Chapter 4: A Deadly Struggle, the Irreconcilable Fool and Justice

Outside the city walls of Fejite’s eastern district, in the suburbs.

Unlike the refined atmosphere of the upscale residential area within the city walls, this place featured sparsely scattered wooden houses and shacks, vast stretches of green pastures, clusters of coniferous forests here and there, and ancient monoliths dotted about—a truly serene and pastoral landscape compared to the developed central district.

In a corner of this scenery—blending into the shadows of a grove—stood a lone carriage.

It was a luxurious coach, the kind owned by nobility. No horses were tethered to it. No coachman was present.

Three figures quietly approached the carriage.

One was Albert.

Another was a young man in his late teens, characterized by loose wavy hair and a cool, composed demeanor.

The last was an elderly man, muscular and robust, exuding a mischievous, almost boyish aura.

Christoph, the Hierophant, and Bernard, the Hermit.

Like Albert, the two were clad in the ceremonial robes of mages and were his colleagues from the Special Missions Annex of the Imperial Court Mage Corps.

“…There’s no mistake. My [Warding Barrier] is reacting to that carriage.”

Christoph, renowned as the foremost expert in barrier magic within the Special Missions Annex, spoke solemnly.

“Hmm… The smell of blood is indeed getting stronger.”

At the elderly Bernard’s words, Albert nodded quietly and stood before the carriage’s passenger door.

Then, while remaining vigilant of his surroundings, Albert opened the door.

Instantly, a suffocating, thick stench of blood assaulted the three.

“…Ugh.”

Despite being prepared, Christoph instinctively covered his mouth and grimaced.

The interior of the carriage was a scene from hell. A blood-soaked corpse, so mangled that its original appearance was unrecognizable, lay sprawled within. Blood had apparently gushed out like a fountain… The floor, walls, and even the ceiling of the carriage were drenched in dark, viscous blood.

“Well, well… A textbook case of an addict dying from withdrawal symptoms of [Angel Dust].”

As if accustomed to such sights, Bernard stroked his chin beard and remarked casually.

“Hmm… The skin doesn’t show the usual symptoms of an addict… It seems they hadn’t been dosed for too long.”

“I’d heard rumors, but… to think it could get this bad…”

“Speaking of which, Christoph, this is your first time dealing with a case involving [Angel Dust], isn’t it?”

At Albert’s words, Christoph nodded gravely.

“Yes… There was a similar incident before, wasn’t there? I was still a rookie back then, so I wasn’t deeply involved, but…”

“Yeah, that’s right. It was a little over a year ago.”

“That incident cost us quite a few comrades in the Special Missions Annex. All because of that one lunatic.”

Hmph. Bernard snorted in disgust.

“But… why did that person cause such an incident? They were one of us, a member of the Special Missions Annex, weren’t they?”

“Who knows? It’s impossible to say now. That guy was taken down by Glenn… and Sera.”

“Sera-san… Oh, the [Wind User]? What happened to her… was unfortunate.”

“…The dead don’t speak.”

At that moment.

Tension flashed across the three’s faces.

“Oi, you lot… You’ve noticed, haven’t you?”

“…Yes, I understand, Bernard-san.”

The three glanced around.

From somewhere, a group of people dressed in simple peasant clothing had gathered, silently surrounding Albert and his companions from a distance. Their cheeks were gaunt, their faces ashen, their eyes vacant… Their movements were oddly mechanical.

In their hands, they clutched hoes, spades, sickles, and the like… Slowly, they began to tighten their encirclement…

“Gahhh! From the looks of this situation, those guys are definitely [Angel Dust] addicts, aren’t they!? Ugh, what a pain in the ass!”

Bernard clutched his head in exasperation.

“They’re annoyingly tenacious, aren’t they?”

“The moment we investigated this carriage, this ambush… We might be closer to the truth of this case than we thought.”

“Still, this really brings back memories of that incident from a year ago. It’s practically identical in every way.”

“Enough idle chatter, old man, Christoph. We’ll figure things out later. For now, we focus on breaking through.”

With Albert’s sharp command,

The addicts charged at them all at once, moving with unbelievable agility.

Despite their corpse-like pallor, their overwhelming speed and wild, animalistic movements clearly surpassed human limits.

The countless sounds of underbrush being trampled grew closer and closer.

“Tch—”

Albert activated a pre-chanted spell with a delayed trigger, twisting his body and unleashing a double cast.

Two flashes of [Lightning Pierce] tore through the void, precisely piercing the skulls of two oncoming addicts—

Even as two fell, the addicts pressed forward without hesitation, charging at Albert and his group—

And then—

—At the same time.

In a certain location in Fejite’s western district, far from the eastern district.

In a narrow, dimly lit alley.

“Haa… Haa… Looks like we shook them off for now… Damn, that was exhausting…”

Breathing heavily, Glenn set down Sistine, whom he had been carrying in his arms.

“—!”

Suddenly, Sistine made a move to run off, as if she had steeled her resolve—

Glenn quickly reached out, grabbing her arm and pulling her back.

“Let go! Let me go! I’ve had enough of this!”

With a face on the verge of tears, Sistine screamed and flailed her limbs.

“H-Hey!? Keep it down, will you!?”

“I hate you! I’m going to marry Leos! I have to marry Leos—otherwise, Rumia—Re=L—!”

“Alright, alright, I get it. I’m on your side.”

Glenn let out a deep, exhausted sigh.

“…What?”

“I know what’s going on. To protect Rumia and Re=L… you’ve been fighting all alone, haven’t you? …You did well. Leave the rest to me.”

“—!”

Sistine’s eyes widened for a moment… Then her shoulders began to tremble, tears welling up in her eyes…

“S-Sensei… Sensei… I…! Hic… Ugh…”

Overwhelmed with emotion, Sistine clung tightly to Glenn, sobbing quietly.

Glenn let her be until she calmed down.

…Eventually.

Once Sistine had settled, Glenn got straight to the point.

“White Cat, what’s Leos’s goal?”

It was the greatest mystery of this entire affair.

“I’ve thought about all sorts of possibilities, but I’m completely stumped. At first, I suspected he might be connected to the Researchers of Heavenly Wisdom… but something feels off.”

Glenn scratched his head irritably, continuing.

“…The only remotely plausible theory, given the current state of the Kleitos family, is that by marrying you, he aims to bring the prestigious Fibel family, a cornerstone of magical tradition, under his control, giving him an advantage over the branch families. In other words…”

Suddenly, Glenn noticed Sistine looking down in silence.

“…Sorry. I wasn’t considerate enough… For you, this is…”

“…It’s fine. It’s… fine now… Please, go on…”

With a bitter expression, Glenn continued.

“…At first glance, this seems like a clever move for the main Kleitos family… but in reality, it’s the worst possible strategy. Forcing a marriage like this is bound to cause problems. Even an idiot could see that. The imperial government would undoubtedly intervene in such an arbitrary union between upper-class families. The branch families wouldn’t stay quiet either… At worst, it could spark an all-out war.”

“…That’s… true…”

“And that’s not all. If it ever came to light that he used Rumia and Re=L’s secrets as leverage to threaten you, sure, Rumia and the others would be ruined, but Leos and the Kleitos family would be finished too. For nobles who value face and honor above all else, reputation is as vital as life itself.”

“…”

“And above all, would the Fibel family—your father—ever allow such an outrage? You’re his precious heir, White Cat. …There’s no way. This isn’t something that can be brushed off as ‘bride theft’ or some trivial matter.”

Glenn shook his head, sighing repeatedly.

“…It’s as if the Kleitos family, Leos himself, doesn’t care what happens to them. This recklessness… I can’t make heads or tails of what he’s thinking. When someone schemes, they usually ensure they come out on top… but that fundamental principle doesn’t hold here…”

“…Then why would Leos go so far as to threaten me…?”

“Honestly… even accounting for all these issues, the only explanation left is that… he loves you and wants to marry you… which sounds absurd.”

“…No way. That day, when Leos suddenly changed, like he was a different person, and threatened me… I somehow knew. That man… he doesn’t love me…”

Sistine murmured, her voice tinged with loneliness and sorrow.

“…I see.”

And then.

“…Hm? …A different person?”

Something clicked.

Indeed, considering Leos’s motives and actions… the situation was utterly incomprehensible by common sense.

Leos was the one who had caused this entire uproar.

But… what if this series of events was orchestrated by someone else’s intentions? Someone who didn’t care about the fate of the Kleitos family or Sistine. That would, at least in principle, make the conspiracy logically consistent.

If such a third party was secretly pulling the strings behind this situation… what was their goal?

(People’s motives are usually hidden behind the most chaotic, high-profile parts of a situation…)

History is full of examples—wars waged in the name of gods or faith, when the real aim was the economic value of the land.

Returning to that basic principle, Glenn tried to think calmly once more.

Assuming a third party was orchestrating this situation, he organized his thoughts.

(In this whole marriage fiasco, which part has been the most dramatically affected?)

The answer was obvious: Leos, Sistine… and Glenn himself.

(…)

No matter how he looked at it, there was no trace of the third party’s motive in Leos or Sistine’s actions.

A crime driven by personal grudges against Leos or an attempt to gain something by bringing him down was possible, but… if that were the case, there’d be no need for such a convoluted scheme. Involving Sistine or Glenn would be pointless.

By process of elimination, then…

(…No way. That’s impossible… Who in the world would have the time or reason to do something so pointless…!?)

The idea was so far-fetched that Glenn shook his head—when suddenly.

“S-Sensei…! Someone’s coming…!?”

Sistine’s frightened voice rang out.

Unnoticed, the presence of others was closing in on them.

From the depths of the alley, several ordinary-looking citizens were approaching.

Every one of them had lifeless, unlit eyes and ashen faces… Armed with kitchen knives, hatchets, rolling pins, and shovels, they exuded a sickly, menacing aura.

“Who are those guys…? Leos’s pursuers…? No, more than that…”

Glenn’s eyes were fixed on the web-like veins bulging across their bodies.

That distinctive symptom…

“…No way… [Angel Dust]… End-stage addiction symptoms…!?”

“Huh?”

At the vaguely familiar term, Sistine tilted her head and looked up at Glenn… and froze.

“Why!? Why is [Angel Dust] showing up here…!?”

Glenn’s eyes were icy, chilling to the core.

Glenn himself seemed like a different person.

“Stop!”

Glenn swiftly moved his arm, drawing the pistol from his belt and taking aim.

But his warning was in vain—the addicts didn’t stop.

They quickened their pace, raising their weapons and charging straight at Glenn and Sistine.

Their hostile intent was unmistakable.

“Tch…”

Glenn clicked his tongue and holstered the gun.

If those were [Angel Dust] addicts—a few bullets wouldn’t stop them… except for one specific part of the body.

(Looks like, in trying to outsmart Leos, I’ve been played instead…)

The sudden appearance of [Angel Dust] addicts with clear hostility toward them at this exact moment… It couldn’t be a coincidence.

He had to admit it: the enemy was one step ahead.

“White Cat, run. Those are end-stage [Angel Dust] addicts. They’re like living corpses, blindly obeying the orders imprinted by their master…”

Glenn gritted his teeth in frustration.

(They’ll die without continuous doses of [Angel Dust]. But even with doses, they’ll eventually overdose and die. …There’s no way to save them.)

If there was a way to save them, it would be—…

But could he, in his current softened state, do it?

And without doing it, could he protect Sistine?

…Unaware of Glenn’s inner turmoil, Sistine asked in a panic.

“S-Sensei… What’s [Angel Dust]…? What is it?”

“Just do as I say! I’ll explain later! If those are [Angel Dust] addicts… I can’t handle them while protecting you! Go, now!”

Glenn shouted, his voice desperate.

“I-It’s fine!”

Sistine, trying to sound brave, replied.

“I don’t really get it, but they’re enemies, right!? I’ve been training under you, Sensei—I know how to fight!”

Ignoring Glenn’s warning, Sistine raised her left hand toward the approaching men.

“《O great—》”

As Sistine began chanting her spell,

The addicts suddenly sprinted forward, clearly targeting Sistine rather than Glenn—

“…Huh?”

To Sistine’s eyes, their figures seemed to vanish, only fleeting shadows at the edges of her vision.

The addicts leaped high, kicking off the narrow alley’s walls in a dizzying zigzag, closing in on Sistine from far above like a collapsing wave.

—Too fast.

The addicts’ movements, unbound by the drug’s effects, were far too swift and erratic.

She couldn’t aim, let alone track them with her eyes—

“Ah—”

Sistine could only stare in stunned silence as the men bore down on her—

“《Rush forth, wind—・》”

At that moment, Glenn began chanting a spell and leaped into action.

He kicked off a wall, soaring even higher.

In midair, he spun, delivering a whirlwind-like roundhouse kick that sent the first man crashing down.

“《Race through—・》”

At the same time, he swung his left arm, unleashing steel wires that glinted silver in the void.

The wires, slicing through the air, entangled the second man’s legs. Glenn yanked the wires with brute force, slamming the man into the wall—

“《And strike!》—!”

Finally, Glenn’s completed spell—[Gale Blow]—activated.

A ferocious gust of wind blasted the third man high into the sky.

It all happened in a single, fleeting moment as Sistine stood frozen.

“What are you doing, White Cat!?”

Landing, Glenn barked at Sistine.

Sistine flinched under his sharp, piercing gaze.

Grabbing her hand, Glenn dragged her deeper into the alley, running.

At the edge of Sistine’s vision, she saw the men Glenn had felled rising again, like zombies.

Glenn and Sistine fled—and kept running.

At every turn, new groups of addicts appeared, relentlessly pursuing them.

Amid this endless escape, sporadic battles broke out.

“Damn it—”

Glenn swung his right arm, launching throwing needles.

Two silver flashes sliced through the dim alley’s air.

The needles were etched with [Runes of Precision]. Their magical effect ensured they hit their mark unless physically deflected.

A man—another [Angel Dust] addict—about to swing an axe down on Sistine had both his eyes pierced by the needles.

“GYAAAAAAA—!?”

The addict let out a blood-curdling scream, swinging his axe wildly in a blind frenzy.

“—Eek!?”

The gruesome scene made Sistine involuntarily swallow hard.

Aiming for Sistine, another new addict lunged from the right alley, brandishing a knife at hip level and charging toward her at ferocious speed—

“Damn it—! 《O Thunder Spirit, with the shock of violet lightning—》”

Glenn swiftly stepped in, swinging his left arm.

From the glove on his left hand, a faint glimmer of silver light sparkled.

Several steel wires shot sharply through the air, wrapping around and piercing various parts of the addict’s body…

“《—Strike them down》—!”

At the same moment, the Black Magic [Shock Bolt] activated.

The electric surge raced along the steel wires, flowing directly into the addict’s body.

“GYAAAAAAAH—! AAAAAAAAH!?”

A blood-curdling scream erupted. The addict writhed in agony.

Even though it was a low-power offensive spell meant for self-defense, used this way, its potency was on a completely different level.

“Ugh, uhh… ah…”

Seeing Glenn mercilessly kick down and discard the convulsing addict, Sistine instinctively took a step back…

And without even a moment to catch her breath.

“““SHAAAAAAA—!”””

More addicts emerged from the alley’s depths, rushing toward Sistine, ignoring Glenn as if he didn’t even exist.

“W-Why are they only after me—!?”

“Tch—”

With a reluctant expression, Glenn turned back, pulling an explosive crystal from his pocket. He scratched the “Sealed Explosion Rune” carved on its surface with a knife and hurled it toward the addicts.

The next instant, a deafening blast roared.

The thrown explosive crystal detonated, the shockwave and blast shaking a corner of the alley.

Since he’d used a small explosive crystal with low destructive power, there were no fatalities—but several addicts, their limbs twisted in unnatural directions from the impact, writhed on the ground.

“Ah, ah… aah…”

Sistine’s eyes were glued to the horrific scene, desperately suppressing the nausea welling up inside her.

“What are you standing around for!? This way!”

Roughly grabbing Sistine’s hand, Glenn broke into a run.

They dashed through the maze of crisscrossing alleys, pursued by wave after wave of emerging addicts, running aimlessly with no destination in sight.

As Glenn was about to turn right at a T-junction just ahead…

“—!?”

He spotted several addicts aimlessly wandering down that path.

Clicking his tongue, Glenn abandoned the right path and veered into the left one.

“…Tch, this one’s a dead end…! Damn it!”

This wasn’t the first time this had happened.

The patterns of the addicts’ attacks, the placements of their ambushes… at first, they seemed random, but after repeated assaults and ambushes, Glenn realized something.

They were clearly being lured somewhere, guided by someone’s deliberate intent.

For now, Glenn had no way to resist it. Every ambush and attack was perfectly calibrated with just enough numbers that he couldn’t break through while protecting Sistine.

And for some reason, the addicts only targeted Sistine. They ignored Glenn entirely, obsessively attacking only her.

(Damn it… why…? Why are they only after White Cat…!?)

The addicts were terrifyingly resilient.

Their pain receptors were nearly numb, rendering them impervious to ordinary pain or injury.

As a result, Glenn had no choice but to resort to brutally ruthless attacks.

(Tch… this situation… it’s making me remember that time…!)

Thinking back, it had been like this then, too.

A little over a year ago, during the “Angel Dust” incident in the imperial capital.

Back then, separated from his allies by the enemy’s schemes, Glenn and Sera had fought their way through the capital’s alleys, fending off wave after wave of “Angel Dust” addicts—

And then.

In that battle, Sera had—

“—!”

As Glenn pulled her along, Sistine followed with her head bowed, desperately keeping up. Her figure vividly, inescapably overlapped with the image of the woman he’d once sworn to protect.

(Damn it—I won’t let it happen…! I won’t let it happen again…!)

His emotions surged, and a grim resolve piled up within Glenn, who had no room for composure. This made his attacks increasingly ferocious, violent, and devoid of mercy.

Three more addicts appeared ahead.

As expected, they paid no attention to Glenn and charged straight for Sistine—

“Tch—!”

Clenching his fist, Glenn rushed toward the three oncoming attackers—

(Damn it… remember who I was back then! The soft, half-assed me now… I’ll fail to protect her again…! I need that feeling from back then… not as a sensei, but as a mage…!)

Fortunately, it seemed Glenn hadn’t completely forgotten his mage self.

“Shi—!”

Dodging their attacks, Glenn drew a knife as he passed the lunging men.

A glint of light traced along the blade.

An arc was drawn, a straight slash burst forth, and a sharp angle countered—the blade’s gleam danced through the air, flashing four times.

With masterful skill, Glenn slashed the addicts.

The knife was enchanted with a curse that heightened pain sensitivity.

Thus, the excruciating, magical pain that resonated directly with their souls—rather than physical pain—drew throat-tearing screams as the addicts writhed on the ground…

(Yes… this is it…!)

As a mage, every enemy he defeated sharpened and reclaimed more of his old self.

Feeling himself gradually return to that time, Glenn inwardly smirked…

(…Sorry… you guys…)

Even as he smirked, a sickening aftertaste welled up—heavy enough to make him want to vomit.

These addicts were likely ordinary, innocent people to begin with. The mastermind behind this incident had probably forcibly administered “Angel Dust” to them, ordering them to attack Glenn and Sistine.

Once dosed with “Angel Dust,” these people were biologically alive but effectively dead as humans. They could never return to normal, nor be saved. They could only live as someone’s puppets, devoid of emotion or sentiment, until they succumbed to withdrawal or terminal addiction symptoms.

And so, Glenn was forced to choose between those who could no longer be saved and those who still could.

The magic he’d once learned to save everyone now forced him to abandon some to save others. The magic he’d loved was turning into something he despised…

As his mage self returned, so too did the contradictions and conflicts he’d nearly forgotten.

(—Damn it—!)

Cursing under his breath, Glenn faced the next wave of enemies—

—Meanwhile.

At that moment, Sistine Fibel had completely lost any will to assist Glenn or fight alongside him.

Because… the Glenn right now was utterly terrifying.

The Glenn who fought with such desperation, cornered and using any means necessary, lacked any trace of the reassurance she’d felt when they’d fought together before.

He harmed human-shaped beings without hesitation, like an entirely different person, utterly frightening.

(I’m sorry, I’m so sorry… Sensei…! I—)

Pathetically… even though Glenn was protecting her, Sistine was so terrified of his fighting figure that she’d lost all will to fight.

She’d never felt so pathetic, so useless.

But her heart was chained by fear, her limbs powerless, her mouth trembling, unable to even chant a single spell.

The more he fought, the more Glenn seemed to transform into something else, something she didn’t know.

Glenn had once said:

Magic was, in the end, nothing more than a tool for killing.

His current fighting style lent overwhelming persuasiveness to that statement.

For now, he hadn’t killed anyone… but at this rate, it wouldn’t be surprising if he did.

(This… this isn’t Sensei…!)

So Sistine could only clutch her head, close her eyes, and bow her head, escaping reality.

(Because the Sensei I know… he’s an idiot, a good-for-nothing…! But deep down, he’s kind… and no matter what, he cares about his students…! Even if it’s to protect me… he shouldn’t be someone who fights so coldly, so heartlessly…!)

She couldn’t even realize that this was her own selfish projection, her own wishful thinking.

—And then, it happened.

“White Cat, what are you spacing out for!? Behind—!”

“…Huh?”

At Glenn’s urgent shout, Sistine snapped her head up and turned around.

There, an addict was raising a cleaver toward her—

“Ah…”

Sistine cursed her own carelessness. In a life-or-death situation… how could she have been so negligent of her surroundings?

She noticed that, at some point, the distance between her and Glenn had widened.

Glenn’s support wouldn’t reach her in time.

And her fear-frozen mouth couldn’t even form the first syllable of a spell.

It was over.

The cleaver swung down mercilessly with a whoosh. Sistine could only stare blankly at the strike that would likely split her head in two—

—At that moment.

A deafening thunderclap rang out, echoing endlessly off the alley walls.

In an instant, the addict’s head snapped back with a thud.

With a splatter, like a bursting tomato, a vivid red blood flower bloomed.

The scattering red spray stained Sistine’s cheek, her pure white dress…

“Wha—?”

A hoarse sound escaped Sistine’s throat.

Ash Powder—a propellant Glenn had crafted himself, made from black powder (niter, charcoal, sulfur) mixed with alchemical reagents like white flame cotton and ice crystal water, ritually enhanced for magical potency.

With its explosion, the bullet fired from the gun Glenn had drawn in a split second had pierced the addict’s forehead with unerring accuracy.

Thud.

Like a puppet with cut strings, the addict collapsed and fell face-down.

Blood poured from the hole in their forehead.

Glenn stood, gun raised, its barrel smoking, his eyes dark and hollow.

“Ah, ah, aah… AAAH…!?”

Her mind—went blank.

Because just now.

Glenn—right in front of her—had finally killed someone, killed, killed—

“White Cat!”

With a demonic expression, Glenn charged toward her… and Sistine instinctively recoiled.

“That was close—!”

Ignoring her reaction, Glenn tackled the frozen Sistine, scooping her up with one arm.

It was truly a split-second save.

A half-instant later, the spot where Sistine had stood was pierced by a barrage of knives and cleavers from addicts who’d leapt down from the buildings above.

“Tch—!? One after another—!?”

Holding Sistine in one arm, Glenn dashed through the narrow alley like a gale.

Occasionally glancing back, he raised his pistol, thumbed back the hammer, and pulled the trigger.

One shot, then two rang out—

The pursuing addicts had their knees shot through, collapsing one by one.

At the same time, Sistine’s vision began to warp and twist… she felt like vomiting.

(Sen… sei…)

That moment when Glenn had shot through the addict’s head.

It felt as though Glenn had crossed into a world fatally different from hers.

And so.

The two of them, driven by countless addicts, raced through Fejite—

Until they finally reached the outskirts of Fejite’s West District—the Old Residential Quarter.

Unlike the New Residential Quarter in the same West District, this area was completely deserted.

Due to Fejite’s population growth measures and the need to reorganize the overly complex layout from older times, this was a restricted zone slated for major redevelopment soon.

A ghost town of old-fashioned buildings from two or three generations ago, lined along intricate, winding streets.

In one corner, near a dried-up, moss-covered fountain plaza—Glenn and Sistine stood.

“Haa… haa… looks like we shook them… no, we were lured here, huh…”

Breathing heavily, Glenn muttered irritably.

It was now obvious that a third party, pulling all the strings behind Leos, was at play.

Everything about this was infuriating. The orchestrator likely knew that targeting Sistine would force Glenn to protect her and was exploiting that fact.

“Now, what to do…”

Regardless, this onslaught of addicts had completely derailed Glenn’s plans.

But they couldn’t stay still. This place was dangerous.

They needed to find somewhere to hide.

“…White Cat, let’s go. This spot’s too exposed. We need somewhere safer…”

As Glenn reached to pull Sistine, who stood silently with her head bowed, his hand extended toward her… that’s when it happened.

“…!? D-Don’t touch me…!”

Sistine flinched and took a step back from Glenn.

“…Ah… I-I’m sor… ry…”

It seemed to be an unconscious reaction. Realizing what she’d done, Sistine’s face filled with regret, looking as though she might burst into tears.

“White Cat…?”

At first, Glenn seemed confused about why Sistine had pulled away from him.

But… seeing her faintly trembling lips, shoulders, knees… he finally understood.

“You… are you… scared of me…?”

“…!”

Her trembling shoulders and tightly shut eyes, her silent reaction, spoke louder than words.

“I see… yeah, that’s right…”

For a moment, Glenn’s tense, fierce expression softened into something faintly wistful. He looked apologetic, sad, and turned away.

“…I scared you, huh… Sorry.”

Those words squeezed Sistine’s heart.

“…Fighting with these damn brutal magic tools and weapons… that’s who I was as a mage… I’m not saying you have to accept it, but… just bear with me a little longer, okay?”

To Glenn’s murmur, Sistine remained silent, head bowed.

She said nothing. She didn’t respond.

But even so, Glenn continued.

“I’m… on your side. That much… please believe…”

Turning his back to Sistine, he muttered softly.

Facing Glenn’s back, which somehow seemed so small and frail.

(…I’m the worst… how… weak am I…!)

Sistine felt like cursing herself to death with regret.

She knew. She understood everything.

Why Glenn had fought with such brutal methods.

Why Glenn had finally killed someone in front of her.

(It was all… to protect me…!)

She knew that. She understood it completely.

(But… why can’t I say anything to Sensei…!? Why can’t this trembling stop…!? Why—!)

Because she’d seen it.

That moment when Glenn had shot through the addict’s head.

At the edge of her vision, she’d caught it.

For just an instant, Glenn’s face had twisted in unbearable sadness and regret—beneath the cold mask, the fleeting scream of his heart.

Yet, even knowing that, she was still so terrified of Glenn right now.

Her patheticness, her wretchedness, her cowardice brought tears to her eyes—

(No, Sistine…! Be brave! If I can’t say something to Sensei now… I’ll regret it forever!)

Mustering every ounce of courage, she steeled herself. Forcing down her near-hyperventilating breaths, wiping her eyes, Sistine turned to face Glenn.

“Sen, sei…”

“…What is it?”

“Um… I’m… sor… ry… I…”

But.

The very moment Sistine tried to weave her words.

Sistine’s breath caught. She couldn’t breathe.

Because… all of a sudden, Glenn’s face twisted into a terrifying expression, far beyond anything before, as he sharply glared at something behind Sistine.

“A… uh…”

The instant she saw it, the last scraps of her courage shattered into pieces.

Unaware of Sistine’s state.

Clap, clap, clap, clap…

Out-of-place applause echoed from behind…

“Well done, Glenn. You protected that little girl to the very end, didn’t you? As expected, you’re the ultimate enemy I must defeat. …It has to be you.”

Approaching leisurely while cheerfully spouting such words was that person…

“Le… Leos…?”

He looked like him, but something was off. A sense of unease. His tone was different. His demeanor was different.

“…You’re pissing me off, you bastard. Enough pretending to be Leos.”

Glenn spat the words coldly, as if thrusting them away.

“Hurry up and drop that transformation, show your true self. Let’s put an end to this damn farce, shall we?”

“Oh? As expected, you figured out my true identity, didn’t you?”

“When you’ve been dropping hints this blatant… Hell, you weren’t even trying to hide it, were you?”

Glenn clicked his tongue and continued.

Sistine, unable to grasp the situation, could only nervously glance between Glenn and Leos’s faces.

“Leos, that jerk, and White Cat—nobody benefits from this situation. The ‘coincidence’ that no one can side with me is too perfect. The ‘Angel Dust,’ a lost mystic art. The reenactment of an incident caused by a certain bastard over a year ago, down to the meticulous detail of even preparing a stand-in for Sera. And… that Tulpa.”

The one posing as Leos grinned slyly.

“Thinking back, I should’ve realized with that Tulpa… Angel Dust, Tulpa Summoning—both are near-forbidden, ultra-advanced alchemy. But I knew a certain bastard who mastered both, didn’t I?! Unless that bastard was pulling the strings behind the scenes, there’s no way all these ‘coincidences’ would align like this! I still can’t believe it… but if that’s the case… every bit of this convenient nonsense starts to make sense…!”

“W-What… does that mean…?”

Sistine asked in a trembling voice.

“This whole string of incidents… it’s not the work of the Researchers of Heavenly Wisdom, nor was it aimed at Rumia, or even you. It was nothing like that… The target… was me. From the very start… it was all aimed at me, personally.”

“…Huh?”

“Isn’t that right? The mastermind behind that horrific incident over a year ago, when ‘Angel Dust’ was used to slaughter key imperial officials and high-ranking military mages one after another… Former member of the Imperial Court Mage Corps’ Special Missions Annex—Executive Number 11, The Justice, Jatice Lowfan!”

Then, the man posing as Leos snapped his fingers… and the transformation magic cloaking him was dispelled.

Like ripples spreading across water, Leos’s form wavered… and in the next moment.

Before Glenn and Sistine stood a young man, entirely different from Leos.

A youth wearing a tall hat pulled low over his eyes. A ribbon tie, gloves, and a lean, tall frame like Glenn’s. The frock coat he wore was familiar.

That youth had been the coachman driving Leos’s carriage.

And then—the youth removed his hat.

His features, revealed for the first time, were striking. Narrow, almond-shaped eyes and hair both ashen gray. Pale skin. His face was reasonably handsome, but unlike Leos’s sweet charm, it exuded a sharp, cold cruelty—an aggressive beauty.

“—Correct answer.”

The youth—Jatice, now revealed—smiled chillingly as he spoke.

“It’s been a while, Glenn. You can’t imagine how long I’ve awaited this day, to face you again like this.”

Who is he?

Where’s the real Leos?

Before such thoughts could form…

He’s dangerous, she thought.

Don’t get involved in this, she thought.

The moment Sistine laid eyes on Jatice, her instincts screamed.

Jatice’s icy eyes gleamed with a manic, feverish madness—yet his demeanor was eerily calm, as if a weight had lifted from him. A serene stillness, like a saint who had attained enlightenment. A warped duality, as if he’d fallen into madness while still clinging to sanity… It stirred boundless unease in Sistine.

“JATIIIIICE—!”

Glenn, momentarily lost in the sight of Jatice, snapped back and roared.

“You bastard!? How are you alive!? I know I killed you back then! Why!? How the hell did you crawl out of your grave!?”

“Hmph, does that really matter? What’s more important is that I, Jatice Lowfan, am still very much alive. Though—”

Jatice twisted his lips into a mocking sneer.

“I understand why the ‘why’ matters to you. After all, this moment means Sera’s death was in vain…”

“You…!”

Glenn fought desperately to suppress the urge to charge at Jatice and punch him.

“…Huh? What? What’s going on? Who is that guy? What happened to Leos…?”

“It was all that bastard’s setup,” Glenn spat bitterly toward the shaken and flustered Sistine.

“Leos showing up at the academy, flirting with you, me picking a fight and causing the duel fiasco, all the chaos leading to me kidnapping White Cat from the wedding venue and ending up in this isolated place where no one can interfere… It was all this bastard’s plan. Everything went exactly as he wanted.”

“Huh!? What’s that supposed to mean!? T-That’s absurd…! There’s no way people would just move according to someone’s schemes like that…!”

“Yeah, normally, that’d be true. But not with this bastard.”

Glenn ground his teeth.

“He completely analyzes and calculates the behavior patterns of everyone involved, predicting their actions with near-prophetic accuracy. Based on that damn prediction, he writes hundreds of scenarios for every possible action we could take, all leading to the outcome he wants. We just followed one of the hundreds of scenarios he prepared…”

“T-That’s… impossible…”

“But that’s exactly what this bastard can do…! It’s probably tied to his still-mysterious original magic, but…”

As Glenn glared at Jatice with fiery intensity, Jatice smiled. It was the smile of someone receiving heartfelt praise from a dear friend.

“Wait, hold on… T-Then, what happened to Leos…?”

“He’s dead.”

Jatice answered, his tone as casual as if discussing yesterday’s meal, despite the deranged nature of his words.

“The moment he was dosed with ‘Angel Dust,’ he was already dead as a person… But biologically, he passed just recently… from withdrawal symptoms after the drug ran out. Right after the Magical Corps Battle ended.”

“No… T-Then, the person I thought was Leos these past few days…”

At Sistine’s murmur, Jatice shrugged and smiled.

“The beauty of ‘Angel Dust’ is that, by adjusting the dosage and administration, you can make someone act out their original personality perfectly while controlling them. Thanks to that, he moved exactly as I wanted… I can’t thank him enough.”

“Ah…”

Sistine’s vision warped and twisted violently.

As she nearly collapsed to her knees, Glenn instinctively caught her.

“Even seeing you now, I can’t believe you’re alive… But fine, doesn’t matter. I’ll send you back to the grave soon enough.”

Glenn quietly cocked the hammer of the pistol tucked into his belt behind his back.

“More importantly, tell me. What’s your goal? Going through all this convoluted crap, dragging White Cat into it, and setting me up…”

“…”

“You used Leos, doped up on drugs, to provoke me, made me fight, created a situation where I had no choice but to kidnap White Cat, isolated me completely, and lured me to a place like this… What the hell are you after?”

“…”

“Oh, I get it. Revenge, huh? Yeah, that makes sense. I did kill you once, after all. Fine by me. It’s a pathetic grudge, but if you’re here for revenge—”

At that moment.

“…Revenge? Revenge!?”

Jatice, who had been composed until now, suddenly furrowed his brow and transformed.

“Don’t screw with me! Are you trying to insult me, Glenn…!?”

His furious expression made Sistine’s throat tighten as she stumbled back.

That’s it. It’s the same as before.

The same look he had when he suspected Leos of being with the Researchers of Heavenly Wisdom.

“As if I would stoop to something as vulgar, meaningless, and utterly unproductive as that…!?”

“Hah… Then why the hell did you go through all this roundabout nonsense?”

Glenn clicked his tongue scornfully, and Jatice, now calm again, replied with a gentle expression.

“For justice.”

“…Huh?”

Glenn’s jaw dropped, dumbfounded.

“By the way, Glenn… Do you know why I caused that incident over a year ago?”

Leaving the bewildered Glenn behind, Jatice spoke proudly.

“For justice.”

What the hell? This guy… Glenn and Sistine’s faces eloquently conveyed their speechless shock.

Ignoring them, Jatice’s operatic monologue continued.

“You probably don’t know, but this empire… it must be destroyed. This empire is a demonic nation created under some evil will. It’s a country that shouldn’t exist in this world. At some point, I realized… the truth of this world.”

He gestured theatrically, piling on words…

“I realized what true evil is… Once I saw it, I couldn’t pretend to ignore it. That would make me a hypocrite, wouldn’t it? My justice wouldn’t allow that.”

He placed his left hand on his chest, swung his right arm wide, and struck a dramatic pose.

“…”

“So, over a year ago, I executed justice. I decided to eliminate the hypocrites propping up this nation, one by one, to eventually destroy it from within. It was like a drop in the bucket, but good deeds start with what you can do, right?”

“…”

“But you stood in my way. And… my justice was defeated by your justice…! You surpassed even my perfect behavioral predictions and beat me…!”

Clenching his fist as if in conflict, Jatice shouted toward the heavens…

“Is my justice so weak!? I learned of true evil, awakened as the Mage of Justice, and swore to dedicate my soul to it…! Was it so feeble that it could be defeated by your justice, The Fool, who knows nothing…!? No, absolutely not…!”

With sharp movements and light steps, he circled tightly…

“…”

“So, Glenn, this isn’t ‘revenge.’ It’s a ‘challenge’ to you.”

He flung his coat dramatically and turned back to face Glenn.

“My justice versus your justice—which is superior? I’ll prove that my defeat back then was a fluke… through this battle with you. I’ll prove that my justice is the true one, rooted in sincerity.”

“…”

“Yes! I’ll defeat you… and become the true Mage of Justice…!”

…Silence. Bewilderment. Stillness.

And then…

“You’re such a damn cringe-fest…”

Glenn groaned, seething with contempt and rage.

“I’m sure that’s how it seems to you… But that’s only because you don’t know the ‘truth’ of this nation.”

Jatice shrugged, flashing a smug smile.

“…So, what? Leos… that guy was a jerk, but he didn’t deserve to die. Doping him up with drugs and killing him—that’s your justice?”

“Yes, it’s justice.”

Jatice’s tone was filled with unshakable confidence.

“He became a cornerstone to prove my unwavering justice, which will one day save the entire world as the true Mage of Justice. It’s tragic, but… a necessary sacrifice. The Lord will surely remember him in the heavenly kingdom.”

“The addicts who attacked us… they were ordinary citizens with no crimes or connections. Doping them up, using them, and letting them die—that’s justice?”

“Yes, it’s justice.”

Jatice’s tone held not a shred of doubt in his own words.

“No matter how sinful or bloodstained the path, if it leads to an ideal, it’s the right path. Isn’t that so?”

His smile, declaring this without hesitation, was endlessly bright and resolute.

“…And targeting White Cat, who has nothing to do with our feud…!”

“Yes, it’s justice.”

“You… how dare you say that so shamelessly…!?”

“But thanks to that, you’ve made significant progress rehabilitating as a mage, haven’t you? This is a sacred ritual… Defeating the softened, complacent you from this lukewarm world would be meaningless. Defeating the razor-sharp you from back then—that’s what matters…”

Then, Jatice began to laugh, his shoulders shaking.

“That girl who resembles Sera… You must’ve been flooded with old memories, right? To protect her, you desperately tried to reclaim your old instincts, didn’t you? I recreated the exact situation from when Sera died! I believed you’d fight with everything you had! Heh… hehehe… Hahahahahahahaha—!”

“For that…!? Just for that… you orchestrated this entire charade from scratch…!? Just to fight me as a mage… dragging in everyone around, even unrelated people, everything…!?”

“Yes, all of it… for justice!”

“There’s no such justice—!”

“No, this is justice—!”

As Glenn roared, Jatice bellowed back with equal fervor.

“Glenn, I’ll tell you! When I learned the truth of this nation and world… I also discovered the existence of a power that dominates all the laws of the world—yes, the [Akashic Records]!”

“W-What—!?”

“But that power is far beyond human comprehension! It’s not something people should touch! Only those who are absolutely righteous are worthy of it! If it falls into evil hands, the world will perish!”

“Such a power…”

“Yes, exactly! No need to think twice! You probably thought the same just now, but it’s a power I must control!”

“…”

“But I question myself… Am I truly worthy of it right now?”

“…”

“After all, my justice was once defeated by yours. Does someone like me have the right to touch the [Akashic Records]? No, absolutely not! The world may accept it, but I won’t!”

“…”

“Thus! I’ll defeat you, prove my unwavering white justice, and earn the right to wield the [Akashic Records]! With that power, I’ll become the Mage of Justice, destroy this evil nation, eradicate the Researchers of Heavenly Wisdom, and build true peace in the world!”

“…”

“Do you understand, Glenn!? All the evil in this world will be judged and annihilated by my hand, the true Absolute Justice! As long as I exist, I won’t allow a single speck of ‘evil’ in this world! I’ll bleach it pure white! A total purge!”

And with eyes radiating a divine intensity, Jatice stared straight at Glenn—and boldly declared.

“If this isn’t justice—then what is!?”

Insane, unhinged, mad, deranged, broken… If you had to describe Jatice in one word, that’s it. There’s nothing else.

But more than that—terrifying.

There’s no doubt Jatice is a madman. A human ‘disconnected’ from normalcy, living in a realm incomprehensible to ordinary people. What else could you call such a person but a madman?

Yet this madman possesses intelligence and power far beyond ordinary humans, pursuing his warped sense of justice and conviction with clear purpose and meticulous planning, charging straight toward an incomprehensible goal. And he doesn’t even realize he’s the blackest evil of all.

This man, Jatice, is an irredeemable madman… yet also a kind of ultimate seeker, akin to a saint. That’s why he acts without hesitation or doubt.

Is there anything more terrifying than this? —No, there isn’t.

“…Ah… ah… aah…!”

Scary. Scary. Scary—

Facing Jatice, Sistine trembled from the core of her being.

In terms of raw fear, the depraved mages Sistine had encountered before—like Reik or Jin—pale in comparison. Their motives were extensions of human desires, still within the realm of comprehension.

But Jatice? Sistine couldn’t understand him at all. The primal fear of the incomprehensible tore her heart to shreds.

At that moment.

“…White Cat. I’m sorry.”

Suddenly, Glenn muttered an apology.

“…Sensei…?”

Sistine looked at Glenn.

His eyes were still chillingly dark and cold… but somehow, tinged with sadness.

“…I dragged you into this mess. I never imagined… I’d have to face my past like this… Those old debts would come back to haunt me… Damn it…”

“!?”

Those weakly murmured words filled Sistine with a fierce sense of dread.

This is bad.

Something’s wrong.

The current Glenn was dangerously unsteady.

“White Cat, get out of here.”

“…Huh?”

“That Freedom Loopy’s target is me. Now that it’s come to this, he probably doesn’t even see anyone else. …Right?”

“Of course.”

Jatice answered Glenn’s question as if it were obvious.

“In fact, could you disappear from our sight as soon as possible, Sistine? Your role is over… If you interfere with my battle with Glenn… I’ll kill you.”

“Eek—!”

Pierced by Jatice’s icy gaze, Sistine trembled from her soul once more.

“But I should thank you. Thanks to you, who’s so much like Sera… Glenn ‘came back.’ Without you, this plan wouldn’t have worked…”

“White Cat, go! This isn’t a world you belong in anymore! A world where desires are forced through with power, where others are eliminated for self-justice—a world of true mages!”

A mage bends the laws of the world with magic to fulfill their desires—that’s the essence of a mage. Nothing more, nothing less.

Those who selfishly impose their will through sheer force, turning it into reason, are mages in the truest, primal sense… And in that sense, Jatice was undeniably a true mage.

Faced with the cold reality of mages, Sistine’s rationality teetered on the brink of collapse…

And with Glenn’s sharp command, it was as if she’d been kicked in the back.

“~~~~ !”

Sistine turned on her heel and fled the scene like a startled rabbit.

“…Stay safe.”

Muttering softly, Glenn faced Jatice once more.

“Alright, let’s do this.”

Glenn lowered his stance slightly, readying himself…

“Alright, let’s begin.”

Jatice crosses both gloved hands in front of his face.

“My justice and your justice. Which one reigns supreme…”

“Shut up, I don’t care. …But I’m gonna kill you. For Sera’s sake.”

“…That’s the spirit.”

The plaza burns in the twilight. Two shadows stretch long across the ground.

“I just recalled the words of an ancient mage… ‘If you desire, cast the desires of others into the furnace.’ …You were quite the mage yourself, weren’t you?”

“…”

A breeze, faintly carrying the night’s chill, passes between the two facing each other… The tension in the air continues to rise without limit…

And then.

The moment that tension reaches its breaking point…

“—?!”

Glenn draws his gun at ferocious speed, taking aim—

Jatice, with a motion like that of a coiled spring unleashed, swings both arms.

…

There, in that moment, was the image of the righteous mages of old.

A mage’s battle—staking everything for what they desire—was unfolding right here, right now.

“Glenn—!”

As Glenn dashes across his line of sight, Jatice swings his arm upward.

Alchemical reagents and pseudo-etheric particle powder scatter from his gloves.

They project and materialize the divine demons lurking in Jatice’s deep subconscious field into reality.

In the next instant, a Tulpa [Her Left Hand] appears behind Jatice.

The spirit, a bizarre figure of a left hand gripping a golden sword, is somehow blasphemous and ghastly.

Countless such left hands manifest behind Jatice, raising their swords in unison, charging at Glenn with zigzag, unrestrained high-speed maneuvers—

“Tch—!”

While running, Glenn aims his gun with his right hand, fanning the hammer with his left.

Gunshots, gunshots, gunshots, gunshots—full burst.

The fired bullets streak through the air, shooting down the incoming [Her Left Hand] spirits one after another.

With sounds like shattering glass, Leos’s illusions break apart and dissipate into mist.

Without sparing them a glance, Glenn kicks off the ground, leaping from the main street into an alley.

Using his momentum, he rolls swiftly across the ground, springs up, slams his back against a wall—and with fluid, rapid movements, begins reloading his empty revolver.

 

He pulls out the barrel wedge, detaches the barrel from the frame, drops the spent cylinder, attaches a pre-loaded spare cylinder he’d been holding in his left hand, reassembles the barrel to the frame, and slides the wedge back in—

“Hiding’s pointless—!”

Jatice swings his arm, summoning a Tulpa [Her Rage].

A spirit in the bizarre form of a bunch of grapes with a pair of wings dives into the alley where Glenn hides, bursting—and causing a massive explosion.

A violent wave of heat and flames roars through the alley, engulfing it entirely.

A dense, magma-like blaze. In an instant, the alley becomes a scorching hell.

Caught in it, one would burn to ashes in a heartbeat, leaving nothing behind.

But Glenn, anticipating this, had already begun chanting Black Magic [Gravity Control], manipulating gravity to leap high into the air.

Tap, tap, tap!

With crisp sounds, Glenn kicks off the alley walls, alternating left and right, climbing upward—

Landing atop a nearby old bell tower, he immediately rains gunfire down on Jatice below.

Gunshots.

Lines of fire slice sharply through the twilight.

“Hmph!”

Jatice responds, swinging his arm.

Instantly, a right hand holding a scale appears before him—Tulpa [Her Right Hand].

The bullets Glenn fired are caught by an invisible force just before touching the scale, their trajectories unnaturally twisted, veering off course—

In that split second, an angel wielding a massive executioner’s sword appears behind Jatice, spreading its wings and soaring toward Glenn above at breakneck speed.

Tulpa [Her Messenger: Beheading].

The whirlwind from its wings surges from the ground to the sky.

“Tch—”

In an instant, the angel overtakes Glenn from above.

Mechanically, mercilessly, the angel swings its sword.

A flurry of countless blade winds, unleashed in a single breath, assaults Glenn.

“Damn—!”

Glenn instinctively kicks off the roof, leaping off the bell tower.

In that moment, the tower’s top, caught in the shockwave of the slashes, crumbles into scattered stone fragments.

The angel, having fulfilled its role, dissipates and vanishes—

“Not done yet!”

Without missing a beat, Jatice swings his arm again.

Glowing powder spills from his gloves.

A Tulpa [Her Messenger: Firing Squad] appears.

Six angels, each wielding a musket, materialize around Leos, surrounding him—aiming their muzzles at Glenn and firing in unison.

Countless lines of fire converge on Glenn.

In midair, Glenn has no way to dodge—

“《O silver ice wolf—》”

While falling, Glenn chants a spell, pulling a scroll from his pocket and unfurling it before him.

Instantly, the runes etched on the scroll glow red-hot—

In the next moment, a hexagonal honeycomb-patterned magical barrier deploys before Glenn, deflecting the bullets—

Discarding the scroll as it turns to ash, having lost its magical power, Glenn completes the spell he’d begun chanting.

“《—clad in blizzard, charge through!》—!”

A howling storm of icy air surges forth.

A torrent of ice shards and freezing blizzard roars, hammering Jatice from above.

“As expected, you’re good—”

Jatice rubs his right fist with his left hand, like striking a match.

Glowing powder scatters.

An angel wreathed in flames appears—Tulpa [Her Messenger: Burning].

The fiery angel stands before the oncoming blizzard, its flaming wings flapping, unleashing a fierce storm of flames that neutralizes Glenn’s blizzard.

The battlefield is instantly obscured by flames and snow.

In that moment, something glints at the edge of Jatice’s vision.

“Heh… As always, you don’t miss a trick…”

Jatice catches the object—a needle inscribed with a homing rune, flung by Glenn and hidden among the ice shards—pinching it between his index and middle fingers.

Grinning with delight, he discards the needle and breaks into a sprint.

Landing on the ground, Glenn immediately gives chase.

Jatice, placing a hand on the shoulder of a summoned angel, takes flight, landing atop a nearby building’s roof.

Glenn, manipulating gravity with magic, leaps after him, landing on another nearby roof.

The two race across rooftops, keeping a fixed distance between them.

Unfazed by the unstable footing and steep inclines, they move with breathtaking agility, darting and weaving—

“Hahahahaha! That’s it! You’ve got to be like this!”

Leaping from roof to roof, Jatice shouts.

“There are countless mages stronger than you! But you’re the only one! With such weakness… with such clumsy magic… you’re the mage who keeps winning, upholding your justice!”

Racing across the rooftops, Jatice’s face lights up with ecstatic laughter—and he leaps again.

“A strong mage upholding their justice is only natural! That’s the law of mages! But you’re different! You’re the exception! I respect you! I offer you the greatest respect a man like me can give!”

And then, pseudo-etheric particle powder spills from his gloves, carried by the wind—

“You fight a hundred battles and lose ninety-nine, but you always seize that one victory first! With tricks so childish they barely qualify as magic, you still win! You win and keep upholding your justice!”

Ignoring Jatice’s ravings, Glenn kicks off a spire, pressing forward.

“This is incredible! It’s practically a miracle! It defies the mage’s law that might equals justice—an act beyond reason!”

Once again, [Her Left Hand] appears behind Jatice.

“Be proud, Glenn! Your justice is surely protected by some grand, unknowable will! If there’s a chosen one in this world—I believe it’s you!”

The golden sword wielded by [Her Left Hand] glints ominously—

“And so—by defeating your justice with my own, my justice will rise to greater heights! This is a feat only you can achieve!”

“Quit your blabbering—!”

Glenn swiftly slides down a steep roof, kicks off the edge, and leaps to the next building’s roof.

In midair, driven by raw emotion, he draws his gun, aims at the parallel-running Jatice, and fires wildly.

“If we’re gonna kill each other—just shut up and do it!”

The gun’s muzzle roars repeatedly. Muzzle flashes flicker.

The barrage of bullets rains down on Jatice.

In that instant, [Her Left Hand]—moves.

In a flash, its sword swings six times, slicing through every incoming bullet.

The overwhelming sword pressure surges in all directions, scattering outward.

Buildings, slashed to pieces, collapse in ruins…

Unlike the semi-autonomous ‘angels’ that act on commands, ‘She’ is entirely under Jatice’s control. Thus, it was a display of Jatice’s fearsome swordsmanship.

“Seriously, who’s talking about justice!? Just how much have I had to sacrifice—”

“Huh? Are you an idiot? The important thing is the result—‘destroying evil.’ That’s unshakable justice, isn’t it!?”

Jatice leaps, kicking off a building’s wall, then leaps again, advancing.

Following suit, Glenn kicks off a chimney, landing on the next roof, sprinting.

“Before that justice, the process doesn’t matter! A few sacrifices are irrelevant! If there’s an ideal to strive for, everything is forgiven—that’s why you’re undoubtedly justice! The justice I acknowledge! By continually defeating hopeless enemies, you’ve proven it!”

“Don’t screw with me…! You need to die!”

“Yes, that’s it! Come at me with everything, Glenn! Defeating you at your fullest is what matters!”

Jatice swings his arm wide.

[Her Left Hand] raises its sword high—and swings it down like a bolt of lightning.

A vertical slash—unleashing a massive vacuum wave.

The enormous sword pressure surges fiercely toward Glenn, running parallel.

The sword’s reach extends far beyond its blade, flying straight and true—literally splitting the redevelopment district in two.

The ground rumbles, buildings scream as they collapse, and a massive cloud of dust rises in a cataclysmic disaster—

“Tch—!?”

Glenn narrowly avoids it by leaping off the building.

Toward him, six [Her Messenger: Firing Squad] angels, wielding muskets, dive from the sky—

“Get lost, you junkheap angels—!”

Glenn pulls out an explosive crystal, scrapes it against the ground to shave the sealing rune, and hurls it at the angels.

One angel pulls the trigger of its musket, hitting the crystal.

In that instant, the crystal detonates—a deafening blast shakes the air and roars through the earth.

The angels, caught fully in the explosion, shatter into pieces and dissipate—

“Hahahahahahahaha—Glenn—!”

Shielding his eyes from the fierce blast with his right arm, Glenn sees, at the end of a wide road stretching before him—

Jatice, landing spectacularly about fifty meters away, begins charging straight at Glenn.

As he runs, Jatice swings his arms in complex patterns—summoning [Her Left Hand] to his left and [Her Right Hand] to his right—and races toward Glenn in a straight line—

His expression is filled with envy, joy, and madness.

His gleaming eyes fixate on Glenn, and Glenn alone—

“JATIIIIICE—!”

The mere sight of him makes Glenn’s skin crawl, and he roars back, his soul seemingly splitting.

His expression is filled with rage, fury, and killing intent.

His burning eyes lock onto Jatice, and Jatice alone—

Glenn’s hands move vividly, swiftly, smoothly, like a raging torrent.

The gun’s cylinder is swapped in an instant.

It’s faster than the empty cylinder hitting the ground.

The battles with the addicts, the deathmatch with Jatice, have rapidly re-honed Glenn as the mage he once was.

Glenn aims the cocked revolver at the charging Jatice—

In the next moment, a chaotic dance of Tulpas and roaring gunshots collide.

The battle—escalates without end—

The sound of running footsteps echoes through the dim alley, accompanied by heated breaths like flames.

As if fleeing from a terrifying monster.

Occasionally, stumbling feet disrupt the rhythmic sound of steps hitting the ground.

“Ha…! Ha, ha…! Ha…!”

Covering her ears against the distant sounds of battle… Sistine runs.

…Eventually.

Her overworked legs, pushed without regard, finally scream their limit, and she missteps…

“Ow!?”

Sistine tumbles spectacularly to the ground.

Her beautiful wedding dress is instantly soiled, its hem frayed.

The pain… snaps Sistine back to herself.

“Ha…! Ha…! …It’s not my fault…!”

To whom is she making this excuse?

Sprawled on the ground, Sistine cries out in a tearful voice.

“Sensei told me to go… Besides, someone like me would just get in the way in a real mage’s battle… So…! …So…!”

Sistine was clever.

She’s a burden.

…And that’s undeniably true, an indisputable fact.

But at the same time, Sistine was insightful.

It’s true… but it’s also a lie, and she knows it.

“It’s fine… Sensei won’t lose to someone like that… He’ll definitely come back safe…”

That, too, is a lie she wants to believe, a lie she tells herself.

Because she definitely heard it, didn’t she?

‘…Take care.’

The words Glenn muttered as she left.

Will Glenn really come back? …Whether he wins or loses that battle.

“…Ugh… Uuu…!”

Sistine is a bright girl. So, she understands.

Glenn probably won’t return. Win or lose… he’ll likely vanish from their lives. Quietly, without a word.

She rejected him. She… rejected that Glenn.

He’s terrifying.

He’s scary.

He’s from another world.

…She pushed him away.

She knew Glenn had ties to the military in the past. She vaguely understood he’d done something shady, something not quite right.

‘…My hands are too stained to teach or guide anyone…’

Words Glenn once said.

Usually, he’s a frivolous slacker… never letting it show, but… Glenn has probably been quietly tormented all along.

Wondering if someone like him really has the right to be here.

The times Glenn fought for Rumia, for Re=L, for his students, risking his life… maybe that was why.

Maybe he wanted to convince himself he belonged. To affirm himself. To be affirmed by someone.

And yet.

“…I’m such… such an idiot…! Why… why did I say that…!?”

She rejected him—pushed him away.

If it were Rumia, she would’ve unhesitatingly affirmed Glenn and stood by him.

If it were Re=L, she would have naturally stood by Glenn’s side and fought.

But I… I couldn’t. I was so terrified of that Glenn—

Tears spill over endlessly. Regret never ceases. But there’s nothing I can do…

“What… what am I supposed to do…!?”

Jatice is a terrifying enemy. There’s no guarantee Glenn can win. Judging by Glenn’s reaction, his chances of victory are likely very slim.

Right now, at this very moment, Glenn might be sinking into a pool of his own blood.

Even if, by some miracle, he defeats Jatice… Glenn probably won’t come back. Sistine feels an almost prophetic certainty deep within her.

The more she thinks, the more hopeless the situation seems.

Rumia isn’t here. Re=L isn’t here. Albert isn’t here. Celica isn’t here. She can’t involve the academy, there’s no time to call the military for help, and she has no connections. Right now, in every sense, the only one who can save Glenn… is her.

“But what can I even do…!? A mage like me… against such a terrifying enemy…!? What can I possibly…!?”

Sistine clutches her head and crouches down.

Don’t mock this as weakness.

Should she sit idly by, flee, and let Glenn be lost? Should she take the path she’s certain will lose him, praying for a miracle from the gods to bring him back?

Or, driven by some reckless impulse, should she join Glenn despite the risk of dragging him down, throw herself into a battle where she might die, and try to save him and bring him back… along a thread-thin path?

For a mere fifteen-year-old girl who’s lived peacefully in the sunlit world, the choices thrust upon her are far too cruel.

No. I don’t want to lose him. But I’m scared. Of Jatice. Of Glenn.

I don’t want to run. That miserable feeling, that regret I felt when I faced Re=L before.

I don’t want to lie to my heart or escape reality anymore.

I honed my strength to fight for someone… to protect those I care about… to be ready for moments like this.

But… Sistine’s body just keeps trembling, refusing to move an inch.

“Sensei… what should I… what should I do…?”

“How do I face battle without feeling fear?”

—Suddenly, she remembers.

—When was it?

During the morning training Glenn put her through. Having finished that day’s regimen, Sistine was wiping her sweat when she casually asked him that question.

“Are you an idiot? You think I’m some kind of magic puppet or something?”

 

 

“Huh?”

Sistine blinks in surprise, staring at Glenn, who glares at her with half-lidded eyes.

“I get scared too, obviously. It’s only natural, isn’t it? We’re talking about life-and-death battles. There’s no way I wouldn’t be scared. Except for a few transcendent beings or battle maniacs, everyone feels the same.”

“Th-then—! How do you fight, Sensei!?”

Unable to accept his answer, Sistine presses Glenn.

“When I faced Re=L during that field study expedition… I was so scared, trembling, and I couldn’t do anything!”

“It all worked out in the end, so what’s the big deal?”

“That’s not the point!”

Sistine shakes her head like a stubborn child, rejecting Glenn’s words.

“Sure, you’ve taught me how to fight… and, if I do say so myself, I’ve improved a lot as a mage.”

“Yeah… your growth is honestly kinda freaky. You just breeze through stuff I had to bleed and puke to learn… damn, is this what talent looks like?”

“Don’t joke around! Anyway… my combat skills may have improved, but… when it really matters, I don’t feel like I can fight at all…”

“…”

Finally, Glenn’s face grows serious as his student pleads desperately, clinging to him.

“If I faced Re=L again now… I’d probably just tremble and freeze up like I did back then. No matter how much I train under your guidance, it’s no use… I’m too scared to fight when it counts. What should I do…?”

Then.

Glenn pauses, as if choosing his words carefully, and says:

“White Cat. The reason I can fight… is because I’m scared.”

“Ugh, you’re joking again…! I’m being serious—!”

“There’s something even scarier than dying in battle.”

“…Huh?”

Sistine, prepared to not be fooled, widens her eyes at Glenn’s unexpected words.

“Sure, fighting is scary. But turning away, running, and losing something precious when you had the power to act… that’s far, far scarier.”

“Something scarier… than dying in battle?”

“Yeah, exactly.”

Glenn nods solemnly.

“If, by some chance, you find yourself in a situation where you want to fight, where you have to fight… and your body still trembles with fear, refusing to move… take a deep breath and remember. Why did you gain this strength? What’s truly precious to you?”

Staring straight into Sistine’s eyes, Glenn weaves his words.

“Wanting to protect someone or fight for them is noble, but that alone isn’t enough to risk your life. Instead, recall the fear of loss. Not some shallow conviction, but what’s truly precious… what’s worth staking your life on. Think it over one more time. That should give your trembling body the courage to move… probably.”

—In the dim alley, Sistine snaps back to reality.

She mulls over Glenn’s teachings, which suddenly resurfaced in her mind.

“…The fear of loss… not shallow convictions… but what’s truly precious…”

She thinks.

Rumia is there. Re=L is there. Her classmates are around.

And at the center is Glenn. He’s always causing trouble… but somehow, everyone ends up laughing, exasperated.

That ordinary, everyday life. So normal she usually doesn’t think twice about it.

What would happen if Glenn were gone?

Rumia? Re=L? Her classmates? Could they still laugh like they do now?

…A chill runs through her.

“No… I don’t want that…”

That ordinary life would never return. Glenn’s presence has grown too large in their lives to simply forget him and live in peace.

And above all—

“I… I don’t want that… Absolutely… No…!”

Why does just imagining Glenn’s absence make her so sad that tears overflow, filling her with such frantic urgency? She doesn’t know.

But losing Glenn… is terrifying.

The mere thought drives her to the edge of madness.

I have to save Glenn, bring him back, or I… I won’t be myself anymore…!

“…”

Sistine wipes her tears and stands unsteadily.

At some point… her body’s trembling had stopped.

And then—

“Haa… haa… haa…!”

Pinned against the wall of a building on some street, Glenn slumps to the ground.

Blood gushes from his right upper arm, and he presses the wound with his left hand—his arm hanging limply.

“…Game over, huh?”

Standing before Glenn, Jatice looks down at him.

Surrounding Jatice are six Tulpas [Her Messenger: Firing Squad], their musket barrels aimed at Glenn from point-blank range.

There’s nothing Glenn can do. His body can still move, but in this situation, Jatice’s Tulpas will pull the trigger faster than any move he makes.

Checkmate.

“Haa… haa…! …Damn it…!”

Glenn clicks his tongue, glaring at Jatice with a biting stare.

“What a pity… If you’d gotten your hands on ‘Eve Kaizul’s Elixir,’ the outcome might’ve been different… Well, I guess that’s impossible for you now, no longer with the military.”

Jatice, barely containing his glee, wears a smug expression.

“But… a win is a win. I, with my justice, have finally crushed you at your full strength as a mage… My justice has been proven…! As expected, I’m worthy of claiming the [Akashic Records]… After all, I’ve surpassed you, a chosen human…!”

As usual, Glenn has no idea what Jatice is rambling about.

Why this guy is so obsessed with a third-rate mage like him, Glenn can’t quite grasp.

But then, it’s just the ravings of a madman. No point dwelling on it.

The [Akashic Records].

A concerning term slips from Jatice’s mouth, but at this point, it doesn’t matter anymore.

“…You’re as noisy as ever… If you’re gonna kill me, just do it already…”

“Oh, of course. But you must understand my excitement, finally achieving the victory I’ve longed for.”

Jatice smiles calmly.

“Don’t worry, Glenn. I’ll kill you instantly, without suffering. That’s the greatest respect and courtesy I can offer the one and only human who ever threatened my justice…”

“…Thanks. Go to hell.”

“Say hi to Sera in the afterlife for me.”

And then.

As Jatice snaps his fingers, the false angels prepare to pull their triggers in unison—

At that moment.

“《Gather, tempest・become a warhammer・and strike true》—!”

A spell chanted in rapid succession.

The activated C-rank military spell—Black Magic [Blast Blow].

A siege hammer of compressed air surges at ferocious speed, slamming into Jatice from the side.

“What—!?”

Caught completely off guard, Jatice’s reaction is a fraction too slow.

The possibility of her ‘coming back’ wasn’t in his perfect predictive calculations.

Thus, Jatice’s absolute ‘shield,’ [Her Right Hand], doesn’t deploy in time.

With no choice, Jatice instinctively has his angels shield him—

Boom! A sound like a battering ram smashing through an iron gate.

The false angels, acting as shields, shatter like glass, and the unstoppable force of the wind hammer launches Jatice’s body like a ball, sending him flying.

Jatice’s body soars horizontally, crashing into a building ahead, punching a massive hole in the wall, and disappearing inside.

Whoosh! A fierce gust—the aftershock of Black Magic [Blast Blow]—sweeps through, and Glenn desperately braces himself to keep from being blown away.

His hair and the hem of his robe whip wildly in the wind.

“Ugh…!? This spell…?”

“Haa… haa… I… made it… in time…!”

Glenn turns toward the breathless, raspy voice.

There, at the entrance of the alley, stands Sistine, hands outstretched.

“Wha…”

Glenn is stunned.

Sistine rushes to him, standing protectively in front of him.

“Get up, Sensei. That guy’s not weak enough to go down with just this, right? We need to act now—”

Ignoring her, Glenn stands and yells at Sistine.

“You idiot! Why the hell did you come back!?”

Sistine’s shoulders flinch at Glenn’s fierce shout.

“This isn’t a world you belong in! So go home!”

“…Right. This isn’t a world I belong in…”

But.

Sistine doesn’t run this time. She looks straight at Glenn.

“And it’s not a world you belong in either.”

“…!?”

“I came to bring you back.”

Stunned for a moment by her words, Glenn…

“Are you stupid? Don’t screw with me! What the hell are you thinking!? Coming back to a dangerous place like this for such a pathetic reason…!?”

Glenn swings his arm, vehemently rejecting Sistine.

“You saw it all during this mess, didn’t you!? My true nature, the one I kept hidden! I was deceiving you all!”

“…”

“That’s right, I’ve always belonged to that side—”

“—If you say something stupid like you don’t belong with us, I’ll seriously get mad.”

Interrupted before he can finish, Glenn falls silent.

“…Honestly, I’m still scared of you.”

Sistine calmly lays bare her heart to Glenn.

“I’m weak… a coward. I rejected you. You protected me, taught me so much… and I forgot all that gratitude. I’m… truly sorry. I know an apology doesn’t cut it… but still… I’m sorry.”

Tears glisten at the corners of Sistine’s eyes.

“But… I remembered. You’re not just some scary person. The scary you now, the usual good-for-nothing you… they’re both you. All of it makes up who you are…”

“…”

“So neither side of you should be denied… Just because you have a scary side doesn’t mean you don’t belong with us! Because the usual you… was undeniably living in our world, an irreplaceable person!”

“…”

“I accept you. I was shaken, not knowing you had this side… but I accept all of you. So…”

Sistine’s shoulders tremble with emotion…

“Please…! Come back, Sensei…! I don’t want this…! I don’t want to part like this… to end like this… I hate it…! Teach us more… stay with us…! Sensei…!”

“White… Cat…”

Glenn stands dumbfounded before his sobbing, pleading student.

At some point… the harshness in his face has softened, as if a weight has lifted.

And then.

“…Tch.”

Jatice, clinging to an angel’s shoulder, descends from the sky.

He faces Glenn and Sistine again, keeping a distance of about ten meters.

“My mistake… It took a bit to mend my broken left leg and right arm…”

Apparently, while there was no sign of him, Jatice had temporarily retreated to recover from the unexpected injury caused by the surprise attack.

Wiping her tears, Sistine glares at Jatice and declares:

“Jatice-san, was it? I don’t understand your grudge with Sensei… but leave him alone. You and Sensei live in different worlds.”

“…Huh? What are you talking about?”

Jatice, looking like a pigeon hit by a peashooter, retorts.

“Glenn is obviously one of us, on my side. You don’t know anything about him to say such—”

“Shut up. Be quiet.”

Sistine cuts him off sharply.

“Honestly, I don’t care what Sensei did in the past, and it wouldn’t change anything if I knew. Sensei is one of us, our teacher.”

“…”

For the first time, a flicker of irritation crosses Jatice’s usually composed face.

“…You’re annoying. Not just your looks, but your personality is like Sera’s…”

“Is that so? I don’t care.”

“Unfortunately, I can’t comply. Glenn is my greatest nemesis. By defeating him, my justice—”

“Hmph—aren’t you the idiot?”

Sistine crosses her arms arrogantly, dismissing him.

Whether she’s given up or broken through her fear, her words grow bolder.

“Beating Sensei won’t get you anywhere. Justice? Don’t make me laugh. This guy’s an idiot, a good-for-nothing, irresponsible, unmotivated, and a failure of a mage instructor. What’s the point of going through all that effort to beat a loser like him?”

Glenn grimaces as if chewing something bitter, while Jatice’s face fills with rising rage.

“You… dare to mock Glenn, the only human I’ve ever acknowledged!?”

“…!?”

“I’ve changed my mind. I’ll kill you. I promise… you alone will suffer every agony this world has to offer as you die… You’ll spend eternity in hell apologizing for mocking Glenn…”

His cold, rage-filled gaze burns like a demon’s.

Sistine, frozen under his stare, pales…

“…Not happening.”

A now-languid Glenn steps in front of Sistine, shielding her.

“Man, you’re such an idiot… Picking a fight with that nutcase? He’s persistent. Even if you escape, he’ll chase you to the ends of hell…”

“…Ugh.”

Sistine, realizing her recklessness, falters.

“But, well… now we’re both on that lunatic’s hit list… Partners in fate, I guess.”

Joking lightly, Glenn sheds his robe in front of Jatice, discarding his gun, throwing needles, steel threads, and various mage gear one by one.

“…What’s your game, Glenn?”

Jatice frowns suspiciously at Glenn’s strange actions.

“Huh? I don’t need this junk anymore. Even if I used it, White Cat couldn’t keep up anyway.”

And so, having discarded all his gear, Glenn clapped his palm and fist together with a sharp smack, raising his fists into a fighting stance.

“For a punk like you, these fists are more than enough.”

“What… do you think you’re doing, Glenn!?”

Jatice began trembling with rage.

“That’s pointless! If I don’t defeat you at your full strength as a mage, it’s meaningless! Beating a pathetic version of you proves nothing! So—!”

Completely ignoring Jatice, Glenn spoke to Sistine behind him.

“White Cat. We’re a two-man element, one tactical unit. I’m the vanguard, you’re the rearguard. …Can you handle it?”

“!”

“You’re stronger than you think you are. A one-on-one magic duel might still be too much for you, but if you focus on supporting the vanguard, just do what you always do… and it’ll definitely work.”

Glenn glanced back at Sistine.

“It’s pathetic to admit, but… honestly, Jatice is too strong. The guy’s a freak. I can’t do this alone. …And if I lose, it sounds like you’ll get killed too. So, you’ve got no choice but to fight. Steel yourself, because we’ve gotta take Jatice down right here.”

“…”

“I know you’re scared. I’m sorry for dragging you into this mess. But… will you lend me your strength? In return, I promise—I’ll take him down even if it kills me… and I’ll make sure you get back to everyone safely. So…”

Then.

“I can’t accept that promise…”

At Sistine’s curt response, Glenn’s expression darkened for a moment, but…

“‘We’ll go back to everyone together.’ That’s the kind of promise I’ll gladly accept.”

“…Heh.”

And so, the two shared a powerful smile.

“I’m counting on you… Sistine.”

“You finally called me by my name properly for the first time.”

Glenn stepped forward. Sistine followed close behind, staying at his back.

The two faced Jatice together—standing in the middle of the endlessly stretching boulevard.

“What… is this…?”

Jatice’s fists trembled violently.

“What weakness! What depravity! Glenn… you weren’t supposed to be this kind of frail human! Relying on a child like that! Your justice was supposed to be—!”

“Who cares, moron? Besides, I was never that great of a magician or mage to begin with.”

“That’s not it! Your strength isn’t about that…! It’s something beyond reason—!”

“Shut your trap. Here I come, you filthy bastard—!”

Glenn—charged forward.

Sistine followed, beginning to prepare her spell chant.

Glenn, Jatice, the distance between them—roughly twenty meters.

“Sistine Fibel! It’s because of you…! Tch—!”

Jatice manifested countless [Her Left Hand]—and unleashed them.

“Die—! You witch who defiled the sacred battle between me and Glenn—!”

Countless swords zigzagged from all directions, closing in on Sistine.

Sistine’s vision was fragmented by golden sword trails—

—But.

“《Gather, tempest・become scattershot・and strike true》—!”

Sistine fired Black Magic [Blast Blow] overhead.

The compressed air battering ram unleashed above burst instantly, scattering into countless pellets.

The [Her Left Hand] swords, rushing like flashes of light, were knocked down one by one.

“W-What—!? An impromptu modification of a wind offensive spell—!?”

The common belief was that wind magic was weak. Gravity, fluid control vectors, gas state, pressure, temperature, density… with so many parameters to manipulate, it paled in power compared to fire, ice, or lightning, which relied on simple energy manipulation.

But that very multitude of parameters was, conversely, its advantage.

In other words—wind magic had near-infinite variations for spell modification compared to the other three basic elements.

Never underestimate a spell that merely manipulates airflow. With the caster’s skill and ingenuity, it could adapt flexibly to any situation, showcasing unmatched versatility. With mastery, one could even craft new wind spells on the spot—

—Exactly as Sistine was doing now.

“Crafty little—!”

Jatice unleashed [Her Messenger: Burning] toward the approaching duo.

Fiery wings flapped, and a scorching inferno swirled, threatening to engulf them—

But Glenn didn’t slow his charge toward Jatice in the slightest—

“《Wall of air・double-layered・protect us》—!”

An impromptu modification of Black Magic [Air Screen]. The vacuum between two sturdy air membranes completely blocked external heat—a spell one could call Black Magic Modified [Double Screen].

“Uoooohhh—!”

From the fiery storm, Glenn emerged, protected by the double air membrane, not a single burn on him despite diving into such intense flames.

Raising his fist, he charged straight at Jatice—

“Kuh—!?”

As the distance closed rapidly, Jatice grabbed an angel’s shoulder with one hand and leaped back—

Glenn kicked the ground harder, pursuing relentlessly—

The pursuer and the pursued. A frenetic exchange of attacks unfolded between them.

A one-dimensional battle raged along the endless boulevard.

Jatice manifested and unleashed the explosive Tulpa [Her Rage].

“《Gather, air・harden and converge・compress》—!”

Responding to Sistine’s spell, a mass of air enveloped the incoming [Her Rage], compressing it—detonating it. But the explosion was kept minimal.

The outward explosive force was countered by the inward compressive force of the air.

This was another wind spell modification, derived from Black Magic [Air Block], which formed air masses.

“What—!?”

“No time to be distracted—!”

At that moment, Glenn stomped the ground fiercely, catching up to the retreating Jatice. His right straight grazed Jatice’s cheek as the latter reflexively jerked his head aside.

“Tch—!”

“Uooooooohhhhh—!”

Glenn unleashed a flurry of left and right punches while running, followed by a high roundhouse kick and a reverse spinning left high kick.

Jatice, clinging to the angel, retreated further—

Glenn pursued, closing the gap with two, three more steps—

Jatice, clinging to the low-flying angel for high-speed movement, and Glenn, enhanced by White Magic [Physical Boost], chased after him.

Normally, Sistine wouldn’t have been able to keep up with their movements—

“Impossible—[Rapid Stream]!? …Even that spell!?”

Jatice was stunned by the reason for Sistine’s surprisingly swift movements, though she lagged slightly behind.

Sistine was enveloped in a directional gust, propelled forward as if pushed by the wind.

Black Magic [Rapid Stream]. A spell that enhanced mobility through airflow manipulation. Unlike [Physical Boost], it didn’t strain the body, but its control difficulty and mana cost were abysmal, and it only aided mobility. Its impracticality meant even the Imperial Army rarely used it…

“Kuh!?”

As Jatice retreated with the angel, the scenery rushing past like a torrent, he gritted his teeth.

Wind spells were indeed weak.

As offensive spells, they lacked power and killing potential.

Their low power made them ill-suited for one-on-one magic duels—but when used in tandem with a partner, wind spells’ versatility in offense and defense shone, exerting tremendous strength.

And that was precisely why wind spells were still adopted and integrated into modern military magic—

“Even so, to have such skill—!?”

While keeping distance from Glenn, Jatice’s face twisted in frustration.

Sistine Fibel. According to prior intel, she was merely a student who had just advanced from the first to the second tier.

True, her potential mana capacity was remarkable, and her aptitude for wind magic was extraordinary, but she was supposed to be a complete novice in combat.

“—It seems I miscalculated regarding her!”

Bullets from a barrage by manifested [Her Messenger: Firing Squad] were twisted and swept away by the raging storm Sistine unleashed, veering off to miss Glenn and fly in random directions.

Faced with this scene… Jatice had no choice but to acknowledge it. He had to accept it.

Sistine Fibel was a formidable opponent. He had concluded, based on his behavioral predictions, that the timid girl was infinitesimally unlikely to bare her fangs—and he had neglected to calculate whether she could pose a threat in combat. That was his greatest mistake.

“Uooooooohhhhh—!”

Jatice dodged Glenn’s spinning reverse kick, delivered like a whirlwind, by leaping back.

Because Glenn constantly applied pressure from the front, Jatice was deprived of the time to conjure stronger Tulpas.

Thus, he couldn’t create Tulpas capable of breaking through Sistine’s wind magic.

This was a bad trend. The momentum was entirely on their side. For an impromptu two-man element, their coordination was impressive.

Jatice recalled.

(This troublesome nature… it’s just like Sera Silvers, the Wind Wielder… Sistine, you are even resembling her in that way!)

Of course, Sistine’s wind manipulation skills were still crude compared to Sera’s… crude, but if she continued to grow, she might one day surpass Sera as a Wind Wielder… Jatice had that premonition.

And right now, at this very moment, Sistine’s presence—was a threat to Jatice.

“Ha, hahaha…”

Unconsciously, laughter spilled from Jatice’s lips. It was a laugh of exhilaration.

“Excellent—you two are excellent!”

Jatice slammed [Her Rage] into the ground, detonating it, and used the blast’s force to propel himself backward.

He glided through the air, opening a wide distance from Glenn, and landed while sliding back.

The endless boulevard finally came to an end… here, at a T-junction.

Jatice stood with his back to the entrance door of a small, ancient church.

“I apologize for calling you weak. As a two-man element, you’re humans worth defeating. By overcoming you, my justice will ascend to greater heights—I’m grateful!”

Jatice began scattering a massive amount of pseudo-etheric particle powder around him with intricate hand gestures.

The quantity was orders of magnitude greater than before… it seemed he was preparing a major technique.

“Uooooooohhhhh—!”

Roaring as if to prevent it, Glenn accelerated his steps—closing in. Closing in. Closing in.

The once-widened distance between them shrank rapidly—

“Come! The embodiment of justice sleeping deep within me! My god! The god of justice!”

He swung his right hand, scattering more powder.

He moved his left hand, scattering more powder.

The scattered powder began to glow—

The mightiest existence sleeping in Jatice’s deep subconscious was about to manifest in this world—

It was—a colossal goddess.

In her left hand, a golden sword. In her right, a silver scale. A blindfold over her eyes.

A manifestation in the form of a false goddess, bearing seven warped wings on her back.

“Come! Come and destroy! Annihilate the evil that bares its fangs at my justice—!”

Light poured down like a halo. The heavens and earth trembled, enveloped in dazzling brilliance, as the towering, mighty god exclusive to Jatice, the goddess of justice, descended here—

“Call— Idol [Lady of Justice, Justia]—!”

A singular divine concept manifestation summon by Jatice alone. The pinnacle of unbridled delusion.

An absurd miracle, inexplicable by alchemical Tulpa summoning methods.

An existence far too immense for humans to confront appeared before Glenn and Sistine—

And now, it was about to take physical form—when, at that moment.

“《O great breath》—!”

Sistine shouted her spell.

It was an impromptu modification of Black Magic [Gale Blow].

Instead of focusing the gust locally, it dispersed its force over a wide area.

…In other words, a slightly strong breeze with no offensive power.

But the wind swiftly swept through, brushing Glenn’s body, brushing Jatice’s body, flowing through the scene as merely a gust—

And that was all, but—

“—!?”

The form of the Idol [Lady of Justice, Justia], which Jatice had manifested with his utmost fantasy… the false goddess about to take on mass and materialize… began to fade.

“What—!?”

He was stunned.

The wind Sistine unleashed had swept away the powder Jatice had scattered.

Before it could fully manifest, the etheric particle concentration dropped drastically, causing the fantasy to revert to mere delusion.

The false goddess rapidly lost shape and color—

“Kuh—!”

Jatice swung his arms again, attempting to scatter etheric particles once more—

A mere moment. …One step.

“Aaaaaaaaaaah—!”

Yet, that moment. …Two steps.

“Daaaaaaaaaah—!”

In that moment—three steps.

Glenn had closed the one-step, one-strike distance to Jatice—

“JATIIIIIIIICE—!”

“Kuh—!”

A heartbeat later, the goddess fully descended into the world with raging lightning.

Her golden sword swung down toward Glenn.

A storm roared from above, and the devastating pressure of the sword came crashing down—

But, just a fraction of a moment faster—

“UOOOOOOOOOH—!”

Carrying all the momentum of his charge and every ounce of his passion—Glenn’s full-force fist tore through the air, spiraling, and struck Jatice’s face—dead center.

“Gah—!?”

The impact broke his concentration, and the false goddess vanished completely this time.

Simultaneously, Jatice’s head snapped back, and he was sent flying violently—crashing through the church’s entrance door, tumbling further into the chapel, and colliding with the altar at the far end.

A massive cross, broken at its base, fell from above, pinning Jatice down—

“…Hah… That look suits you. The irony’s rich, ain’t it…?”

Before the upside-down, sprawled form of Jatice, the so-called “Justice,” pinned beneath the giant cross… Glenn couldn’t help but let out a cold smirk.