certain room on the upper floor.

Knock, knock, knock. Click.

“I’m coming in, Eve.”

Though he knocks, Glenn enters without waiting for a response.

With an utter lack of tact, he steps into the room.

The room is unlit, shrouded in darkness.

“…Geez.”

Glenn mutters a spell under his breath, conjuring a magical light at his fingertips.

When he directs the light deeper into the room…

“…”

There, in the corner, sits Eve.

She’s curled up, hugging her knees, her head bowed.

“What’re you doing? This ain’t like you.”

“…”

To Glenn’s exasperated words, Eve responds with silence.

“Ever since we holed up here, you’ve been like this. What’s wrong?”

“…”

“Come on, you’re smart. You get the situation, don’t you?”

“…”

“The enemy’s got overwhelming numbers. Our forces were already critically outmatched from the start, and nearly half of them still aren’t fit to fight. We can’t even contact Albert and the others, our last hope.”

“…”

“On top of that, most of our commanders and captains have been taken out. Her Majesty’s doing better than expected for someone outside her expertise, but she’s not skilled enough to turn this desperate situation around.”

“…”

“And this siege won’t last forever. The limit’s coming soon. The odds of reinforcements conveniently showing up during this siege? Practically nonexistent.”

“…”

“So, what do we do? How do we break through this? …You know, don’t you? We need an exceptional commander.”

“…”

“That’s right—you. Eve Ignite, Head of the Imperial Court Mage Corps’ Special Missions Annex, Executive Officer Number 1,《The Magician》. You’re the only one who can do something about this.”

“…”

“So why? Why are you moping around, shutting yourself off? Why aren’t you doing anything?”

“…”

“…I get it. The enemy’s your dad and your sister. I understand not wanting to fight them, and I don’t want to force you. But is this okay?

Even the students, who shouldn’t have anything to do with this political mess, are out there busting their asses for the country, for Her Majesty. You see them, and you don’t feel anything?

We’ve got no choice but to fight…

Come on, if you don’t step up, who will!? You’re—”

At that moment,

“…No.”

Something triggered her.

Eve, who had been unresponsive no matter what Glenn said, muttered softly.

“Right now… I’m not the division head or an executive officer… And I’m not an Ignite.”

“…Eve?”

“Right now… I’m Eve Distrei…”

To Eve’s listless reply, Glenn scratches his head.

“…Huh? What’re you talking about? That’s not the point. I don’t care if you’re Ignite or Distrei. What I’m saying is—”

“It’s not irrelevant.”

For some reason, Eve vehemently denies it.

“…What’s that supposed to mean?”

Glenn senses, despite his lack of tact, that he’s touched the core of Eve’s inner conflict.

He asks quietly.

After a long silence,

“…I remembered.”

Eve begins to speak, her voice low.

“Yeah, I remembered… why I became a mage…”

“…?”

“Why did I forget until now…? That’s right… I wanted to be like Lydia-neesan… I wanted to truly bear the name of Ignite—”

Eve sinks into thought.

Why, only now, had she remembered?

(Ah… somehow… I understand.)

She glances up, stealing a look at Glenn.

Glenn, clueless, blinks with a comically dumbfounded expression.

(…In the end… it was only him. The one person who truly stood by me… aside from Nee-san…)

Eve, a prodigy with unparalleled talent, had always been solitary, isolated.

She had often been the one to help others, but rarely had anyone helped her.

Moreover, Eve herself built walls, always keeping others at a distance. Even when someone helped her, it was strictly a professional, superior-subordinate relationship.

Yes. In the end, it was only Glenn.

The one who ignored hierarchy and brazenly treated her as an equal.

The one who recklessly crossed the walls she’d built, barging into her personal space to pick fights.

And—the one who truly became her ally.

(Yes, that’s right… It’s frustrating, but he’s like her… like Nee-san…)

His slight insensitivity. His inability to read the room. His forceful nature.

The way he always stood by her without ulterior motives.

And his unyielding resolve to fight for what he believed was right.

Come to think of it, wasn’t Glenn strikingly similar to the Lydia of old in every way?

“…Glenn, listen. About my sister… Lydia-neesan… and about the Ignites…”

“Lydia…? Oh, you mean…?”

Before a bewildered Glenn, Eve begins to speak at length.

About her life.

About her sister, Lydia.

About the Ignite family.

Her mother was Shelia Distrei, a commoner’s daughter, Lord Ignite’s concubine.

Because of her commoner blood, Eve never had a place in the Ignite household and always felt out of place.

Lydia, her half-sister from a different mother, had always protected her.

“Nee-san was truly incredible… I could never measure up to her…”

Lydia was always kind, upright, and Eve’s ideal sister.

From her, Eve learned the meaning of the Ignite name.

A name that protected the weak and upheld justice. A guiding light of magic that dispelled the darkness, illuminating and leading the way for the people of the world—《Lord Scarlet》Ignite.

Her sister always strove to be the true《Lord Scarlet》, and Eve admired her, aspiring to become a mage like her.

Then, during a certain accident, because of Eve, her sister lost her magical abilities and was banished from the family.

So, at the very least, Eve resolved to become the true《Lord Scarlet》in her sister’s place.

So, at the very least, she vowed to carry on her sister’s will—

“And so… I failed.”

Eve let out a sardonic snort.

“In my pursuit to become the true《Lord Scarlet》and earn my family’s approval, I ended up becoming something entirely different, obsessed with achievements and honor.

What a foolish story. Somewhere along the way, I completely forgot something so important.”

“Eve…”

Glenn let out a sigh and interjected.

“But I can’t believe it. That woman, Lydia… she didn’t match the image of the sister you described at all. If anything, there was something strange… something unbelievably unnatural…”

To Glenn’s question,

“I don’t know.”

Eve shook her head weakly, letting out a heavy sigh.

“Why her magical abilities, which should never have returned, came back. Why her personality has changed so drastically from the sister I once knew… And above all…”

Why doesn’t she remember me?

“It’s almost as if…”

—A different person. A fake.

Eve almost voiced those words but clamped her mouth shut.

My sister lost her magical abilities because of me. If she resents me and is ignoring me for it… that would only be natural. Either way, thinking about it now is pointless.

“Well, anyway. I get the gist of it.”

As Eve fell silent, Glenn shrugged and urged her to continue.

“So? How does that lead to you wallowing in despair like this?”

“…Don’t you get it? I’m not qualified.”

Eve spat the words out bitterly, as if venting her frustration.

“Have you forgotten? The other day, when my father invited me… I almost went with him.”

“…”

“If you hadn’t stopped me… I would’ve undoubtedly followed him. Right now, I’d be moving to carry out his orders, to strike down the queen and the students with my own hands.”

“…”

“I knew, I knew it was wrong… but I couldn’t resist! Father terrifies me…! I’m so scared, so utterly terrified…!”

“…”

“Just being glared at by those eyes, just having his words thrown at me, I start trembling uncontrollably, my heart races… my mind goes blank, and I lose all sense of reason…!”

“…”

“I… I’m a failure as an Ignite.”

Eve murmured, her voice laced with regret and sorrow.

“No, I’ve always been a failure, but… this time, it’s truly over… I really am just utterly incompetent…

So don’t expect anything from me… I can’t do anything anyway… Even if I tried, someone as useless as me could never defeat my sister… It’s fine… I’m done…”

As if declaring the conversation over,

Eve hung her head again, burying her face between her knees.

To her,

“Hmph? So, what’s the deal? You’re going on about Ignite qualifications or whatever… but in the end, it’s just that you’re scared of your dad, you can’t beat your sister, and you don’t want to deal with it… That’s about it, right?”

Glenn threw out the words with a complete lack of tact.

“…Huh?”

At those utterly insensitive words, Eve was momentarily stunned.

Glenn began to tremble… and then…

“Pfft—!? W-Wait, you—Bwahaha!? No way, seriously!? Hahaha! That’s too much! Your dad’s scary!? Your big sister’s too amazing, so you’re giving up!? Just how old are you!?”

“Wha—!?”

What a man. Laughing? Here?

“Shut up! What would you know!?”

Enraged, Eve roared at Glenn, tears mixing with her voice.

“No, I mean… it’s exactly what you said, isn’t it? How else am I supposed to interpret it?”

“That’s not it! I’m saying I don’t have the qualifications to be an Ignite…! I’m saying I don’t have what it takes to stand above others! So—!”

Eve ranted, but

“Tch, how annoying. Ignite this, Distore that. Before all that, you’re Eve, aren’t you?”

“…Huh?”

At Glenn’s blunt remark, Eve was momentarily speechless.

“God, smart people are such a pain. Always overthinking everything, getting tangled up in their own heads… Didn’t I already say? I don’t care if you’re an Ignite or a Distore or whatever.”

“…”

“Where’s Eve’s true feelings in all this?”

At Glenn’s straightforward question,

Eve suddenly began to falter.

“B-But… I… I was about to betray Her Majesty… Someone like me…!”

“That’s just noise. Ignore it.”

“I-I’m terrified of Father… I couldn’t do anything…!”

“More noise. Ignore it.”

“B-But, there’s no way someone like me could do anything against my sister! I’m…!”

“All of it’s noise. Ignore it.”

“…!?”

Glenn knelt on one knee, leveling his gaze with Eve, who was still clutching her knees.

He placed his hands on her shoulders, looking earnestly into her eyes.

“Listen, Eve. What do you want to do? Does your family or your qualifications have anything to do with it? Isn’t the most important thing what you choose to do, how you live your life?”

“~~~ !”

—The true path of magic that Ignite represents… is to walk the path you believe is right…

—In truth, your family doesn’t matter…

—What matters is how you choose to live…

—Please, don’t ever forget that…

For a while,

Eve stared at Glenn in a daze.

“Hmph, how irritating.”

Eventually, she turned away with a huff, as if sulking.

“You’re just like her in every way… How irritating.”

“Eve?”

“You’re a terrible man, you know that? Who in their right mind would push a heartbroken woman to fight her own father and sister? Shouldn’t you be a little kinder?”

“What, you wanted me to coddle you?”

“Hah, as if. I’d rather die than let you comfort me.”

“…”

“Just… give me some time to think.”

With that final remark,

Eve lowered her head again, sinking into silence.

“…Alright.”

Feeling there was nothing more to say,

Glenn left the room, leaving Eve behind.

“…”

In the darkness, Eve quietly reflected.

What should she do now? What was the right course of action? She pondered vaguely.

Her father—yes, he was terrifying.

And the thought of fighting her beloved sister—of having to kill each other—made her tremble.

There was no way she could simply accept that. She wanted to flee from this place immediately.

That was, without a doubt, one of Eve’s truest feelings.

But,

What was the right path for her to take? What could only she do?

How did she want to live? What did she want to protect? What was worth fighting for?

At that academy, what had she seen, what had she cultivated—

“…”

The true path of magic that Ignite represents—is to walk the path you believe is right.

Your family doesn’t matter. How you live is what’s important.

If that’s the case, then running away in fear… is that the right thing to do?

To become a true Ignite, what should she do?

What must she do now? That is—

…

—In the grand hall, where endless, futile war councils dragged on,

The soldiers had exhausted all discussion, now hanging their heads in silence.

“It’s about time we made a decision.”

Alicia VII concluded with a sigh.

Indeed, the situation was hopeless. No matter how they looked at it, there was no path to victory.

At best, they could resist to the last soldier, all prepared to die in battle.

But there were students from the Alzano Imperial Magic Academy here.

Surrender was also an option. They couldn’t drag children into this.

(In the end, I couldn’t protect my country… my people… At the very least, I must save the children… even if it costs my life…)

Just as the queen was about to make her final decision—

Bam! The door to the meeting room was flung open with force.

Standing on the other side of the door was—

“Pardon my intrusion.”

“Eve Ignite!?”

Instantly, the soldiers stirred with agitation.

“What are you doing here!?”

“How dare you show your face before Her Majesty!? Have you no shame!?”

Eve was the daughter of the traitor Lord Ignite. And just the other day, in full view of the public, she had nearly defected to her father’s side.

The soldiers who knew this fact hurled insults at her.

“…”

But Eve paid them no mind, striding toward Alicia.

“Y-You! Stop right there!”

“Your Majesty, please step back…!”

The soldiers quickly moved to shield Alicia, trying to block Eve’s path, but

“No, it’s alright.”

Alicia raised a hand to calm them and stepped forward to face Eve.

“…Eve.”

Alicia gazed steadily at Eve, who stood resolutely before her.

In front of everyone, Eve knelt before Alicia, bowing her head.

And with solemn reverence, she spoke.

“First, I offer my deepest apologies to Your Majesty. For the rebellion and countless acts of insolence committed by the Ignite family against you, and for my own momentary lapse in judgment—I am prepared to offer my head in atonement.”

The soldiers exchanged glances, murmuring, but Eve continued undeterred.

“Even death cannot fully absolve this sin and shame… I am ready to accept any punishment for my family’s misdeeds in due time. But for now, I humbly request a brief reprieve.”

“…”

“Your Majesty, please make use of me.”

The soldiers grew even more restless.

“I beseech you to allow me to fend off the vile embers of treachery that threaten you.

Those who dare commit the unforgivable sins of disrespect and rebellion against Your Majesty, the arrogant fiends—my father, Azel Le Ignite, and my sister, Lydia Ignite.

—I request that you entrust their subjugation to me.”

“…”

While those around her struggled to hide their confusion, Alicia alone gazed steadily at Eve.

“I say this with all due respect: I am the only one here capable of facing the Ignites. For the sake of Your Majesty and the future of the empire, for the brave youths who will carry that future! Please—!”

As Eve pleaded desperately,

“…Raise your head, Eve.”

Alicia spoke softly, as if to soothe her.

Responding to her words, Eve slowly lifted her face to meet Alicia’s gaze.

In Eve’s eyes burned a quiet, resolute flame of determination and will.

“Are you… truly alright with this?”

Alicia asked, locking eyes with Eve.

“Though you were estranged, they are your father and sister. Are you prepared to sever ties with them?”

“Yes.”

“Is it not painful? Do you not feel conflicted?”

“To say it isn’t painful or that I feel no conflict… would be an utterly hollow lie.”

“Unfortunately, even if you bring me victory… I will not be able to reward your efforts. The Ignite family will likely face dissolution.”

“…!”

For the first time, Eve’s eyes wavered with a tumult of emotions.

The Ignite family had rebelled against Her Majesty and the Alzano Empire.

Confiscation of their lands and the end of their house were inevitable. It wouldn’t be surprising if the entire clan were executed.

She had prepared herself for this—but hearing it directly from the queen’s mouth made the gravity of the situation weigh heavily on Eve’s shoulders once more.

“Eve, I know well how precious the Ignite name is to you.”

“…”

“Even so, will you fight? Will you lend me your strength? Even if it means destroying the Ignite name with your own hands…?”

To the queen’s probing words,

“Yes.”

Eve answered solemnly, her voice imbued with quiet resolve.

“This is something I must do. Because—I am an Ignite.”

“…”

For a moment, Alicia absorbed Eve’s words, as if savoring them.

“…What bitter irony. The Ignite family, which forgot its true purpose and wallowed in arrogance and corruption… When it finally fell to its lowest point, only then did someone worthy of bearing the true Ignite name emerge…”

“Y-Your Majesty…?”

Eve blinked in surprise.

To her astonishment, Alicia knelt to meet Eve’s gaze.

To the bewildered Eve, Alicia spoke gently, as if offering comfort.

“You made a difficult decision. For your resolve and courage, for your noble, golden will… I offer my boundless gratitude.”

“…!?”

“Please, lend me your strength, Eve. For the future of the empire… for the world.”

Receiving the queen’s words, overflowing with infinite trust,

“As you command. Until the last drop of my life’s flame is extinguished.”

Eve declared with renewed resolve, bowing deeply once more.

—And so, the scene unfolded.

“Sorry about this, Eve.”

Outside the meeting room, Glenn leaned against the wall, eavesdropping, muttering to himself.

“But—I’ve made up my mind too.”

Glenn flipped the instructor’s robe draped over his shoulders and turned to leave.

“For this moment, I’ll become a ‘Mage of Justice’…”

With quiet determination and resolve burning within him,

Glenn began to move, preparing for the coming battle.