Chapter 4: Beloved Battle Comrades

A heavy silence dominated the scene.

It felt as if this entire area had been cut off from the outside world by a vacuum. The distant clamor that reached their ears seemed to lack any sense of reality, as though it were sounds drifting in from another world.

In a corner of the academy where no one else was present except for Glenn, Rumia, and the guards surrounding them.

“W-Wait… I… plotted to assassinate Her Majesty…? To be executed…?”

Rumia stood stunned, her shoulders trembling.

“The evidence has been secured, you heinous criminal. There’s no room for leniency or chance for excuses. Resign yourself to becoming the dew upon my blade.”

The captain of the guards spoke dispassionately to the trembling girl.

A sinister, gleaming intent to kill radiated from the drawn white blade.

There wasn’t the slightest hint of jest in the air.

“I wouldn’t recommend resisting. If you quietly acknowledge your crimes and accept your punishment, we have no intention of needlessly inflicting pain. We promise to end your life as swiftly as possible.”

Rumia’s forehead was drenched in cold sweat, her face pale as she silently looked down.

The captain turned his gaze to Glenn, who stood protectively behind Rumia.

“And you there. That girl is a criminal. If you continue to shield her, you’ll be dealt with for treason against the state. Now, hand her over.”

“…That’s a pretty nasty joke.”

Glenn’s voice was sharp with irritation as he glared fiercely at the guards before him, as if ready to snap.

“Rumia, plotting to assassinate Her Majesty? Don’t be ridiculous. If that’s the case, show me the evidence.”

“We have no obligation to disclose anything to an outsider. This is a highly political matter that common citizens like you shouldn’t meddle in.”

At the guard’s one-sided attitude, Glenn seemed to boil with frustration, raising his voice.

“Are you kidding me!? You’re saying you’ll execute her on the spot without a warrant or trial!? Does that even fly!? Since when did the Empire sink to the level of a barbaric tribe!? Go reread the Imperial Charter from the beginning, you dimwits!”

“You’re the one who needs to reread the Charter. Her Majesty the Queen is the supreme head of state. Her words surpass all laws and take precedence over everything.”

“Hah! I’m not here to argue legal interpretations with you.”

“Hmph, nor are we. We don’t know who you are, but if you keep shielding that grave criminal, we’ll have to deal with you as an accomplice right here.”

“…What’s that? Have you lost your mind?”

“To begin with, your insolent tone toward us, loyal subjects of Her Majesty, is tantamount to insulting Her Majesty herself. That alone establishes a fine charge of lèse-majesté against you, doesn’t it?”

“You’d better quit it, you…!”

The atmosphere grew increasingly heated. Neither side showed signs of backing down, and an irreparable tension began to fill the air.

The one to first douse the flames with cold water was Rumia.

“Please, wait, Sensei!”

As if resolving herself, Rumia cried out.

“…I’ll do as you command.”

Clutching her trembling hands tightly to her chest, Rumia declared resolutely.

“…Huh? H-Hey…?”

Glenn turned to Rumia, his face a mix of anxiety and confusion.

“To think that I, in my audacity, would dare to harm Her Majesty the Queen… Now that I reflect on it, I’m utterly ashamed of my insolence. Thus, I shall atone with my life. So please, have mercy. Sensei… this man has nothing to do with this!”

“You idiot! What are you saying—”

Glenn tried to shout at Rumia, but…

“No, Sensei.”

Rumia cut him off before he could continue.

“If you keep protecting me, you’ll get dragged into trouble too…”

“No, but still! This is insane! There’s no way this is right! It’s got to be some kind of mistake! It has to be! And why are you just accepting it… damn it!”

Glenn raised his fists toward the guards.

Perhaps seen as an obstacle, the guards’ killing intent instantly converged on Glenn.

“N-No! Sensei, please stop!”

“Sensei…? Ho? So you’re a magic instructor at this academy? Hah, give up your futile resistance, mage. Do you think you can take on all five of us at once? We’re combat specialists.”

“Oh? You won’t know unless you try, will you? Scared?”

As soon as Glenn spat out those provocative words, five flashes of silver roared through the air with the sound of cutting wind.

Before he could react, five swords, drawn with blinding speed, were pointed at Glenn’s neck and throat from all directions.

“…Ugh.”

Glenn involuntarily fell silent.

These five guards were indeed highly skilled, their coordination flawless. If there had been distance, or if it were one-on-one, things might have been different. But at this close range, with all avenues of evasion blocked simultaneously, there was nothing he could do.

“Bluffing isn’t wise. What can a mere mage do at this distance? Besides, we’re clad in anti-magic gear. Your vaunted three-element assault spells or mind-corrupting spells won’t work on us so easily. Still want to try? You, alone, against five elite guards?”

Glenn clicked his tongue in obvious frustration.

At this distance, in this situation, he truly could do nothing. Even if he managed to take down one or two with a desperate assault spell or mind-corrupting spell, the remaining guards would skewer him.

That wouldn’t save Rumia.

“And we’re not just the five here. The others are scattered searching for that girl, but our total forces are far greater. What do you hope to achieve by standing your ground alone here?”

“…Tch!?”

“Stand down and behave, mage. This is your final warning.”

As Glenn, sweating profusely, scanned the guards for any opening, Rumia spoke.

“Sensei, please… it’s enough. It’s enough now… if this continues, you’ll…”

Rumia’s pleading words, on the verge of tears, seemed to be the final blow.

Glenn’s shoulders slumped, and he lowered his fists.

Seeing that Glenn had lost the will to resist, the guards slowly withdrew their swords.

“…Sorry.”

“You don’t need to apologize, Sensei.”

To Glenn’s utterly exhausted expression, Rumia offered a brave smile.

“…This is goodbye, isn’t it?”

“Yeah.”

“It’s all so sudden, it doesn’t feel real.”

“…Yeah.”

“Please take care of Sistie, okay? In all sorts of ways.”

“…I’ll figure out a way to explain it.”

“Hey, Sensei… actually, I—”

“More importantly,” Glenn interrupted.

Suddenly lifting his face, Glenn turned to Rumia with a sincere expression.

“…At least keep your eyes closed until it’s over. It’ll… be less scary that way.”

The moment Glenn said those words…

“—Gah!?”

A guard abruptly swung the hilt of his sword, striking Glenn on the back of his head.

Unable to withstand the blow, Glenn collapsed to his knees, falling unconscious on the ground.

“Kyaa!? Sensei!? W-What are you—”

“Relax, we just put him to sleep. It’s troublesome if a mage resists.”

As Rumia tried to cling to the fallen Glenn, one of the guards grabbed her arm.

“Now, enough of that. Come here, criminal! Hurry!”

With swords pointed at her, Rumia was dragged away.

“Right here. Stand still!”

Rumia was brought to a nearby street tree. Her hands were bound behind her back, and swords were pressed against her neck from all sides, leaving her unable to even move.

Then, the captain, likely the one to carry out the execution, stood before Rumia, drawing his sword taut.

“Relax your body and don’t move. If I miss the vital spot, you’ll suffer longer.”

For a moment, Rumia stared at the blade’s tip with distant, vacant eyes.

“…Yes.”

Taking a deep breath, Rumia closed her eyes as Glenn had instructed.

Rumia Tingel had always been prepared for a day like this.

She was supposed to have died three years ago. Her existence, if made public, would cause unnecessary chaos both domestically and internationaly. She was a poison, lethal and inconvenient. That’s why she was meant to be quietly eliminated for the sake of the nation.

It wasn’t an uncommon story. Struggles among heirs to the throne, factional disputes involving royalty, or sacrifices to appease a powerful nation—history was littered with examples of royals being killed. Rumia’s case was merely one among many.

But she had been spared.

Alicia, pitying her, had gone to great lengths to keep her alive. That Rumia, who should have died, living until today was in itself an incredible stroke of fortune.

Yet Rumia understood all too well that it was just that—fortune.

She had always thought that a day like this might come.

Even though she had fallen to the status of a commoner, Rumia remained a ticking bomb for the Alzano Empire. She had always been prepared for the possibility that her mother, the queen who upheld the nation, might one day, for some unavoidable reason, decide to dispose of her.

This sudden pronouncement of execution likely meant just that.

So Rumia was able to face this moment with a surprising degree of calmness.

It was inevitable. She, who should have died three years ago, was to die now. That was all.

Even so—

(…It’s scary, isn’t it?)

She had prepared herself, but dying was still terrifying. Her trembling wouldn’t stop. Her heart pounded fiercely, her breathing grew short and ragged, and her thoughts began to swirl in a murky haze.

Above all, having to part in this way with Sistine, who treated her like a true sister; Sistine’s parents, who loved her like their own; her close friends at the academy; and—Glenn. It was unbearably sad.

Someone… please… help. I don’t want to die yet.

She wanted to clutch her head and scream.

(I really… don’t want to die…)

She wanted to learn so much more from Sensei. She wanted him to remember that three years ago, he had saved her life. She wanted to do more with Sistine, see more, talk about more.

And, at the very least, just once, to her real mother—

(…Oh, that’s right…)

She finally realized.

(Because it’s the end… she came to see me…)

She felt tears welling up at the corners of her eyes.

Glenn was right. She had known her true feelings all along.

(I should’ve been more honest… Why did I have to be so stubborn…?)

But it was too late now. Everything was… too late.

(…Goodbye.)

A tear rolled down Rumia’s cheek from the corner of her eye—and at that moment…

Shupa!

A bursting crack sounded from overhead.

“Ugyaaaaahhh—!?”

Instead of the searing pain of death, what assaulted Rumia was a piercing scream.

“…!?”

Startled, Rumia opened her eyes.

“Ugh, aah…!? My eyes, my eyes—!”

“Ugh… I can’t see… I can’t see anything…!”

What Rumia saw were the guards, clutching their eyes in agony, their swords dropped.

What was happening? As Rumia blinked in confusion…

“See? Good thing you kept your eyes closed, right?”

Glenn, who had somehow gotten back up, approached Rumia with a smug grin.

“Ouch, that hurt… They hit me pretty hard. Well, their mistake was thinking I’m just an ordinary mage. Truth is, I’m way better at fistfighting, and a blow like that? I can dodge it any day.”

He glanced at the guards, who were panicking and clutching their eyes.

“And when spells won’t work on an opponent, there’s always this method.”

“S-Sensei…? What did you…?”

Unable to grasp the situation, Rumia asked, and Glenn answered proudly.

“The [Flash Light] spell. I set off a really intense one above your head.”

Black Magic [Flash Light]. A basic self-defense spell that emits a blinding flash to dazzle an opponent’s eyes. It has no killing power, of course, but—

“If you time it right, it’s pretty darn effective. …Here we go.”

“Guah!”

“Hau!?”

Glenn struck the necks of the surrounding guards with hand chops, knocking them out one by one.

“Y-You—! Such a cheap trick…!”

The last remaining captain fumbled for his dropped sword and raised it. His vision still hadn’t recovered, and he was clearly off-balance.

“Pfft! ‘Our anti-magic gear makes us immune to three-element assault spells and mind-corrupting spells,’ huh? Hahaha, moron! Did you really think that’s all a mage has up their sleeve!? You’ve swallowed the military manuals whole, haven’t you? Lacking real combat experience, huh?”

“Tch, you dare insult us, which is to say, you insult Her Majesty—guh!?”

Before he could finish, Glenn’s right fist smashed into the guard’s face.

“Like I’m gonna listen, idiot. You’d recover your vision if I let you ramble.”

Glenn looked down at the collapsed guard with exasperation.

“Alright, Rumia. I’ll cut you loose.”

Glenn pulled out a folding knife and sliced through the ropes binding Rumia’s hands.

“S-Sensei… what have you done…? Raising a hand against the Royal Guard…”

For a moment, Rumia stood stunned, but as the gravity of the situation sank in, she questioned Glenn with a trembling voice.

“Uh, well, you know? My mouth slipped, and my hands slipped, and now what?”

“‘Now what’!? What were you thinking!? Now you’ll be charged with treason too!”

“Yeah, uh, that’s… bad, huh?”

Glenn’s cheek twitched as he sweated nervously.

Judging by his expression, he hadn’t thought this through at all.

“You need to get out of here! If someone finds you—”

“It’s fine. There’s gotta be someone in the Royal Guard who’ll listen. I’ll start by talking to them…”

“There they are—! Over there—!”

Suddenly, a new, furious voice echoed through the air.

Looking over, they saw a fresh group of guards running toward them.

“Look! Our comrades have been killed!”

“You fiend, siding with the great criminal! We’ll make you rust on our blades!”

“We’ll avenge the fallen, who died with their ambitions unfulfilled!”

To make matters worse, they seemed to have misunderstood the situation, their killing intent palpable, leaving no room for negotiation.

As the approaching guards drew their swords in unison, Glenn paled, his cheek twitching.

“Hey, didn’t your moms teach you to listen to people until they’re done!?”

“W-What do we do!? If this keeps up, Sensei, you’ll—”

“Do or don’t—”

“Kyaa!?”

Glenn scooped Rumia into his arms and sprinted toward the iron fence surrounding the academy.

“《The reason of the three realms・the law of the scales・the dish of order shall tilt to the port side》!”

Chanting a three-rune spell, he leaped.

Their bodies soared into the air, reaching a height impossible for human legs.

Black Magic [Gravity Control]. Glenn had weakened the gravity acting on them, making their bodies as light as feathers.

Holding Rumia, Glenn cleared the academy’s iron fence in a single bound, landing outside.

Releasing the spell, he hit the ground running, bolting toward the city.

“Tch, they escaped!?”

“After them! Don’t let the traitors get away—!”

Voices pursued from behind, but there was no time to look back.

“Argh, damn it! Why does trouble keep piling on!? This is why I hate working—arghhh! Long live shut-in life—!”

Amid the scenery streaming past like a raging current, Glenn’s anguished, heartfelt cry echoed.

Chased by the Royal Guard, Glenn, carrying Rumia, darted through the maze of back alleys, weaving right and left. They moved from Fejite’s northern district, home to the magic academy and student quarter, to the western district with its residential neighborhoods.

In this life-or-death game of tag, Glenn’s knowledge of the terrain gave him the edge. In a deserted alley, he finally confirmed they’d shaken their pursuers and set Rumia down.

“Haa, haa… Man, what a mess this turned into…”

Leaning against the alley wall, Glenn wiped sweat from his brow, breathing heavily.

“Now, what to do…”

As he caught his breath and pondered his next move, Rumia spoke up.

“Sensei… why…?”

Rumia’s face was filled with anguish.

She must deeply regret dragging Glenn into this.

“Don’t you get it? If I’d abandoned you, White Cat would chew me out. Her lectures are like nails on a chalkboard, and I can’t stand them.”

Even in this situation, Glenn’s flippant remark sparked irritation in Rumia, despite her usual patience.

“This isn’t the time for jokes! If we don’t think seriously about what to do next, you’ll really be killed for treason!”

“Yeah, it’s bad, huh… Maybe my past achievements could cancel it out…? Nah, probably not… Definitely not… Ha…”

Glenn sighed, clearly at a loss.

Despite the dire situation, Glenn’s demeanor was utterly unchanged from usual. His brazenness and nerve were almost refreshing at this point.

Feeling foolish for getting worked up all by herself, Rumia let out a sigh.

“Hey, Sensei. Answer me one thing honestly.”

Resigned, Rumia posed her question.

“What’s that?”

“Why did you save me? You’re in a really precarious position right now, Sensei. You could be killed at any moment. Why would you go to such reckless lengths for me…?”

Depending on his reason, there might be room for leniency.

That’s why she absolutely had to clarify this point, but—

“Well, maybe I’ve gone and fallen for you? Y’know, it’s a timeless cliché for a guy to throw caution to the wind for the girl he loves, right? Got it? Good, now shut up. I’m thinking about a lot of stuff right now.”

“Sensei! I’m asking you seriously!”

Glenn’s flippant, almost dismissive tone as he teased her made Rumia raise her voice.

Her shoulders trembled slightly with indignation, and as she stared at him earnestly, Glenn glanced at her sidelong, scratching his head awkwardly before muttering under his breath.

“…Because of a promise.”

“A promise?”

Rumia echoed his cryptic words back at him, puzzled.

“Nah, forget it.”

He brushed it off carelessly, but he had definitely said “promise.”

Curious about who he made this promise with and what it was for, Rumia tried to press further, but Glenn placed a hand on her head, cutting her off as he continued.

“Anyway, don’t worry about it. I didn’t pull this reckless stunt without some kind of plan. …Though, I might’ve done it even without one.”

“Sensei…”

“It’s fine. Her Majesty the Queen… your mom would never dispose of you without a trial. There’s definitely something fishy behind this sudden assassination order. Trust me.”

Rumia couldn’t fathom why he could say that with such certainty.

“The win condition is pretty simple. If we can slip past the Royal Guard and get to Her Majesty, we win. Once we meet her, all the misunderstandings should clear up.”

Again, Rumia didn’t understand why he could assert that so confidently.

Oblivious to her doubts, Glenn continued mulling things over on his own.

“The problem is how to get to Her Majesty…”

The Queen was in the northern district of Fejite, inside the Magic Academy. Glenn and the others were currently in the western district. By now, the city gates in all directions—east, west, south, and north—were likely sealed, and the Royal Guard was probably deployed across all of Fejite’s districts in pursuit. Naturally, the Queen would be surrounded by her protective Royal Guard as well.

Evading capture was one thing, but getting an audience with Her Majesty in this situation was a Herculean task.

“…Wait, are we screwed? Like, totally?”

Realizing the sheer tightrope he was walking with his so-called “plan,” Glenn broke out in a cold sweat.

“No, wait! We don’t even have to meet her in person!”

Cursing his own slow-wittedness, Glenn pulled a split gemstone from his pocket.

“Sensei, what’s that?”

“A long-distance communication device. It’s a gemstone split in two and magically treated so you can talk through it. The other half is with Celica, so we can use this to contact her.”

Of course, it was Celica’s handiwork. Glenn’s skills weren’t nearly advanced enough to craft something this sophisticated.

“Anyway, Celica’s probably with Her Majesty in the VIP seats right now. If we can get Celica to talk to the Queen and convince her to stop the Royal Guard’s rampage, we’re good.”

Without hesitation, Glenn chanted a spell to activate the communication device.

A metallic, resonant hum rang out from the gemstone pressed to his ear.

And then—

‘…Glenn?’

Celica’s voice came through the gem.

“Yo, Celica! Nice, you picked up right away this time! I was worried you’d ignore me like last time.”

‘…’

For some reason, Celica was silent. Had his slightly snarky tone rubbed her the wrong way?

“…Celica? Whatever, doesn’t matter. Listen, I need a favor. I’ve gotten myself into some seriously messy trouble, and—”

Just as Glenn started to explain the situation—

‘I can’t do anything.’

“—!?”

The immediate, cold, and emotionless response hit him like a slap.

“Hold on, I haven’t even—”

‘I’m sorry, Glenn. I can’t say anything.’

“Huh? What’s that supposed to mean? Don’t mess with me, you idiot! I’m serious—”

Irritated, Glenn was about to let loose a string of complaints, but—

‘I’ll say it again, Glenn. Listen carefully. I can’t do anything, and I can’t say anything.’

“—!?”

Finally, Glenn realized something was off about Celica’s demeanor.

It seemed this whole mess was far more complicated than he’d anticipated.

“…Alright, Celica. Just answer what you can. Do you know about the situation I’m in?”

‘…More or less.’

“And you’re saying you can’t do anything about it?”

‘Yes.’

“Are you with Her Majesty?”

‘…Yes.’

“What’s going on? Why is the Royal Guard acting out of control?”

‘…’

Silence.

“Why has Her Majesty officially ordered Rumia’s execution?”

‘…’

More silence.

Apparently, those were things she “couldn’t say.”

What kind of situation was this? What had happened? Celica was one of the continent’s top-tier mages, a Seventh Rank sorceress. How could anyone impose such restrictions on her?

(Damn it, I don’t get it… What the hell’s going on…?!)

As Glenn grimaced, clutching his head in frustration—

‘One thing, Glenn. Just one.’

“What’s that?”

‘You’re the only one who can break through this situation… Yes, only you.’

“What’s that supposed to mean…?”

‘Think hard about what I mean, Glenn. And find a way to get to Her Majesty. If you can make it, I’ll deal with the Royal Guard surrounding her… Any more than this is too risky. I’m cutting off.’

“H-Hey, wait!?”

Leaving him with a barrage of cryptic statements, Celica abruptly ended the communication.

No matter how many times he chanted the spell to reactivate the gem, there was no sign of Celica responding.

“What the hell… And ‘come to her’?! How am I supposed to get to Her Majesty on my own… Damn it!”

Sure, the Royal Guard were highly skilled in combat, but their primary role was protection, so their real battle experience was limited. Their magic was mostly military offensive spells or healing spells. As a former member of the Imperial Court Mage Corps with extensive combat experience and a broad knowledge of magic, Glenn could probably manage to evade them using every trick in the book, as long as he focused on escaping.

But going on the offensive was a different story.

The sheer difference in numbers and firepower was an insurmountable wall.

To make matters worse, the Royal Guard’s commander, Zelos, who was likely guarding the Queen closely, was a battle-hardened veteran. Forty years ago, during the Divine Reverence War, he was said to have fought toe-to-toe with Johannes, the “Sword Saint” and leader of the St. Elizares Church’s Holy Knight Order. He was on a completely different level from the other guards.

(No matter how I look at it, he’s way out of my league. If I had allies… even just one or two more people—)

As Glenn, visibly frustrated, slammed his fist against the wall—

A chill ran up his spine, like an icy blade slicing through him.

“—Killing intent!?”

Reacting instinctively to the familiar sensation, Glenn’s eyes snapped toward the source.

There, atop a building across the street, stood a man and a woman, staring straight down at him.

Their distinctive outfits and builds triggered a spark of recognition.

From the depths of his memory, their identities bubbled up like air—

“Re=L!? And Albert too!? Why are they here—don’t tell me, not just the Royal Guard, but the Court Mage Corps is after us too!?”

The moment Glenn recognized them—

Re=L kicked off the roof like a coiled spring, sprinting down the building’s wall.

The instant she landed, she muttered something, pressing both hands to the ground.

A burst of magical energy crackled like purple lightning, and in her hands, a massive cross-shaped greatsword materialized. In exchange, a chunk of the cobblestone street vanished.

Transmuting the cobblestones into a steel greatsword, Re=L hoisted it onto her shoulder and charged at Glenn like a bullet—

“Tch!? Alchemy—using [Material Transmutation] and [Elemental Reconfiguration] for your signature high-speed weapon crafting, huh!? And you’re fast!”

There was no time to marvel at her flawless technique.

There was no mistaking it now. Re=L and Albert—Glenn’s former comrades—were enemies. Like the Royal Guard, they’d come to hunt him down.

A wave of desperate panic surged through Glenn. Of all people, those two—

“Damn it, stop! If you don’t, I’ll shoot!”

But his sharp command didn’t faze Re=L, who kept charging.

The distance between them closed in an instant—

“—《O silver ice wolf, clad in blizzard, charge forth》!”

Without hesitation, Glenn chanted a three-rune spell.

The next moment, a blast of freezing air erupted from his outstretched left palm, plunging the surrounding temperature below zero.

The overwhelming vortex of icy energy instantly froze the moisture in the air, turning it into a barrage of ice shards that hurtled toward Re=L.

The military offensive spell, Black Magic [Ice Blizzard]. If caught within its effective range without magical defenses, the blizzard would freeze the blood in one’s veins, stopping the heart. The relentless hail of ice shards would then shatter the frozen body into pieces.

Normally, this spell would halt anyone in their tracks. A seasoned mage would either raise a magical barrier or retreat from its range—either way, they’d stop.

They should stop—but Re=L didn’t. Unfazed by the freezing air, shielding only her eyes with her arm, she pressed forward through the pelting ice shards without a hint of fear.

“That damn boar—!”

Sure, the freezing air could be resisted with Black Magic [Tri-Resist]’s enchantment, but that wouldn’t block the physical impact of the ice shards. Re=L was enduring them through sheer, extraordinary toughness and sheer recklessness.

“Rumia! Stay back!”

Clicking his tongue, Glenn threw off his cloak and began chanting another rune spell.

This time, it was Black Magic [Weapon Enchant]. Infusing his fists with magical energy to strengthen them. Facing that girl in close combat with bare hands would be suicide—

“Hraaaaah—!”

As Glenn’s spell completed, Re=L stormed in like a gale, closing the distance in a single bound. She raised her greatsword overhead, poised to strike.

She swung it down.

The blade flashed like lightning.

A strike so direct, so unhesitating, so wild yet almost elegant in its ferocity.

“Tch—!”

Glenn caught the brutal sword strike with his crossed fists above his head.

Where did Re=L’s slender arms summon such monstrous strength?

The moment her sword connected, a crushing shockwave tore through Glenn’s body, the ground beneath him cracking and splintering.

“Gah—agh—!”

Spitting blood, Glenn struggled desperately to hold his ground.

“Sensei!?”

“I’ve been waiting for this moment, Glenn!”

Re=L instantly reversed her grip, her massive sword—despite its weight—wielding as lightly as a willow twig. She unleashed a second, then a third strike in rapid succession.

The blade’s tip roared through the air, tearing it apart with a thunderous gust—

“Tch—!”

Glenn twisted his body right, left, and backward, dodging the storm of steel. Each time he parried a slash with his enchanted knuckles, sparks exploded, the unabsorbed impact throwing his body off balance. The sword’s pressure whipped up a tempest, battering him from all sides.

“Hraaaaaaa—!”

With a lion-like roar, Re=L swung her sword again, and again, and again.

The shockwaves of her strikes cleaved through nearby walls, shattering and pulverizing them. Cobblestones were uprooted, blasted apart, and sent flying. In moments, the alley transformed into a hellish wasteland.

Re=L was the embodiment of relentless, overwhelming violence—a tornado incarnate.

“Guh—wait! Re=L! Just listen to me!”

“No talking! I slash!”

No matter what Glenn said, her only response was another ferocious slash.

(This is bad… really bad! And behind her, Albert—!)

Far off, atop a building, a young man with hawk-like eyes watched them intently, fueling Glenn’s growing panic.

Albert was a master of magical sniping. Even in chaotic melee, he could unerringly target enemies while avoiding allies with godlike precision. He’d also mastered the advanced technique of Double Cast, activating two spells with a single chant.

(Damn it, my Original Magic [Fool’s World] is useless against these two—!)

Imperial Court Mage Corps Special Missions, Executive No. 17, “The Star,” Albert.

Same division, Executive No. 7, “The Chariot,” Re=L.

Albert, a genius mage capable of sniping from beyond the range of Fool’s World.

Re=L, a genius swordmaster who rendered Fool’s World irrelevant in close combat.

Back when Glenn was Executive No. 0, “The Fool,” in the Court Mage Corps, these two were his most reliable allies—and the worst possible enemies to face.

“How’s that, Glenn!? The power of my magic!”

“Is it even fair to call that magic!?”

Dodging a horizontal slash that obliterated a wall, Glenn shouted back.

“It’s absolutely magic! A sword forged through alchemy!”

With a reckless lunge, Re=L swung her greatsword downward from high above.

Glenn leaped back just in time, and the blade smashed into the cobblestones, shattering them and leaving a crater where he’d stood a split-second before.

“I’d like to lodge a formal objection to that interpretation!”

Despite his quips, Glenn had no room to breathe.

Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Albert raising a finger, taking aim.

It was impossible. Dodging Albert’s magical sniping via Double Cast while fending off Re=L was beyond human capability.

And Re=L’s relentless pursuit showed no signs of slowing, hounding him like a bloodhound.

It was checkmate.

(Damn it, I’m sorry, Rumia—!)

Gritting his teeth in the midst of the destructive storm, Glenn braced for the inevitable—

Albert unleashed Black Magic [Lightning Pierce]—

A bolt of lightning streaked toward them at blinding speed—

(Kuh—!)

With no time to dodge, Glenn steeled himself—

“Kyahn!?”

The Black Magic [Lightning Pierce] struck Re=L square in the back of her head.

She collapsed with a thud, twitching and spasming on the ground.

“…Huh?”

The cacophony of destruction gave way to an eerie silence.

As Glenn stood dumbfounded, Albert leaped from the rooftops, landing lightly before him.

“It’s been a while, Glenn.”

“Y-Yeah…”

Albert’s cold, almost accusatory tone left Glenn bewildered.

“We’re moving. Follow me.”

Dragging Re=L, Albert strode deeper into the alley.

Unable to read the situation, Glenn and Rumia exchanged glances and nodded, following obediently.

And then—

“You absolute moron! What the hell were you thinking!?”

In a secluded corner of Fejite’s western district alley, Glenn’s shout echoed.

“You wanted to settle some old score from our active duty days!? Have you considered the time, place, or situation, you idiot!? Musclehead! I almost died back there!”

“…Muu…”

The [Lightning Pierce] had been heavily restrained, and Re=L’s natural resilience helped her recover quickly. Her usually stoic face drooped just a tad, looking slightly dejected.

“S-Sensei… who are these people…?”

Rumia, standing a short distance away, directed a mix of fear and confusion at Re=L and Albert.

“Oh, these guys are my old comrades from my Imperial Army days. They’re trustworthy… or they should be, but after that scene, I’m not so sure…”

“Right, firing military-grade offensive spells in the middle of town? Careless, Albert. Looks like you scared that girl—”

“It was YOU! You!”

Glenn grabbed Re=L’s head with both hands, shaking her vigorously.

“…Jeez, you haven’t changed a bit…”

Ignoring Re=L, who swayed side to side like a metronome without breaking her sleepy expression, Glenn let out a deep sigh.

“…Can we continue? The situation’s pretty dire.”

“S-Sorry. Go ahead.”

Albert’s demeanor was somewhat chilly for someone reuniting with an old comrade after a long time. Glenn responded awkwardly, feeling the tension.

“Based on the information I’ve gathered through farsight magic and familiars, the Royal Guard has placed Her Majesty under their surveillance and is acting independently to eliminate that girl—Miss Rumia.”

“Yeah, I already know that. Those guys are definitely fabricating some absurd orders. So? What’s the situation around Her Majesty right now?”

“Her Majesty is seated in the VIP section of the arena as usual. However, the area is completely surrounded by elite members of the Royal Guard, led by their top brass, leaving no gaps. She can’t move freely. On top of that, they’ve enforced a strict lockdown—no one can get close. Breaking through will be no easy feat.”

“What about Celica? You know, former Special Missions Number 21.”

“She’s by Her Majesty’s side. But it doesn’t look like she has any intention of taking action.”

“I don’t get it. Celica should be able to protect Her Majesty and break through no problem… Any idea why the Royal Guard is specifically targeting Rumia?”

“The details are unclear. But if, as you say, Miss Rumia is the rumored ‘Discarded Princess,’ it’s possible the Royal Guard caught wind of it somehow. Out of a misguided sense of loyalty to protect the royal family’s honor, they might be trying to eliminate her… or so it could be reasoned.”

“That’s too far-fetched. Sure, they say you can’t stop rumors from spreading, so it’s possible they got hold of that classified info somewhere. But to act on it now, in Her Majesty’s presence, and commit treason? It makes no sense.”

“Indeed. If they were going to do it, they’d do it in secret.”

Glenn furrowed his brow, deep in thought as he tried to unravel the truth, while Albert maintained his cold, impassive expression.

“Enough. Some things you just can’t figure out by thinking.”

Perhaps growing impatient with the stalemate, Re=L suddenly cut in between them.

“…Hey, maybe try thinking a bit more?”

“That’s why I came up with a plan to break the situation. With Glenn here, we can aim for a slightly more sophisticated strategy.”

“Oh? Let’s hear it.”

“First, I charge the enemy head-on. Then Glenn charges the enemy head-on. Finally, Albert charges the enemy head-on. …How’s that?”

“Can you stop with that musclehead logic already!?”

“Ow.”

Exasperated, Glenn grabbed Re=L’s head and squeezed it like a vice.

“Do you have any idea how much trouble I went through after you left?”

Albert’s words, delivered flatly, carried a distinct edge of thorns.

“…Yeah, sorry. Really sorry.”

“I won’t ask why you left us without a word. I’m not saying come back, either. But… one day, you need to explain yourself. That’s the least you owe.”

“…Right.”

Albert’s words were thrown out one-sidedly, without so much as a glance at Glenn, who nodded solemnly, a rare moment of seriousness for him.

“And one day, you’ll settle things with me. That’s the least you owe.”

“No way!?”

Glenn groaned, exasperated, as Re=L stubbornly pressed on, undeterred.

“So, you don’t want to settle things later. Then now—”

“How does that even follow!? Give me a break! H-Hey, stay back!?”

Re=L, expressionless, raised a greatsword forged through alchemy and slowly closed in on him.

Glenn, sweating buckets, backed away in a panic.

“Argh, seriously, why are you so obsessed with settling things with me!?”

“I heard that in a duel between mages, the winner can make one demand of the loser.”

“Yeah, there’s that old, musty tradition! So what!?”

“…It’s because…”

Re=L faltered for a moment, caught off guard by Glenn’s desperate question.

“…I wanted Glenn… to come back… no matter what.”

For just that fleeting moment, as Re=L murmured in a voice so soft it seemed to fade away, her usually emotionless face seemed tinged with a faint trace of sorrow… or so it felt.

“…Tch, you idiot. If I died from that, it’d defeat the whole point, wouldn’t it?”

“No way Glenn would die from an attack like that.”

“You…”

Rumia, watching the exchange, let out a soft chuckle.

“Albert-san, and… Re=L-san, was it? Hehe, they’re good people, aren’t they?”

“Huh? Good people? These guys? You’ve gotta be kidding…”

Glenn could only sigh at this point.

“Whatever. Anyway, if I can meet Her Majesty directly, that’s our best shot at breaking through this mess. I’ve gotta find a way to stand before her.”

“What’s your basis for that, Glenn?”

“Dunno. But Celica told me to do it. She’s stingy and mean, but she never says anything pointless. There’s gotta be some meaning in me facing Her Majesty. Besides, we’re at a disadvantage in numbers and getting worn down. I’m betting on this.”

“Can we trust that?”

“I trust it, at least.”

“…Fine. If you say so, I’ll trust it too.”

Albert closed his eyes quietly and nodded.

“If we’re getting you two in front of Her Majesty… how should we move?”

“Let’s see—”

Glenn paused to think for a moment… then made a certain proposal to Albert and Re=L.