Chapter 4: One and a Half Moments of Flame

(Truly, not a single opening. As expected of the Centurion Lydia…)

A petite girl walks quietly through the streets of Milano.

Her soft, gently wavy flaxen hair, is styled in a semi-short cut, with a pair of glasses resting on her nose.

Elsa Virif, Executive Officer Number 10 of the Alzano Imperial Court Mage Corps’ Special Missions Annex, bearer of《The Wheel of Fortune》.

Currently on a reconnaissance mission in the city, she is dressed not in her mage’s ceremonial attire but in the uniform of St. Lily Magic Girls’ Academy.

(To think I’d end up opposing her so soon after taking up my post… How ironic. I had hoped we could build a good relationship…)

Elsa observes her surroundings carefully while lost in thought.

At this moment, the city of Milano is entirely under the control of the coup d’état forces.

The coup forces, deployed uniformly across the city, have completely sealed it off. Checkpoints are set up everywhere, with constant high alert. Not even a kitten could slip through the cracks.

Naturally, the evacuation of citizens has been halted, and a considerable number remain trapped in Milano, unable to escape, hiding quietly in their homes.

Skirmishes among citizens over limited supplies like water and food seem to be breaking out, with occasional bursts of clamor rising from various parts of the city.

Glared at by the coup soldiers standing watch, few citizens walk the streets, all uniformly downcast with anxious expressions. The city’s former vibrancy is nowhere to be seen.

(It won’t be long before the citizens, exposed to this anxiety, reach their breaking point. We need to do something quickly before a catastrophic riot erupts…)

As Elsa ponders this… it happens.

“…”

Blending in with the citizens and moving with the flow of people, Elsa suddenly stops.

And quietly removes her glasses—

 

“…Hm? What’s that?”

At that moment, Illia, observing the main street from a back alley using far-seeing magic, blinks in surprise.

Illia, dressed in the uniform of St. Lily Magic Girls’ Academy, is currently monitoring a certain girl.

She had been planning to approach this girl for a specific purpose.

But how to make contact?

While vaguely considering this, it happens.

A slight lapse in focus, or perhaps the blink of an eye.

Suddenly, the girl vanishes from the field of Illia’s magical vision.

(No way… I lost her…?)

As Illia searches the sparse crowd to find the girl again,

“Don’t move.”

A voice like cold water suddenly washes over Illia’s back, and she feels the sharp, cold touch of metal against her neck.

“Raise both hands. Slowly.”

“—!?”

It’s Elsa.

Bare-eyed now, Elsa stands behind Illia, having appeared without a trace.

A blade—an Eastern uchigatana, which had been invisible moments ago—is drawn and pressed precisely against Illia’s neck.

“You were watching me… Are you with the coup forces? I’m sorry, but I’ll have to take you as a prisoner. If you make even the slightest odd move, your head will part ways with your body, so please forgive me.”

Her calm demeanor carries no hint of deceit.

She means it—there’s a quiet intensity in her words.

“…You’re impressive.”

Raising both hands as if surrendering, Illia offers a dry smile and says,

“You’re the new recruit at the Special Missions Annex, right? I let my guard down… If you’d truly meant to kill me just now, I’d be dead, wouldn’t I…?”

“…”

“Haha, ha… Lately, I’ve really been… completely useless, haven’t I…?”

Elsa doesn’t respond, silently watching Illia’s movements with unwavering focus.

“Hey, newbie. The reason I was watching you… Honestly, I had no intention of doing anything to you. I just wanted you to pass on two messages.”

“…?”

“Stay as you are and listen closely, okay? The thing is—”

To a puzzled Elsa, Illia mutters something under her breath.

Its contents—

“Huh…? What?”

For a fleeting moment, Elsa’s icy composure crumbles.

“What does that—?”

In that instant—Absolute Blade: Sky Flash.

Elsa swings her sword horizontally without mercy.

With a vacuum-tearing force, it aims to sever Illia’s head from her body.

But—

“Too bad. You were so close.”

The slashed figure of Illia distorts like a mirage and vanishes, the blade cutting through empty air.

“I still have things to do, so I’ll take my leave.”

“Kuh—a master of illusions!?”

Elsa swiftly leaps back, sheathing her sword and assuming a low, deep stance.

Wary of illusions, she closes her eyes, opening her mind’s eye. In a battoujutsu stance, she remains vigilant of her surroundings.

“I’m stunned. To reach that level at your age… Just how much training have you endured? I’m honestly creeped out…”

Illia’s voice, directionless, echoes around the area.

“But really, I have no intention of fighting you.”

“…!?”

“See ya, promising newbie. Please make sure to pass on those messages.”

Teasing to the end, yet somehow weary.

Illia’s presence completely fades from Elsa’s《Wheel》.

Regretfully, Elsa puts her glasses back on.

 

……

 

““““Fighting the rebel army head-on!?””””

At the final strategy briefing of the Queen’s forces,

The moment Eve boldly proposed such a plan, the soldiers erupted into chaotic uproar.

After all, until Eve joined the strategy meeting, the plans had consistently been conservative.

Namely, how to protect Her Majesty the Queen in this disadvantaged situation?

Namely, how to ensure Her Majesty’s escape from Milano?

While everyone racked their brains over such questions,

Eve’s sudden proposal—was this.

Everyone could only gape in shock.

“What are you thinking, you fool!?”

“Are you joking!? Are you trying to get Her Majesty killed!?”

“As expected, you’re a traitor, aren’t you!?”

“You plan to sell Her Majesty to Lord Ignite, don’t you!?”

As the situation spiraled out of control,

“…Please calm down, everyone.”

Alicia’s supremely calm voice quelled the chaos.

“Let’s hear her out first. Eve, you said you would challenge Lord Ignite to battle in this situation, where the rebel army overwhelmingly outmatches us in strength, correct?”

“Yes, with all due respect.”

Eve answers Alicia’s question with resolve.

“Why? What is your reasoning?”

“Because this board is already completely checkmated.”

Eve slams her hand on the tactical map spread across the table and declares,

The map shows Milano’s terrain and city layout, with pieces representing the positions of enemy and allied forces.

“From the start, there’s an overwhelming gap in strength between us and them. Moreover, the enemy commander’s strategy and troop placements are impeccable—there’s no opening to exploit.

In this situation, ensuring Your Majesty’s safe escape from Milano is utterly impossible, no matter how divine a strategist might be.”

“…”

Alicia listens calmly to Eve’s words.

The soldiers, exchanging glances, murmur among themselves.

Eve’s point is something the soldiers have already felt. They’ve been painfully reminded of it through countless discussions, moving pieces on the tactical map.

Watching Eve from the back of the room, Glenn folds his arms.

“Yes, it’s impossible. Therefore, we must change the victory condition to find a path forward.

A reversal of perspective—what we should be discussing isn’t ‘how to protect the Queen’ or ‘how to get the Queen out of Milano.’ It’s the opposite.”

Eve surveys the room and makes a staggering declaration.

“How to defeat the coup’s mastermind, Lord Azel le Ignite, and the rebel army’s commander, Lydia Ignite. I propose that our only path lies there.”

“That’s utterly absurd!”

Instantly, the room descends into chaos again.

“Impossible, such a thing!”

“Do you realize how vast the gap in our forces is!?”

“Do you think we can win!?”

“Lord Ignite commands a full corps—about 5,000 soldiers! While we—”

At that moment,

“Calm down. In this situation, looking purely at numbers is meaningless.”

Eve explains to the soldiers with a steady tone.

“Indeed, at a glance, the imperial army is spread thinly across Milano in small squads, with no apparent gaps.”

Eve points to the enemy pieces arranged on the tactical map.

“So—”

“But that lack of gaps is their only gap. Dispersing forces is a mistake—this holds true in magical warfare, now and always. So why are they so spread out?

It’s simple: Lord Ignite’s forces aren’t solely focused on us.

Yes, monitoring potential civilian riots in Milano and guarding against foreign armies waiting outside the city—they have to disperse their forces for these threats. In truth, the numerical gap isn’t as vast as it seems.”

Eve removes enemy pieces from the map—those positioned far from the hotel’s center, not encircling the Queen’s forces but guarding against external threats.

“Of course, these are pieces placed to guard against external threats. If we move to escape, they naturally become a factor we can’t ignore. But as long as we stay and fight within Milano… unless something extraordinary happens, they can’t move. They must not move.”

After Eve removes those pieces,

While there’s still a significant gap in forces, it’s no longer the utterly hopeless disparity it once seemed.

“That’s just wishful thinking!”

One of the soldiers counters Eve’s argument.

“The rebels can’t move their external guards!? That’s ridiculous! Lord Ignite holds the leaders of other nations hostage!”

“Y-Yeah, exactly! There’s no way foreign forces would attack in this situation!”

“If we move within the city, Lord Ignite will surely redirect those external forces against us—”

But,

“That’s absolutely impossible.”

Eve dismisses the soldiers’ claims outright.

“Think more flexibly. You’re stuck because you’re bound by your own common sense.”

“W-What do you mean…?”

“From the perspective of us Alzano Imperials, betraying our lord—Her Majesty the Queen—is unthinkable. Lord Ignite is the rarest of exceptions. We naturally respect and pledge loyalty to the royal family and Her Majesty… That’s our culture, our political structure.

But not every nation holds such loyalty to their leaders. The world is full of diverse cultures and political systems.”

““““…!””””

The soldiers are left speechless by Eve’s point.

“Think about it. In reality, Lord Ignite has betrayed his lord. Moreover, this coup wasn’t meticulously planned… It was likely a spontaneous uprising driven by some emotion, circumstance, or motive.

A man who has betrayed his own lord—how could he trust, let alone assume, that other nations would never attack out of concern for their leaders?

‘If I can seize this chance to overthrow my superiors…’ There could be others in foreign nations thinking just like him. Lord Ignite can’t possibly dismiss that possibility.

After all, his own actions prove such a thing is possible.

Even if the likelihood is minuscule, the chance that some nation’s army might interfere… Lord Ignite has no choice but to guard against it.

Naturally, if this coup fails, Lord Ignite faces ruin. He cannot afford failure. As long as that ‘what if’ exists, he can never relax his external vigilance until the very end.”

“…!?”

“R-Really…!?”

The soldiers stare at the tactical map, now with far fewer enemy pieces.

“Yes. It looks like an overwhelming gap, but it’s not. That’s the reality.”

With a confident expression, Eve folds her arms and faces the room.

The soldiers’ view of Eve begins to shift.

In this short time, Eve is already starting to command the room.

(Impressive as always, Eve.)

From the back of the strategy meeting, Glenn mentally applauds.

(You’re one hell of a woman. But the tough part’s just beginning.)

As if responding to Glenn’s thoughts,

“I understand, Eve. Your argument indeed holds merit.”

Queen Alicia VII solemnly affirms Eve’s proposal.

“However… even so, there remains a considerable gap in strength between our forces and the rebels.”

Alicia compares the pieces on the tactical map.

“As things stand, it seems we have no chance of winning in a straightforward battle. What do you propose?”

Then,

“Of course, I’ve already devised a plan. If my strategy is executed, Your Majesty’s chances of victory will increase dramatically.”

Eve declares with commanding presence.

No way… Is she serious…? Could she actually…?

As the soldiers murmur in shock and confusion,

Eve begins calmly explaining the strategy to the room—

 

—The Otherworld.

A place that is nowhere, created by temporarily blurring the《Curtain of Consciousness》that firmly separates reality and fantasy.

The hotel, a projection of reality within this Otherworld, floats alone in the center of an infinitely vast cosmos.

From the outside, it resembles a castle adrift in a sea of stars.

On the hotel’s rooftop—at the terrace of the tallest of its several spires,

“You’re a really cruel man, Glenn.”

Leaning her cheek on her hand against the stone railing surrounding the terrace, gazing at the stars below with narrowed eyes,

Eve mutters softly.

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

Standing beside her with arms crossed, Glenn responds with feigned ignorance.

“The meeting earlier.”

Eve lets out a small huff.

“Because you egged me on to take charge… I’ve completely become the villain.”

“Well… proposing such an outrageous strategy so boldly was bound to do that.”

Glenn gives a wry smile and shrugs at Eve’s sulky expression.

“C’mon, it’s fine, isn’t it? In the end, Her Majesty trusted you and agreed, and the soldiers acknowledged you.”

“…”

Eve glances sideways at Glenn beside her.

And recalls the exchanges from the strategy meeting.

 

—Don’t mess around!

—What are you thinking, you fool!?

—Even if it’s the most rational and likely-to-succeed strategy… There’s no way we could pull it off! Have some shame!

 

While every soldier rejected Eve’s strategy,

—No, I believe in her.

—If it’s her, she’ll definitely pull it off.

—She’s a hysterical, spinster, annoying woman… but as a commander, she’s the best I’ve ever known.

—Please! Trust her, Your Majesty!

 

Glenn alone had supported Eve.

 

“…What are you, really?”

Eve quietly asks Glenn.

“You hate me, don’t you?”

“Yeah, I do. I can’t stand a charmless woman like you.”

“And yet… in the end, the one who stands by my side as an equal, who becomes my ally… it’s always you…”

“I don’t have any such intention, not one bit.”

“I… I took Sera from you…”

“That wasn’t your choice, was it?”

To Eve, who fell silent, Glenn continued with a sigh.

“That incident… I was at fault too. I wasn’t calm.

Now that I think about it, it makes sense… There’s no way someone like you, with a rotten personality and no friends, could ever abandon your only friend, Sera.

I didn’t realize that and ended up spewing some pretty harsh things at you…”

“It doesn’t matter. Your anger was perfectly justified.”

Eve shook her head weakly, cutting off Glenn’s words.

“Even if it was my father’s orders, I was the one who decided to follow them. My intent to kill is what killed Sera. That’s the absolute truth… The cross I’ll have to bear for the rest of my life.”

“…Eve.”

For a while, silence hung between the two…

“…Are you… that afraid of your old man?”

“Yes, I’m terrified.”

To Glenn’s quiet question, Eve answered in a hushed voice.

“I’m an Ignite. I’ve made my resolve. I’ve steeled myself… But when I think about fighting my father… about defying him… I’m scared. My hands won’t stop shaking.”

Eve looked at her left hand. The one that had been severed by Jatice and reattached through spiritual surgery… but had since lost its magical abilities.

Seeing the trembling in that hand, Glenn spoke.

“Eve, I—”

“I know.”

But before Glenn could finish, Eve interrupted.

“You’re going to stick with me until the end, aren’t you? …Fool. This strategy… my role is the most dangerous. I might die.”

“Yeah, that’s right. I’m the one who egged you on this time. If I don’t stick with you to the depths of hell, that’d just be a lie, wouldn’t it?”

Then.

“…Heh. Hehehe…”

Eve suddenly let out a small, contained laugh.

For Eve, who always wore a stern scowl, it was a rare, unguarded, childlike smile.

“W-What’s so funny?”

“Because you’re full of lies. Even without some grand reason… you’d have stuck with me anyway.”

“Huh? What’re you talking about…?”

“After all—you’re the ‘Mage of Justice.’”

“…!”

At Eve’s gentle words, Glenn was momentarily speechless.

Then, to the stunned Glenn, Eve continued.

“Glenn, it’s an order. Stay still for a bit.”

“…H-Hey… Eve…?”

“Please.”

With that short plea, Eve leaned closer to Glenn beside her… and rested her head on his shoulder.

A soft waft. The fragrance of Eve’s hair tickled Glenn’s nose.

Caught off guard by this sudden development, Glenn could only freeze.

“…Yeah… as expected… the trembling stopped…”

Meanwhile, Eve murmured with a sense of relief… almost dreamily.

“It was the same back then. When I was about to give in to my father… you held me back, with your arm around my shoulder… That was the only time I wasn’t afraid…”

“Eve…”

For a while, Eve remained silent… then gently pulled away from Glenn.

Turning to face him, she looked straight into his eyes and said.

“Glenn, please. Lend me your strength.”

“……”

“So that I can fulfill my true role as an Ignite. Please, lend me your strength… If you’re with me… I know I’ll be okay.”

“…Yeah.”

With that final exchange,

Glenn and Eve continued to gaze out at the distant sea of stars—

 

—And so, that scene between the two.

At the stone spiral staircase leading to the open terrace.

Hidden in the shadow of that staircase were three girls… Rumia, Sistine, and Re=L, watching with bated breath.

“W-Wait… what? What’s that? W-What was that exchange between Sensei and Eve-san just now…?! It’s like, l-l-l-love—!”

Sistine’s face was pale, her voice trembling with panic.

“Mmm… Glenn and Eve… they suddenly got really close… Why?”

Re=L, with her usual sleepy, expressionless face, seemed faintly dissatisfied.

“It feels like… the thing I feared most has finally happened…”

Rumia gave a tired, wry smile.

Initially, none of the three had any intention of sticking their noses into this.

They’d just been looking for Glenn because they had some business with him.

After searching the hotel high and low, they stumbled upon this scene.

Unable to resist, they’d even cast a soundproof barrier to observe the situation closely.

“W-W-W-What do we do, Rumia?! At this rate, Sensei will—!”

“It’s probably not something that’ll happen right away… but it’s true that in our race, Eve-san just took a big step ahead…”

“Huh?! N-No way! I don’t care who Sensei ends up with… Wait, I don’t care? Why? B-But, I… about Sensei—… What are you making me say, Rumiaaaa?!”

Amid Sistine’s flustered chaos, Re=L puffed out her cheeks. “Somehow… Eve’s cheating.”

It was clear that all three were feeling varying degrees of anxiety in this situation.

“Ha… A latecomer rival who’s this tough… What do I do, Mom…?”

Rumia let out a defeated sigh, completely at a loss.

And yet, in this situation—or perhaps because of it—

The three girls were making quite a fuss, chattering excitedly.

“Huh? What are you all doing in a place like this?”

““Kyah?!””

Startled by a voice from behind, Sistine and Rumia jumped.

Turning around, they saw…

“Elsa-san?!”

“W-When did you…?”

There stood Elsa, blinking in confusion.

“I just returned from a scouting mission. I’m looking for Eve-san and Glenn-sensei…”

“What?! Eve-san and Sensei?!”

“N-No, um… now’s not a good time…”

Sistine and Rumia stammered in response, but

“There’s something I absolutely need to tell them. I don’t fully understand it myself, but… it might be critical enough to sway the battle.”

Elsa’s earnest declaration, delivered with serious eyes, instantly sobered the slightly giddy trio, their expressions tightening.

“…!”

 

“A message directed specifically at Eve and Glenn from a mysterious enemy mage.”

“……”

Receiving that message from Elsa, Glenn and Eve were struck speechless.

Eve’s agitation was particularly intense, her face drained of color.

Even Sistine, Rumia, and Re=L, listening nearby, grew solemn… leaving Elsa, who’d delivered the report, bewildered.

“I-I’m sorry… I didn’t really understand what it meant…”

“No, it’s fine. You did well to report it without making assumptions. Thank you.”

Eve managed to suppress her turmoil and respond.

Her knees were trembling so much she looked on the verge of collapsing.

“…So that’s… how it is. I had a feeling… but…”

“Hold on, Eve. It could be misinformation to throw us off. Taking it at face value is…”

“There’s an eighty to ninety percent chance it’s not. It’s tactically meaningless otherwise. If they wanted to mislead us, there are far better lies they could’ve used. There’s no reason to risk leaking information by singling me out. Which means my sister’s true identity is—”

“……”

Eve clenched her eyes shut and gripped her fists tightly, leaving Glenn at a loss for words.

He couldn’t… find anything to say to her.

“Just so you know, the message for Sensei is pretty serious too. If it’s true…”

“Yeah, I get it. But whether it’s true or not… it doesn’t change anything now. No need to alter the strategy. Though, I’d rather it be a lie.”

Glenn shrugged at a worried Sistine.

“U-Um… Sensei.”

Then, Rumia spoke up with determination.

“I… I want to be on the same team as you and the others…”

“Y-Yeah! If that’s the case, then we should—”

“No way.”

But Glenn immediately shut down the suggestion.

“I hate war. I despise how it reduces magic to a mere weapon for fighting. That kind of rotten war… and I’ve gone and dragged you all into it…”

“Sensei…”

“Sistine, Rumia. At the very least, protect everyone with your strength. Right now, you’re the only ones who can. I’ll handle the ugly, adult side of things. So…”

“I… understand…”

Rumia lowered her eyes with concern.

To reassure her, Glenn patted her head and continued.

“That said, if that message isn’t a lie, we’ll need some prep work. You guys will help out from here, right?”

“Y-Yes…! Of course!”

“Re=L and Elsa, too… The day of the strategy will be tough, but I’m counting on you.”

“Mm. I’ll do my best.”

“…Yes, leave it to me.”

The shocking “message” suddenly delivered to Glenn and his group.

Though shaken and confused, the gears of their plan didn’t waver or stop.

Now, they could only wait, preparing for the decisive moment.

 

And then—

 

——.

 

Luvaphos Holy Calendar, Year 1853, 13th of Gram’s Month.

—The hour of dawn. 4:17 AM.

People were still asleep, the sun yet to rise, and the cold, quiet air hung heavy.

A deep morning mist drifted over Milano like a veil—at such a time.

The curtain rose on a roughly three-hour blitz of fierce combat, later known to history as the “Hour and a Half of Flame”, marking the first moment Eve’s name would be vividly etched into the annals of global military history—

 

Lord Ignite’s military stronghold, Tirika-Falia Cathedral.

A siren, amplified by sound magic, blared like a trumpet heralding the end, echoing through its halls.

It shattered the silent dawn—

“What’s going on?!”

Lord Ignite, roused from a nap, burst into the temporary command room set up in the grand hall.

There, a communications soldier delivered a report.

At that moment—a shockwave ran through the officers and soldiers present.

“So—the Queen has finally made her move?!”

“Yes, sir! The Queen’s forces have dispelled the ‘Otherworld’ within the α alert zone!”

“Their hiding place has been identified! Altraz Hotel Milano! The public grand hotel where the imperial representatives for the Magic Festival were staying!”

“—?! True, it’s a sturdy facility suitable for a siege, but…?!”

The communications mages in the room swiftly operated monolith calculators and planetarium-like projection devices, among other magical communication equipment.

In the air of the grand hall, images of the hotel’s surroundings appeared as floating windows.

And in one of those images.

A group of the Queen’s soldiers, formed in a tight formation, was marching out from the hotel…

“Queen Aliciaaaaaa—! Banzaiiiii!”

“’“““Ooooooooh!””””

Their war cries shattered the dawn’s silence as they charged down the western street in a single, swift rush, projected for all to see.

“Enemy forces advancing west along Reitark Street, Third Western District, approximately 130 strong!”

“Likely the entirety of the Queen’s remaining tactically deployable forces!”

“Kukuku… Just as I thought, Queen…”

Lord Ignite sneered, the corner of his mouth curling upward.

“Cornered, you’d make your move before the ‘Otherworld’ is forcibly dispelled, timing it perfectly to break out… sacrificing soldiers for a single-point breakthrough, aiming to escape Milano!”

With a flourish, Lord Ignite spread his arms and issued orders.

“Fool! The imperial army has already surrounded the area! Immediately mobilize all forces to encircle and crush them! Capture the Queen!”

“B-But, Your Excellency…! T-The thing is…!”

Then, one of the soldiers hesitantly pointed to a projected image window.

That window showed a bird’s-eye view of the hotel—

“W-What…?! Impossible!”

Seeing it, Lord Ignite and all the soldiers gasped, wide-eyed in disbelief.

“The Queen…?!”

Indeed.

At the highest spire’s terrace of the hotel.

“…”

There stood Queen Alicia VII herself, regal and imposing, gazing down at the scene below.

The very person the Queen’s forces were meant to protect at all costs—left alone in the hotel.

“Impossible! What is this?! Weren’t those troops charging west to break through and escort the Queen out of Milano?!”

Bewildered, Lord Ignite’s face twisted in shock.

And that incomprehensible scene.

“This formation and board…”

Lydia Ignite, the supreme commander of Lord Ignite’s coup forces, studied the tactical situation map on the table, lost in thought—

 

“Using Queen Alicia as a decoy?!”

“Exactly.”

—At the strategy meeting held earlier.

The plan Eve proposed to defeat Lord Ignite… was utterly unthinkable by the standards of the Alzano Empire.

“Absurd! That’s—”

The soldiers immediately erupted in outrage, voices raised in protest.

“Eve, continue.”

Alicia silenced the soldiers with a raised hand, calmly urging Eve to go on.

“…Yes. Let’s look at this tactical situation map.”

On the map Eve pointed to, pieces representing allied and enemy forces were neatly arranged.

“As I explained earlier, the numerical difference in strength between our forces and the rebels isn’t as vast as it seems.

Even so, in a direct clash, the gap is wide enough that victory is unlikely.

And my sister—Lydia Ignite’s command is impeccable. She’s deduced we’re hiding in this area, designating it as the top-priority alert zone and increasing troop density.

If our forces abandon the siege and begin an advance, no matter which direction we take, the surrounding rebel squads will instantly coordinate, encircling and flanking us.”

Eve’s fingers traced the rebel pieces.

“Lydia has divided the rebel forces’ magical armaments into two types: defense-oriented units with high durability and sustained combat ability, and attack-oriented units with superior mobility and offensive power, arranged alternately in a grid pattern. If we attempt a desperate breakthrough…”

Eve moved the allied and enemy pieces across the tactical map in turn.

“The rebel defense units will hold us off first. While we struggle to break through, the highly mobile attack units on our flanks will strike our sides, circle behind us… and gather reinforcements from elsewhere…”

In moments, the allied forces were surrounded.

Eve rolled dice to simulate battle outcomes several times, and within a few turns, the allied forces were annihilated.

“This is the result. The strength of this enemy formation lies in its overwhelming adaptability. No matter where we strike, our forces will be encircled and destroyed.”

Eve tested several advance patterns on the map, but each ended in the allies’ total defeat.

The soldiers, disheartened by the results, let out heavy sighs.

“Then, how…?”

To someone’s question, lacking such power.

“Simple. Here’s how it’s done.”

Eve extends her hand, swiftly moving the allied pieces.

Her strategy leaves only a handful of defenders with the queen, barricading her in the stronghold, while the entirety of the remaining allied forces launches a full-scale assault on the enemy army.

“The main force, with Her Majesty at the stronghold, and the allied detachment charging the enemy army. Now, Glenn, if you were the commander of the rebel army, how would you counter this move of mine?”

Amid the murmurs of confusion over Eve’s baffling strategy, she turns to Glenn.

“It’s been a while, hasn’t it? Shall we have a little war game, you and I?”

“Huh? Me? Look, I’ve studied some tactics in theory, but… I’m no expert in this stuff. Plus, the only time I’ve ever beaten you was with dice luck…”

“Doesn’t matter. No matter who commands or how, the outcome’s the same.”

“Same? What’s that supposed to mean…? Oh, I see, that’s clever.”

Glenn, grasping Eve’s intent from the battlefield map, smirks and decides to play along.

“Alright, let’s see… Her Majesty’s all alone in the stronghold, right? And she’s openly showing herself. Normally, that’d scream bluff. You’d naturally think the real Her Majesty might be hiding among the detachment charging full force, yeah?

In that case, I’d probably… ignore the barricaded Her Majesty for now and do this.”

Feigning the fool, Glenn moves the enemy pieces.

It’s the same move as before: the defensive unit intercepts the allied charge, while the attack unit surrounds and annihilates them.

In an instant, the charging detachment is surrounded, but…

“Oh, that’s your move? Then I’ll do this.”

Eve moves the queen’s main force at the stronghold. Slipping through the gap created by the enemy’s encirclement of the detachment, the main force escapes outside Milano.

“Whoops, my bad! She got away! Alright, then I guess it’s gotta be like this—forget those heartless jerks abandoning Her Majesty and focus on capturing her instead.”

This time, Glenn gathers the rebel pieces toward the queen barricaded in the stronghold.

“Fate’s dice roll! Suppression check… Success! Hell yeah, I’ve captured Her Majesty!”

“Oh, really? You sure about that? Sure, it’s common sense that taking down a barricaded army requires a decent amount of forces…”

Eve, seemingly amused, moves her pieces as well.

By diverting forces to the queen’s barricaded main force, the encirclement weakens, allowing the allied detachment to break through a single point, defeat a section of the rebel army, and escape outside Milano.

“To completely surround and annihilate an enemy charging with desperate focus on a single breakthrough, you need a substantial number of troops.

History is littered with examples of armies breaking through formations with a decisive charge despite overwhelming numerical disadvantages.

You know this, but… you can’t afford to fail, right? If the Her Majesty barricaded in the stronghold is a fake, and the real one is hiding in the detachment, you’re done for with that move. Can you really make that call when your fate’s on the line?”

“Ughhh, yeah, when you put it like that, it’s bad—real bad… Alright, then I’ve got no choice but to do this, right?”

Glenn moves the pieces again.

This time, he splits the forces, simultaneously targeting both the queen’s barricaded main force and the charging detachment.

“Exactly. The enemy has no choice but to do that. In this situation, it doesn’t matter how brilliant a strategist they are—they’re forced to make that move.

Now, because the enemy split their forces, the power gap narrows even further. Don’t you think we’ve got a fighting chance now?”

Eve calculates the force disparity, terrain effects, and other modifiers impacting the battle, then rolls the dice.

The result—Allied vs. Enemy win probability: 4:6.

Still at a disadvantage, but far from hopeless.

The soldiers begin to murmur…

A glimmer of hope has just dawned on them.

“That’s the plan. We split our forces into several groups.

First, the detachment charging the enemy. The entire remaining force unites to break through the enemy’s encirclement at a single point, aiming to escape Milano. Naturally, this is a decoy. Their equipment and magic prioritize endurance and defense, making it impossible for a half-hearted encirclement to wipe them out. Of course, I’ll personally handle the detailed commands to ensure they hold out as long as possible.

Second, the main force barricading the stronghold. Also a decoy. We make Her Majesty’s presence blatantly clear to the enemy. Naturally, the hotel stronghold is fortified in advance with robust magical defense barriers, focusing entirely on a defensive strategy. A half-hearted force won’t be able to breach it.

By creating a situation where the enemy has no choice but to split their forces, only then do we gain a chance at victory. Understood?”

“What… what a…”

The soldiers are all speechless.

It’s audacious—using the main allied force as bait, even Her Majesty herself as bait.

Yet, the strategy is meticulously delicate, threaded through with razor-sharp logic.

It’s masterful. This woman, Eve… how does she come up with such a thing?

Eve’s strategy doesn’t rely on the uncertain element of predicting the enemy commander’s moves. It’s entirely built on the inevitability of forcing the enemy to act in a specific way.

“If it were just Lydia, this wouldn’t work. Lydia would see this board as the critical turning point and gamble everything on one side.

In that game of wits, my chances of winning would be next to zero.

Lydia would undoubtedly make the right move. Without fail. But right now, she’s not free to command as she pleases. She’s shackled.”

“Lord Ignite…”

“Exactly. The board you forced into place is binding Lydia’s free command.

And Lord Ignite, despite appearances, is a cautious coward. In a situation where he believes he holds an overwhelming advantage, he’d never take a risky gamble. Which means—”

 

“Split all our free forces across Milano into two groups now!”

Faced with this incomprehensible situation, Lord Ignite issues his orders.

“The queen barricading the stronghold! And the enemy army aiming for a breakthrough to escape Milano! Divide our forces into two and crush them both simultaneously! Do not let the queen escape!”

““““Yes, sir!””””

At Lord Ignite’s command, the soldiers begin to move frantically.

But.

“W-wait, Father!”

Someone stops him. It’s Lydia.

“What is it?”

“With all due respect, this unnatural division of the queen’s forces… it’s likely a bluff.”

“I know that.”

“If we split our forces now and send them in two directions, we lose our guaranteed advantage. The situation could devolve into a quagmire. That would open the door to the worst-case scenario we must avoid at all costs.”

At Lydia’s counsel, Lord Ignite’s expression twists into displeasure.

“Father, this is likely the turning point of the battle. Seizing this moment will bring you victory and glory. …We should take the gamble here.”

Then, Lydia compares the projected images on the map.

She stares at them for a while, carefully cross-referencing the tactical situation on the table…

…and finally, after deep deliberation, reaches a conclusion.

“The detachment is a bluff. The main force barricading the stronghold… the queen openly showing herself there is likely the real one. Father, I propose ignoring the detachment and directing all currently combat-ready forces to the enemy stronghold—”

Slap! The sound of a cheek being struck echoes through the strategy room.

Lord Ignite had slapped Lydia’s cheek.

“You dare defy me? A mere daughter dares to lecture me!?”

Lord Ignite’s face flushes red with rage.

“N-no, Father… I didn’t mean…”

“Think before you speak! If the queen is hiding in the detachment, she’ll escape! Can’t you even read that much!?”

“I’m sorry! I’m so sorry, Father!”

Instantly, Lydia, tears streaming, kneels before Lord Ignite, begging for forgiveness.

“To defy you, Father… never! I would never intend such a thing! Please forgive me, Father! Please, forgive me! Forgive me! Forgive me! Forgive me!”

Like a broken phonograph, Lydia continues pleading for forgiveness.

“Forgive me! Forgive me! Forgive me! Forgive me! Forgive me! Forgive me!”

The soldiers can only stare, dumbfounded, at the bizarre scene.

“…Hmph, as long as you understand.”

Finally, seemingly satisfied with Lydia’s dog-like groveling, Lord Ignite snorts and turns away.

“All you need to do is obey me and work for me alone. Understood, Lydia… my beloved daughter?”

“Yes! My entire being exists for you, Father! Because I’m—your daughter!”

In an instant, her tears vanish.

Smiling brightly, Lydia stands up.

“Understood. Let’s immediately split the army into two and annihilate them.”

“Good.”

“So, everyone, please lend us your strength. We’re counting on you.”

With her usual saintly smile, Lydia turns to the soldiers, issuing orders one after another.

The soldiers under Lord Ignite’s command feel a chill run down their spines at the sight of her—

 

The dawn of Milano trembles with the roars of battle.

“W-what’s…?”

“What in the world is happening in Milano right now…?”

Terrified of Root and the coup army occupying the city, Milano’s citizens, who had been quietly hiding in their homes, begin to stir, cautiously peering out their windows.

At this moment, not a single citizen of Milano realizes.

The civil war within the imperial army they are witnessing…

That it would later shine brilliantly in military history as a historic moment, none of them yet know—

 

“Raaaaaahhhhhhh!”

“Go, go, gooooo!”

—The Detachment.

137 soldiers under the queen’s command charge as one through the dawn-lit streets of Milano.

Guided remotely by Eve’s communication magic, they run, run, run without end—

“Don’t let them through! Hold this position! Hold it!”

“Surround them! Surround them!”

The rebel army under Lord Ignite blocks the detachment’s path, attempting to encircle them.

Though Eve’s strategy successfully split their forces, the numerical disparity remains overwhelming.

The detachment is quickly overtaken and caught in the encirclement.

“Second and third districts, lockdown complete!”

“Magic artillery squad, horizontal volley formation ready!”

“Fire!”

Ahead of the detachment’s charge, the rebel army seals off the street, unleashing a volley of military offensive spells.

A hellish wave of destructive power swirls through the area.

Scorching fireballs soar, and countless lightning spears streak through the air.

Normally, this would be the end. They’d be annihilated. It should have been.

But—

“Yaaaaaahhhhhhh!”

“Hmph—!”

Two figures, transforming into a raging gale and a swift tempest, leap ahead from the detachment—

“Raaaaaahhhh!”

The gale swings a greatsword with ferocious force, its pressure blowing away the incoming fireballs—

“—Hah!”

The tempest deftly and sharply wields a blade countless times, deflecting the lightning spears.

“W-what!?”

“Impossible! Who are those two!?”

The rebel soldiers, seeing their offensive spells completely neutralized, tremble in fear— and into their midst, the gale and tempest mercilessly charge.

“Yaaaaaahhhhhhh!”

The gale’s greatsword, swung like a raging storm, sends a dozen soldiers flying—

“Ha!”

The tempest flashes faint silver lines, weaving through the gaps between soldiers—

Seconds later, the soldiers collapse in delayed succession.

“Amazing… as always, Re=L, you’re incredible.”

“Mm. Elsa, you’re good too.”

The unstoppable gale and tempest are none other than Re=L Rayford and Elsa.

Re=L holds her greatsword low and firm with both hands, while Elsa casually carries her sheathed katana in her left hand, poised in a relaxed half-stance.

“Are you alright, 《The Chariot》!《The Wheel of Fortune》!?”

The detachment finally catches up, joining them.

“Incredible… such strength from the two of them…!”

“So reliable…!”

The detachment members, witnessing Re=L and Elsa’s monstrous power, praise them with awe and gaze at them with respect.

“I’m honored by the praise, but… it seems we don’t have time for that.”

The moment Elsa murmurs this,

“There they are!”

“Crush them!”

From the right side of the street, a large rebel attack force surges forward.

All of them have drawn their standard-issue imperial rapier, charging without hesitation.

Their steps are swift—clearly highly trained magic soldiers.

The distance has already closed from short-range magic combat to melee range.

“Kuh… already a new wave…!?”

As the detachment soldiers falter slightly,

“Everyone, let’s go!”

“Mhm! Go! Follow us!”

With Re=L and Elsa at the forefront, the allied detachment and the rebel attack force clash head-on.

As both armies lock swords and fiercely intermingle—

“Yaaaaaahhhhhhh!”

“Haaaaaahhhhhhh!”

Re=L and Elsa, as expected, shine brilliantly.

With every swing of Re=L’s greatsword, with every flash of Elsa’s katana,

Rebel soldiers are struck down one after another, falling—

The two fighting back-to-back resemble a tornado.

A deadly vortex forms around them, swallowing anyone who dares approach.

“It’s alright, everyone! Eve-san is watching over this battlefield!”

Elsa’s draw is so swift it blurs, and with a ching, she sheathes her katana.

Thud. An enemy soldier collapses, cut down.

“Mm! If we advance as Eve says, we’ll win!”

Re=L swings her greatsword horizontally in a grand arc.

Three enemy soldiers attempting to strike from behind are blown away together.

“Yes, we’ll win! We can win!”

“For Her Majesty!”

Inspired by the girls’ lion-like ferocity, the allied forces fight with desperate valor.

They magnificently overcome the disadvantage in numbers.

 

Meanwhile—around the hotel where the queen’s main force is barricaded.

“Magic artillery squad! Third row, simultaneous barrage! Fire!”

The rebel magic soldiers, encircling the hotel in multiple layers, chant spells in unison.

Countless fireballs arc through the air, raining down on the hotel like a storm.

The fireballs detonate in massive explosions across the hotel’s outer walls, but—

“No need to panic.”

In the entrance hall on the hotel’s first floor,

Amid tremors and falling dust, Rize turns to the students and speaks.

“This hotel is already fortified with multiple layers of robust defensive barriers, enhanced by Rumia-san’s ability. It won’t fall to something trivial.”

At the center of the hall, a control magic circle sustains the defensive barriers enveloping the hotel, radiating overwhelming magical energy.

Gathered there are not only the queen’s injured soldiers, unfit for frontline combat, but also non-combatant students like Ellen, Kash, Wendy, Teresa, Cecil, and Lynn, all desperately channeling their magic into the circle to maintain the hotel’s defensive barriers.

Rize’s role is to observe the rebel army’s magic artillery strikes through far-seeing magic, finely tuning the barrier’s output.

She adjusts the defensive barriers’ strength—thickening them locally or thinning them as needed—expertly managing the relentless barrage of magical artillery raining down on the hotel.

“With everything set up like this, a mere C-class military spell won’t even make a dent.”

And—

 

“《O crimson lion・in your wrath・roar and rage》!”

From the hotel’s outer wall windows, Levin, Colette, Francine, Ginny, Jaill, and Heinkel unleash area-suppression offensive spells toward the rebel army encircling them.

Among the students, Heinkel’s offensive spells are particularly devastating, their sheer power forcing the rebel army to hesitate, visibly stalling their advance as they struggle to approach the hotel.

“As I’ve said before, you don’t need to hit them.”

Gibul fires an [Ice Blizzard] just in front of the rebel army’s noses, speaking as he does.

“Our job is to keep them at bay. Just fire wildly to scare them off.”

“Right, got it. Our role is to hold this place for three hours.”

Levin shrugs in response.

“This hotel and the barrier protecting it are extremely sturdy. Ordinary magical soldiers can’t break through or infiltrate it. For about three hours, we can hold out without killing the enemy.”

“…W-what happens… after three hours…?”

“What will we do…?”

Trembling with fear, Colette and Francine ask.

“At that point… we’ll have no choice but to steel ourselves. To be ready to kill the enemy.”

Colette and Francine gasp at Levin’s solemn reply.

However.

“Well, there’s probably no need to worry.”

Pushing up his glasses, Gibul speaks.

“This battle will be settled in three hours.”

“W-what makes you say that? How can you be so sure…?”

“Eve-sensei clearly stated that she’d settle it in three hours. And that good-for-nothing softie is with her. It’s bound to work out.”

Hmph.

With a snort, Gibul gazes out the window at the ongoing battle.

(Damn… the people I aspire to be are so far out of reach…)

Thinking such regrets, Gibul focuses on his duties.

 

“What’s the situation?! Report!”

“Damn it! It’s too tough…! Squad Leader! Our squad’s offensive spell volley had zero effect! The enemy stronghold’s defensive barrier is still intact! We can’t break it!”

“The enemy’s barrage of offensive spells is intense, making further approach—”

“What’s going on…?! Is it really this unyielding?! Weren’t there only kids and wounded soldiers left in that stronghold?!”

Members of a certain rebel squad encircling the hotel from a distance shout.

Realizing their long-range spell attacks are utterly ineffective, the squad leader makes a decision.

“No choice! I’ll attack with a B-rank military offensive spell!”

“What?! With a B-rank meant for sieges?!”

“That’s no longer just a hotel! It’s a fortress!”

“But, Squad Leader! Once you cast it… you’ll suffer mana depletion and be unable to fight for the rest of the day…!”

“Doesn’t matter! We won’t make progress otherwise! I’m starting the spell chant now!

Tell the Ail and Larks squads to sync their B-rank spells! All other members, stay vigilant and prepare for any contingencies! Begin!”

 

“…Because we’re surrounded by people who can chant B-rank military spells in three verses as if it’s nothing and fire them off like C-rank spells, our sense of normalcy is completely numb… but originally, chanting a B-rank spell is supposed to be like this, isn’t it…?”

Rize murmurs while keeping watch outside with far-seeing magic.

In Rize’s magical field of vision, the few squad leaders capable of chanting B-rank spells are simultaneously gathering all their magical energy with full commitment.

They pour every ounce of mana into the magical arrays deployed before them… while chanting lengthy spells spanning over a dozen verses… such figures are clearly visible.

If they fail to control it and it backfires, they’ll be obliterated.

Truly, they are risking their lives to activate these B-rank military spells.

“Yes, that’s certainly troublesome—”

 

“Haa… haa…! Gooooooo!”

Finally completed, the B-rank military spells are fired simultaneously from multiple directions.

Black Magic [Inferno Flare].

Black Magic [Plasma Cannon].

A hellish inferno surges toward the hotel like a tsunami—

A massive, cannon-like bolt of concentrated lightning charges toward the hotel’s front gate.

Yet, these overwhelmingly powerful attacks that shake the air and earth—

“—Please,《My Key》!”

In response to the glow of Rumia’s silver key on the hotel rooftop, a rift opens in space, effortlessly swallowing the incoming bolt of concentrated lightning—

“《Obey me, people of the wind・I am the princess who commands the wind》!”

Likewise, Sistine’s Modified Black Magic II [Storm Grasper] creates an overwhelming wind barrier centered on the hotel, catching the surging tsunami of flames—and scattering it into the sky.

 

“N-no way…! Cough, cough…! My B-rank…?! Blocked so easily… by those kids…?! Cough, cough!”

For the attackers, it was a truly disheartening sight.

The simultaneous bombardment of B-rank military offensive spells, launched with the pride and determination of several squad leaders.

To see it effortlessly deflected was an unbelievable situation, causing the squad leaders to collapse to their knees and lose consciousness.

“C-Captain?! Hang in there!”

“As expected, mana depletion?! H-hold on! We’ll get you to the medics in the rear—!”

Just as a soldier was about to tend to the collapsed squad leader, it happened.

“No need for that, my friend.”

Tap. Someone pats the soldier’s shoulder from behind.

The soldier turns his head, stunned to see the figure.

For some reason, a civilian—clearly not a soldier—stood there as if it were the most natural thing.

“Huh? Who’re you?”

“What?! Who am I?! How dare you not know my name?! I’m Fossil! The genius magical archaeologist of the Alzano Imperial Magic Academy! Fossil Lefoy, obviously! You must be a fraud!”

For some reason, the civilian is angrily ranting about something incomprehensible, but the soldier has no time for that. Because…

“W-what… everyone…?”

Unbeknownst to him, all dozen or so members of his squad deployed around him have collapsed unconscious on the ground.

“Hm? Them? Oh, I put them to sleep. They seemed exhausted.”

“Huh? What…? Huh?”

“And you must be tired too, right? Overdoing it isn’t good. So, let me sing you a lullaby… my《Heaven’s Melody》.”

Slowly, Fossil raises his fist toward the soldier.

“Hii?!”

Sensing danger, the soldier hurriedly leaps back, trying to engage in combat.

But in that instant.

Whoosh! Fossil’s figure blurs like a mirage, shimmering and vanishing—

“Gaaaaaaahhh?!”

Before he knows it, a jarring impact shakes his brain, and the soldier’s vision fills with the dawn sky.

A sensation of weightlessness envelops his body.

His body had been spectacularly launched into the air.

Was that… an uppercut?

Honestly, the soldier couldn’t comprehend what had just happened to him.

(…What was that man…?《Heaven’s Melody》…? Oh, right…)

In his fading consciousness, the soldier recalls a certain legend.

(…《Heaven’s Melody》… wasn’t that the pinnacle of bare-handed combat techniques… called the ‘Ninety-Nine Fists’ in the East, a mythical skill…?!)

Thinking such thoughts hazily.

The soldier’s consciousness slowly sinks into darkness—

 

“Alright, it’s going well.”

—At a certain location.

Eve, gathering battle information through magic, states calmly.

“We’ve succeeded in splitting Lord Ignite’s available combat forces in two.

The detached unit, under my remote tactical command, with Re=L《The Chariot》and Elsa《The Wheel of Fortune》at the forefront, is drawing the enemy’s attention while shifting positions.

The main force is holding the hotel, relying on the defensive barrier enveloping it, with Sistine and Rumia countering long-range bombardments. Fossil is roaming the perimeter solo, conducting guerrilla warfare.”

“…But thanks to that, I’m stuck being that idiot Fossil’s assistant for the next year, huh?”

Glenn grumbles at Eve, clearly dissatisfied.

“Hmph, if it reduces the risk to the students, deal with it. …But seriously, why is that guy so strong? It’s beyond mysterious…”

“Well, he’s always illegally diving into insanely dangerous ancient ruins and somehow comes back alive every time… I figured he was a serious powerhouse, but still.”

The two sigh, sharing a peculiar atmosphere.

“Anyway, it’s about time things start moving. …Look.”

 

“What the hell are you all dawdling for?!”

In the command room of the Ignite Army at the Tirika-Falia Cathedral.

Lord Ignite’s furious roar echoes through the room.

“The enemy is just a hundred or so desperate soldiers and a cornered, trapped unit! How long are you taking to crush them?!”

“B-but, even if they’re desperate, they’re advancing precisely through our gaps…”

“The entrenched unit seems to have prepared meticulously, making them extremely difficult to attack—”

“Silence!”

“Gyaah?!”

Striking down the subordinates who dare to talk back.

Then, with a face burning like a raging inferno, he turns to Lydia.

“Lydia! As my daughter, you understand, don’t you?!”

“Yes, as Father commands—”

Smiling brightly at her enraged father, Lydia bows—

 

“…W-what?! They’re actually moving…?!”

Glenn stares at the battlefield in shock.

Astonishingly… Lord Ignite and Lydia have left the heavily fortified Tirika-Falia Cathedral… leading their remaining forces to the front lines themselves.

“Exactly. They had no other choice.”

Eve says, arms crossed, as if she’d anticipated it all.

“The only forces Lord Ignite can confidently deploy without worry are those under his direct command. He had no choice but to use them to suppress the front lines.”

Seriously, what is this woman?

Glenn looks at Eve, who predicted everything perfectly, with renewed awe.

“Haha, I’ve been working under one hell of a person, haven’t I…?”

“What? Did you say something?”

“Nah, nothing.”

But Glenn’s playful expression tightens as he continues.

“But… it’s not enough. Even if we’ve dragged Lord Ignite and his forces out, they’re accompanied by considerable strength.”

“……”

“To achieve our ultimate goal… those accompanying forces are a massive obstacle. What now?”

Then.

At Glenn’s question, Eve chuckles.

“Oh? I thought this kind of thing was more your specialty than mine.”

“Huh? What do you mean?”

“Don’t get it? It means I trust you.”

 

The coup army marches from the Tirika-Falia Cathedral toward the hotel where the queen is entrenched.

Charging fiercely west along Rosse Street in the Western District—

Suddenly, a massive explosion of magical flames erupts right in front of them.

In the next moment, disconnection barriers crisscrossing the city split the coup army into fragments, throwing them into utter chaos.

“What’s happening?!”

“R-report, sir!”

A messenger soldier hurriedly reports to Lord Ignite.

“It’s an enemy ambush!”

“An ambush?! At this timing?! Who the hell—?!”

Lord Ignite’s eyes widen in shock.

“N-no way—”

 

“Ow, ouch… Still not back to full strength, huh…”

“Quiet, old man. Get serious.”

“Haha, you two, calm down.”

At the forefront—

The coup army, caught off guard by the surprise attack, halts.

Appearing before them are Bernard, Albert, and Christoph.

Standing atop a nearby building’s roof, they look down at the coup army below.

“Well, hiding and waiting was worth it. Hmm… This strategy’s Eve-chan’s work, isn’t it? If so, it’ll be a breeze to coordinate.”

“Yes, with Eve-san’s command, her intentions are crystal clear.”

“Full combat might be tough, but we can handle support and disruption in our current state.”

Their appearances—still battered.

Having reached their healing limits in the battle with Powell, their wounds haven’t fully recovered.

Albert’s injuries are particularly severe, with a bandage painfully wrapped over his crushed right eye.

Yet, all three are brimming with resolve.

Knowing this battle is the critical moment, they’ve joined as a late-arriving guerrilla unit.

“Still… to think we’d end up in such a sorry state.”

Albert snorts.

“But we’ll make up for our failures. Let’s go, old man, Christoph.”

“Hell yeah!”

“Yes!”

Facing the still-confused Ignite Army.

Albert, Christoph, and Bernard begin chanting spells in unison—

 

“Was this part of your plan too?”

The sudden intervention of Albert, Bernard, and Christoph—who’d been out of contact—has clearly thrown the coup army into disarray.

Watching the chaotic battlefield, Glenn mutters in astonishment.

“‘Planned’ is more like ‘I knew.’”

Eve snorts smugly.

“No contact… I see, something major must’ve happened. But even if they were wiped out or incapacitated… my former subordinates would’ve found a way to relay that to the queen’s forces. They’re not incompetent enough to fail at that.”

“…?!”

“So, their prolonged silence meant they were alive somewhere, waiting for the right moment.

They’d surely align with my strategy.

Naturally, I’d incorporate them into the tactics.”

“Haha… damn, you’re one hell of a woman.”

“…Finally noticed?”

“Idiot. I knew from the start.”

Exchanging such banter, they share a bold grin.

“…Now, Glenn. It’s our turn.”

Eventually, Eve murmurs.

“Everything so far has just been to buy time. This is it. This moment… where we decide the success or failure… the victory or defeat.”

“Yeah, I know.”

Eve tightly clenches her trembling fist.

“Three hours—seize victory with the dawn. Glenn… lend me your strength.”

“Leave it to me!”

Nodding to each other.

Glenn and Eve set off through Milano’s waterways, finally taking action—

 

———.

 

“…It’s started, huh…”

Somewhere in Milano.

Atop a particularly tall tower.

“Hmph… Everyone’s so foolish… getting all serious…”

A lone girl sits there, gazing down at the conflict below.

It’s Illia.

Exuding a heavy sense of cynicism, she looks down as if it’s someone else’s affair.

She seems to have no intention of joining this battle.

“Ugh, so pointless… Duty, honor, for the country, for the queen, for the world… ugh, so stupid… so stupid…”

For a while, Illia listlessly spews complaints…

Then, she lets out a sigh. A dry laugh escapes her.

“…Haha, who am I to talk… I’m the most pointless… the most worthless existence…”

Mocking herself weakly, Illia slumps forward.

“…But… even so… I…”

And she murmurs to no one. Keeps murmuring.

As if speaking to someone absent. Questioning them.

“Hey… what do you think when you see me like this? Are you angry? Disgusted? Hey…?”

And then.

“…Hey, what do you think, huh…? Nee-san…”

There was not a single soul to hear Illia’s murmurs—