Chapter 4: The Unexpected Visitor, Those Who Fight in the Darkness

The conductor, raising the baton high in their right hand, strikes a dramatic pose.

At the same moment, the orchestra’s fervent performance concludes, leaving a theatrical echo in its wake.

In sync, the couples dancing to the music each execute their most spectacular finishing poses.

And then—

Waaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh—!

The audience’s thunderous applause and cheers, enough to shake the building, rain down like a storm.

Just now, the third round of the dance competition preliminaries had concluded, and the excitement and fervor in the venue showed no signs of stopping.

“…Phew…”

Glenn, who had been holding Rumia’s hand and striking a finishing pose, releases her.

“Ah…”

Rumia, who had been leaning into Glenn, wears a dreamy expression.

“…Hehe… It’s… already over, isn’t it…?”

Reluctantly, Rumia gently pulls away from Glenn.

“Look, Rumia! The number of checks we got… Alright, we’re at the top and heading to the finals!”

Glancing at the scoreboard near the judges’ seats from afar, Glenn pumps his fist.

“—Tch!? Damn it! Same number of checks as White Cat and Re=L!? They’re obviously in the finals too… This is gonna be tough…”

Sistine and Re=L’s pair proved to be far more formidable opponents than Glenn had anticipated.

The preliminaries were structured with multiple couples forming competitive groups, each group performing together, but no matter which round or group they danced in, Sistine’s pair consistently topped their group in check counts.

In the just-concluded third preliminary round, Glenn and Rumia finally faced Sistine and Re=L in the same group… but the checks were equal, proving their skills were perfectly matched.

(…Honestly, this is bad…)

Up until now, the preliminaries only required earning a certain number of checks to advance to the next round.

In other words, as long as they avoided being eliminated, they were fine.

But from the finals onward, three couples would compete at a time, with judges scoring technical and artistic points, and only the highest-scoring couple would advance in a knockout format.

If they unluckily faced Sistine’s pair midway, there was a real risk of immediate elimination.

(The night of this ball is still long… No word from that bastard Zayd since earlier, but I can’t let my guard down… Ideally, I’d like to make it to the end.)

As Glenn remains vigilantly aware of his surroundings…

“Heh heh, so? How about it, Sensei? We’re pretty good, aren’t we?”

“Mmm. Praise me.”

After every match, Sistine comes over with a smug look, while Re=L approaches with her usual sleepy, expressionless face, both pestering Glenn.

(Grr… These brats, not even considering my situation…!?)

If Glenn loses, there’s a chance he’ll fail his escort mission, yet Eve hasn’t said anything to Re=L. That likely means Eve has some backup plan for that scenario… probably something involving using Rumia as bait. Re=L is simply following Eve’s orders to the letter.

(…Damn it, like hell I’ll let that happen…! I have to protect Rumia!)

Unaware of Glenn’s resolve…

“Oh my, could it be, Sensei’s getting nervous? Looks like this year’s [Robe de la Fae] might just be mine~!”

Sistine, with a triumphant expression, puffs out her slender chest, taunting Glenn.

Surprisingly, however…

“…Hehe, is that so, Sistie?”

Rumia, with a playful yet mischievous glint in her eye, tightly clings to Glenn’s arm.

“Our pair—me and Sensei—absolutely won’t lose! Sensei will definitely win the [Robe de la Fae] for me… right, Sensei?”

Rumia looks up at him with a radiant, sun-like smile, her flushed cheeks oddly alluring.

“…Y-Yeah…? Leave it to me…”

“Yes! Let’s work together and aim for the championship, Sensei!”

As if showing off or teasing, Rumia clings to Glenn’s arm.

Completely swept up in the venue’s atmosphere, Rumia’s uncharacteristically high energy was unlike her usual self.

“M-Mmm… Mmmmmph~! Hmph~!”

Sistine, slightly sulking, puffs out her cheeks and clenches her fists at her chest.

“What’s with you, Rumia! I’m definitely not losing, got it!?”

“Hehe, bring it on!”

While Sistine and Rumia exchange friendly glares, sparking with competitive fire…

(Jeez, these girls are so hyped up, their personalities are falling apart…)

Glenn sighs wearily, glancing around the venue.

(Still, what’s with this…? A ball this lively is rare even in high society’s authentic gatherings… Is this all thanks to Rize’s planning and management skills? Is she some kind of monster…?)

Even Glenn, despite his covert mission involving life-and-death stakes, was starting to enjoy himself a little.

(Tch, what am I doing…? This isn’t the time to be having fun…)

But it was fun. He was keenly aware that this ball was already making his heart race.

Even though the ball was only at its midpoint, the venue was truly thriving with excitement and energy.

Everyone was chatting merrily, and those who hit it off were eagerly dancing together.

Colorful dishes were brought out one after another, never running out.

The orchestra, having just finished playing for the dance competition preliminaries, continued their fervent performance without pause to keep the atmosphere electric.

(Props to the orchestra and conductor…)

Glenn couldn’t help but admire the conductor, passionately waving the baton as if burning their soul, and the orchestra, tirelessly playing with equal fervor.

For a moment, Glenn unconsciously gazes at the conductor and orchestra…

And then, he notices. A chill runs down his spine.

“…Where’s Rumia…!?”

Before he realizes it, Rumia is gone. Sistine and Re=L have vanished along with her.

What a blunder. To think that, even for a moment, he’d been swayed by the atmosphere and lost in thought, completely unaware that Rumia had left his side—

“Cecil! Teresa! Where’s Rumia!?”

Glenn, with a menacing expression, rushes over to Cecil and Teresa, who were chatting nearby.

“Uh, umm…? She went with Sistine and the others to get food at that table over there…?”

“Oh my, is something wrong, Sensei?”

Ignoring them, Glenn pushes through the crowded throng, frantically searching for Rumia and the others.

(…Where are they…!? Where are they…!?)

But the venue is maddeningly vast.

Despite their distinctive appearances, finding them in such a dense crowd is no easy task.

(Damn it…! How could I…!? Please…! Be safe…! Be okay…! Damn… DAMN! DAMN IT—!)

Just as Glenn, driven by desperation, was about to scream—

“…Please, calm yourself, Glenn-sama《The Fool》.”

A refined lady gently tugs at Glenn’s arm.

“The one known as《Demon’s Right Hand》will never strike at this moment—”

Interrupted, Glenn’s blood boils for a split second, unable to process her words—

“Shut up! What the hell do you know—!”

Reflexively, he turns with a ferocious glare, about to shout at the woman gripping his arm—

—And finally, he realizes.

The meaning of her words—and the identity of the woman.

“Hehe, meeting you up close like this is, well, a first, isn’t it?”

The black-haired woman, smiling gently, is someone he recognizes.

From the Magic Tournament, he’d seen her from afar, standing by Her Majesty’s side.

In documents, he’d seen her face in a portrait on Albert’s list of rogue mages.

“No way…!? You’re—Eleanor…!?”

Eleanor Charlet, the lowest seat of the Second Order《Adeptus Order》of the Researchers of Heavenly Wisdom—smiling serenely, an utterly unexpected figure stood before him.

Before Glenn could react, Eleanor quietly pulls him closer by the arm.

“…How about it? As a sign of our acquaintance tonight… shall we have a dance?”

With a seductive smile, Eleanor stands close to Glenn, leaving him frozen. To onlookers, they might seem like lovers cozying up, but Eleanor’s hand traces Glenn’s side with eerie fingers… and from between her nails, a needle extends, pressed against him.

The needle radiates dangerous mana. Likely a deadly curse or magical poison is infused within.

In this situation, there’s nothing he can do. Checkmate.

(…Eve…! Hey, Eve! What are you doing…!? It’s the enemy…!)

“Hoping for Eve-sama’s support is futile. Right now… hehe, she’s surely preoccupied with something else… I timed my approach to you precisely for this moment. I even cast a subtle suggestion on the princesses to temporarily leave your side… yes?”

“…What… did you say…!?”

“For the next few minutes, we exist in a gap of time. No one but you, Glenn-sama, will perceive me… a fleeting moment adrift in the liminal space between dream and reality.”

She’s a monster. As expected of Eleanor. To flawlessly conceal her role as a spy for an enemy organization while serving as a close aide to Her Majesty—her skill is undeniable. In terms of stealth, deception, and exploiting the gaps in people’s hearts, she might surpass even Celica, perhaps the world’s greatest mage in those arts.

No one but Eleanor could pull off such a devilish feat… and no one else should.

“Of course, even I am taking considerable risks and pushing my limits in this situation.”

“…Why go this far to appear before me? Are you here to eliminate me…?”

“Oh, heavens no. One wrong step, and I’d be burned by《The Magician》’s flames or captured… To brave such a deadly gamble and appear before you, I merely wished to offer you some advice.”

“…Advice…?”

It doesn’t make sense. The Researchers of Heavenly Wisdom… what are they truly thinking?

“Please, rest assured. As I said, for these next few minutes,《Demon’s Right Hand》will not act. If you’d grant me a little time… I can offer a hint to save your beloved princess…”

It’s unclear what tricks she’s using, but if Eleanor had hostile or murderous intent, Eve would surely notice. Thus, Eleanor’s lack of hostility is certain, but…

“Hah… Like I’d trust you…!”

“I swear on our Grandmaster.”

She casually invokes the Grandmaster.

The Researchers of Heavenly Wisdom are a group of lunatics, but their absolute loyalty and faith in the Grandmaster are unwavering, even among the lowliest thugs. It’s almost like brainwashing charisma.

At this point, if Eleanor truly meant to kill, both he and Rumia would already be doomed.

“How about it? Shall we share a dance…?”

“…Fine. I’ll dance… might as well see this through.”

“Hehe… I’m honored.”

With a radiant smile, Eleanor leads Glenn by the hand to the central stage.

During a free-time interlude amidst the dance competition…

On the open central stage, Glenn and Eleanor join the dance circle, moving to the music. Eleanor’s dancing skill is, unsurprisingly, breathtakingly impressive.

“Hehehe, Glenn-sama. You’re quite skilled… My heart’s all aflutter…”

“…Keep talking.”

Without hiding his hostility, Glenn mutters while continuing the dance.

“I’ve got a question. Are you the mastermind behind this incident?”

“No.”

“Figured.”

If Eleanor were the mastermind, appearing to confuse Glenn and his allies would be far too sloppy. There’d be no point in throwing away the advantage of remaining unknown to them just to spread a bluff.

They could’ve acted in secret without ever revealing Eleanor’s existence.

“You mentioned advice earlier. What’s that about?”

“Exactly what it sounds like…”

Giggling, Eleanor gracefully spins under Glenn’s raised arm with an elegant turn.

“It’s just so amusing to watch you all, the Empire’s side, fall right into《Demon’s Right Hand》’s trap… I couldn’t help myself.”

“…!?”

Under the guise of dance choreography, Glenn pulls Eleanor close and whispers in her ear.

“I don’t like it, but Eve’s control is flawless. Even if she can’t detect you without killing intent, the moment the mastermind shows direct malice toward Rumia, it’s over. As long as Eve’s here, assassination is impossible. And yet you’re saying we’re still dancing in《Demon’s Right Hand》’s palm…!?”

“Hehe, precisely. Truly unfortunate, but… at this rate, the princess…”

With a flourish, Eleanor spins gracefully…

“Will surely find the [Robe de la Fae] becoming her beautiful death shroud.”

Eleanor’s cold prophecy makes Glenn’s expression harden involuntarily.

“Before, I aimed for the princess’s life, but… circumstances have changed, and I’d very much like to avoid that now. More than the risk of exposing our organization’s inner workings… yes. That’s why I’m counting on you, the Empire’s side, to crush Zayd’s plan.”

Glenn’s grip on Eleanor’s arm tightens unconsciously.

“Ah… Nn… Hehe, that hurts… I don’t mind a bit of roughness, but a lady should be handled like silk, gently…”

“Tell me, Eleanor! What is《Demon’s Right Hand》after!? Zayd’s mysterious assassination techniques… He always kills his targets unnoticed, right in front of countless witnesses! Stabbing, strangling, bludgeoning… no consistent method! Even Eve can’t stop it!? What’s its true nature…!?”

“That, I cannot say. Even if Zayd is a traitor defying the organization’s directives… betraying a comrade is impossible… it’s part of our oath.”

“Zayd of the [Radical Faction] was supposed to have resorted to ‘assassination’ to prevent the [Status Quo Faction] of the organization from splitting! Why do you know about Zayd’s schemes…!?”

“The Grandmaster sees all. And yet… they entrust the organization’s path to us, and to you. They watch over the grand story woven by all the actors on this stage of the Alzano Empire. I merely follow the Grandmaster’s will.”

That’s not an answer…! She’s toying with me…!

Suppressing his anger, Glenn dances, dances, keeps dancing with Eleanor.

But this Eleanor… Supposedly the lowest seat of the《Adeptus Order》… From her tone, could she actually be close to the enigmatic Grandmaster?

Moreover, Eleanor herself seems to lean toward the [Status Quo Faction] but doesn’t fully align with either the ‘radicals’ or ‘status quo.’

(What… the hell is she, really…!?)

As such doubts swirl, Glenn continues dancing with somewhat rough steps…

“Now, enough preamble… It’s time to offer you the advice regarding this incident.”

“…Advice…? Right, what’s this advice!?”

To Glenn’s question, Eleanor giggles like a child and says:

“What holds the princess’s fate is this: ‘When seen with the eyes, it is roughly five steps; when closed, it is roughly eight steps. Running alongside it, its mystic grandeur will greatly stir one’s emotions.’ …What does it mean?”

“…Huh? What’s that supposed to mean…?”

“I look forward to your efforts. May blessings be upon you and the princess.”

At that moment, the dance ends, and Eleanor abruptly cuts off the conversation, gently pulling away from Glenn and offering a graceful curtsy.

“…Think you can just walk away?”

Glenn spits out in defiance, though he knows the answer.

“In this situation, with the true mastermind and their ability still unknown, a clever man like you surely won’t cause a scene. You can’t cause a scene… right?”

“Tch…”

“…Then, farewell, Glenn-sama. Have a pleasant evening…”

Glenn can only watch as Eleanor disappears into the crowd with leisurely steps.

…And then, before Glenn:

“Hehe, Sensei, look! I brought tons of your favorite sandwiches! And here’s a drink♪ Go ahead.”

“Geez, make sure you eat up, okay? It’d be such a buzzkill if you said you lost ’cause you were hungry or something.”

Rumia and Sistine return, carrying plates piled with food, alongside Re=L, who predictably has a mountain of strawberry tarts on her plate.

“…Ah, you guys are safe… Thank goodness…”

Glenn lets out a relieved sigh, while the three girls tilt their heads curiously.

“Wait, why food anyway? Didn’t you see me stuffing my face earlier?”

“Oh, uh… now that you mention it…?”

“Hmm, why did we think we had to bring Sensei food?”

“Jeez… Aren’t you guys getting a bit too carried away?”

Though he grumbles, Glenn secretly breathes a sigh of relief.

As Eleanor declared, all three seem perfectly fine. In this prime opportunity, with both Eve’s and Glenn’s surveillance momentarily absent,《Demon’s Right Hand》truly made no move.

Because of that, Eleanor’s prophecy—that the [Robe de la Fae] will become Rumia’s beautiful death shroud—takes on an even more ominous ring of truth.

‘…Hehe. What’s wrong, Glenn? You don’t look so good.’

Suddenly, Eve’s voice returns. She doesn’t elaborate, but likely, as Eleanor said, she’s finished with her “distraction” and turned her attention back here.

(Eve. Eleanor showed up in front of me just earlier. We need to track her down—)

‘Huh? Eleanor… as in Eleanor Charlet?’

Immediately, a mix of exasperation and disappointment seeps through the communication.

‘Hah… You think I’d fall for such a lame joke?’

(I get why you’d doubt or scoff! But she really—)

‘Shut up. Focus on your mission. Or do you want to be burnt?’

As expected, Eve doesn’t believe him. Understandably so—Glenn wouldn’t believe it either if their roles were reversed.

(Damn it… If I could at least contact Albert and the others…)

But Eve controls all communication channels, leaving no direct line to Albert.

Eve’s stubborn insistence on this communication setup has now backfired painfully.

‘More importantly, Glenn, good news. It’s almost over… everything’s going exactly as I planned.’

“…”

What should be welcome news from Eve feels like a sound echoing from another world, failing to resonate with Glenn’s heart in this moment.

—

“Kyaha! Hahahahahaha♪ Ahahahahahahahahaha♪”

Glacia’s grating laughter echoes through the howling blizzard.

“What’s wrong? Hey, hey♪ Me, me♪ What’s wrong?”

“Tch…”

In response, Christoph desperately maintains the emerald defensive barrier deployed around himself.

The area outside that barrier is nothing short of a subzero frozen hell.

A raging blizzard, a frozen earth, countless icicles thrusting toward the sky—

Even the air itself freezes, crystallizing and glittering ominously as it dances through the sky.

It’s a deadly zone where, unprotected, one’s blood would freeze instantly, oxygen would solidify, making breathing nearly impossible—no, even a single breath would freeze the lungs.

Glacia, of the Researchers of Heavenly Wisdom’s《Portals Order》, bears magical engravings across her body—the ‘Seal of Winter’s Death.’ By channeling mana through these seals, the temperature around her plummets without limit, forming a merciless winter of death. Her mere presence is a calamity.

(What… what kind of chilling aura is this…!?)

Christoph, with his prized defensive barrier layered fourfold around him, barely carves out a survivable space within this subzero frozen hell—but even so—

Crack, crack… From his fingertips, from his toes, bit by bit… the unstoppable cold seeps through, encroaching into the barrier… freezing Christoph’s blood…

“You said it♪ You said you could beat me♪ Oh, how comical♪ But look at this mess♪ Just look at this mess♪ Hey, hey☆ Hey, hey♪ How does it feel?”

Glacia pours even more rampant mana into the ‘Seal of Winter’s Death’ etched across her body.

In that instant, the surrounding cold intensifies sharply, the temperature plummeting further—

With a sound like shattering glass, Christoph’s four-layered barrier begins to crack and crumble from the outermost layer inward—completely unable to withstand the assault.

“《Swift Barrier Deployment・Ruby Circle》!”

In that moment, Christoph activates a spell he had secretly prepared with a two-verse incantation.

A blazing ring of scorching flames, formed by rubies arranged around him, instantly envelops the area.

The superheated flames counterbalance the encroaching subzero cold.

Originally, this spell is an offensive barrier meant to incinerate enemies trapped within its fiery walls. Though the surrounding cold offsets much of its heat, the overwhelming warmth still threatens to scorch Christoph inside—

“—Hmph!”

Ignoring his burning body, Christoph hurls a multitude of gemstones into the air above.

The gems fly as if alive, embedding themselves into the ground around him at precise intervals, following a specific pattern—

“I won’t let you♪ 《O sword wielded by the demon of winter》♪”

Sensing his intent, Glacia sings a one-verse incantation.

In an instant, swords of ice materialize around her, their tips aimed at Christoph as they soar toward him.

These are no ordinary ice blades. They are swords of pure cold, crystallized by compressing overwhelming freezing energy.

A mere touch would freeze the body instantly, shattering it beyond physical damage.

The countless ice swords pierce through Christoph’s [Ruby Circle] without resistance—

“《Swift Barrier Deployment・Diamond Sign》!”

In response, Christoph rotates his right hand, positioning five diamonds in the air.

Lines of light burst forth, connecting the five diamonds in a single stroke, forming a pentagram sigil—a magical shield as unyielding as diamond itself.

The ice swords collide head-on with the protective sigil, snapping and shattering one after another.

The broken blades unleash a storm of overwhelming cold, swirling and straining the sigil.

Eventually, the sigil succumbs to the relentless barrage of ice swords and cold, crumbling into fragments—

“Ugh—!?”

The residual wave of cold freezes Christoph’s right arm up to the elbow.

“Ahahahahahahaha♪ Sleep now☆ Aren’t you tired? So, rest peacefully♪ As a reward for playing so much♪ I’ll sing you a lullaby☆”

Glacia channels even more mana into her ‘Seal of Winter’s Death’—the storm of cold intensifies, spiraling into a frenzied, limit-breaking rampage—

In that instant, Christoph rapidly chants another spell.

“《Ruby Circle・Immediate Release》—《Swift Barrier Deployment・Emerald Circle・Quintet》!”

The flames vanish as if a lie, and a green-glowing defensive barrier is instantly reformed—this time in five layers.

Once again, Christoph barely carves out a survivable space from this frozen hell of death—

“Ha… ha… ha…”

“Oh my♪ So persistent♪ Such a brave little bird♪ But no matter how much you try, it’s the same♪ No matter how many layers you stack, it’s futile♪ Your desperate little castle☆ can’t defeat my winter♪”

Even as she speaks, the outer layers of Christoph’s barrier begin to freeze, crack, crack, as fissures form…

“See? Feeling despair yet? But it’s inevitable, this is the gap between us♪ An overwhelming♪ undeniable♪ gap between you and me♪ So cruel♪ Oh, so cruel♪”

“…”

Christoph lowers his gaze, silent. To an onlooker, the situation seems hopeless. Christoph, entirely on the defensive, is barely holding on… with no chance of victory against Glacia.

“By the way♪ Why don’t we have a little chat♪”

Smiling, Glacia addresses Christoph, who seems to have given up in silence.

“The fight’s already over, isn’t it? There’s no point in continuing♪ Oh, how sad, fighting creates nothing♪ The world needs love☆”

“…?”

“…So♪ Christoph, why don’t you surrender♪”

Glacia beams innocently at the puzzled Christoph.

“Actually, I don’t want to kill you♪ Because, when I look closely♪ you’re such a cute boy♪ Eek… could this be☆ love?”

“…”

For a moment, Christoph lowers his head in silence, as if deep in thought.

“…Heh… haha…”

But then, his shoulders begin to tremble…

“Ahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha—!”

Suddenly, as if broken, he bursts into laughter.

“Haha♪ Are you that thrilled♪ to become my pet—”

“Go to hell, you idiot.”

Christoph’s face, cutting her off sharply, bears a fierce smile that makes even the raging cold around them seem warm.

“You’re telling me to betray Her Majesty and serve under a brainless, classless, carefree woman like you? That’s a hilarious joke, you tramp.”

“Wha…☆”

“No way. As someone to pledge loyalty to, or as a woman, you don’t even come close to Her Majesty’s feet. Why don’t you wash your face and try again? Now, let’s continue the fight—”

Beneath his cool facade burns an aggressive passion—Glacia is stunned by Christoph’s demeanor, so unlike his usual calm and gentle self.

“N-Now♪ Y-You’re just bluffing… I know♪ Your right arm is completely frozen, your legs are nearly useless, your body is half-burned… and your lungs are starting to freeze, aren’t they♪ The fight is already…”

“Hm? My right arm’s completely frozen, my legs are useless, my body’s half-burned, and my lungs are slightly frozen, that’s all, right? Hahaha, come on… the fight’s just getting started.”

Though his expression remains calm and composed, Christoph’s eyes blaze with unyielding resolve.

“Y-You… is that your true nature…? I thought you were more delicate, fragile…?”

“People often misunderstand because of my feminine appearance. …Disappointed?”

“No, it’s wonderful! A steadfast soul hidden deep within♪ Oh my, oh my☆ I’m falling for you even more♪ Oh, thank you☆ For this fateful meeting♪ La la la~♪”

Glacia beams with a broken, manic smile.

“Absolutely♪ I’ll make you mine♪ This is love♪ It’s love♪ Even in winter♪ Oh, even in winter♪ La la la~♪ I’m already in spring☆”

“Look… I said it before, but I’ll say it again.”

Christoph pierces Glacia with a cool, steely gaze.

“…You can’t beat me. That’s absolute.”

“Ufu, ufufufufufufu…♪”

Glacia channels even more rampant mana. The ‘Seal of Winter’s Death’ etched into her responds, generating even greater cold, lowering the surrounding temperature further, and further.

The raging blizzard grows ever stronger—its cold seemingly bottomless—

“I’ll absolutely♪ make you submit!”

The storm of cold roars ferociously, engulfing Christoph once more—

Albert rapidly chants his spells.

“《Roar, blazing lion》—《Roar》,《Roar》!”

Black Magic [Blaze Burst] activates in rapid succession, sending three superheated fireballs soaring.

But—

“That won’t work—won’t work, won’t work!”

Vice’s scream echoes through the forest—

Unfazed by the rising flames and shockwaves, the demon charges forward with its massive body, toppling trees as it barrels toward Albert.

The shockwaves send surrounding trees flying, igniting, shattering, and dancing through the air—

The distance between Albert and the demon rapidly closes.

“—《O war god of lightning・with fierce wrath and hammer・shatter all in thy path》”

Yet Albert’s expression doesn’t waver, calmly chanting his spell—

As Albert’s incantation completes,

The demon catches Albert in its range, raising its fist, almost simultaneously.

From Albert’s left hand, a massive, concentrated lightning bolt is unleashed, blinding with its radiant glow—

“Hyahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha—!”

The demon swings its fist directly at the concentrated lightning bolt fired from point-blank range—

B-Class military offensive spell, Black Magic [Plasma Cannon]. Though its range is linear and narrow, its power—condensing electrical energy to extreme density—is immense. Its physical force per unit of space far surpasses even [Plasma Field].

No human could withstand it at such close range without being obliterated.

But—the opponent is a demon. Unbelievably… the demon catches [Plasma Cannon] with a single fist… holds it… pushes it back—

“Die!”

It swings its fist through. It overpoweringly defeats [Plasma Cannon] with ease.

The lightning, its direction forcibly disrupted, rages wildly in search of an escape—

Before the backlash can reduce Albert himself to ash—

“—《Swift》!”

With a roar, a fierce gust propels Albert back from the spot.

Black Magic [Rapid Stream]. A mobility boost powered by wind.

The raging gust bends the forest trees, creaking in protest—

As Albert’s form blurs into afterimages, vanishing into the forest’s depths—

CRASH!

Albert’s parting gift, Black Magic [Freezing Coffin]—a magical trap—activates. From the ground beneath the demon, countless icicles thrust skyward, striking the demon and encasing it in rapidly growing ice—

“Pathetic!”

With a single casual stomp, the demon shatters all the ice.

The ground cracks and splinters under the impact, the magic nullified by sheer force—

“Haha, no matter what you do, it’s useless—”

Before it can finish, in that instant,

From the forest depths where Albert vanished, three glints of light rise.

Their true nature: three flashes of Black Magic [Lightning Pierce].

Somehow, unnoticed, the bark of the surrounding trees had been transmuted into mirrors, countless in number—

The three high-speed lightning bolts ricochet freely among the mirrors, fragmenting the field of vision—striking at Vice’s vital points from blind spots beyond his reaction—

But even that,

“Useless!”

The demon moves with speed belying its massive frame, swatting down every lightning bolt aimed at Vice.

“It doesn’t work… don’t you get it? Fire, ice, lightning… your specialty three-element spells don’t work on a ‘demon,’ a concept given form…?”

Vice proclaims loudly to Albert, likely lurking in the forest depths.

“In other words… the moment you faced me, your defeat was sealed.”

Yet, even so, Vice can’t help but marvel at Albert’s magical skill.

Rapid-fire C-Class spells, seamlessly transitioning to B-Class incantations, anticipating their failure, perfectly timed emergency evasion spells, and pre-placed magical traps…

The irregular sniping aimed at Vice just now was precision and accuracy at a near-mad level. Undoubtedly among the top five marksmen in this world.

Normally, one would be satisfied here, but what drove him to hone himself to this degree?

It’s not hard to imagine Albert forging himself into a blade through hellish training, tempered in his own blood and vomit, sharpened to reach this realm…

“…But it doesn’t matter. I far surpass you.”

Yes, he is overwhelmingly stronger than Albert. He has this demon.

While Albert wasted time on pointless self-training, he diligently offered human sacrifices to the demon, creating something supremely powerful.

Don’t you get it? If you want power, efficiency is key. A mage doesn’t need to become strong themselves to gain power—

“Now… I’m getting bored of playing with you. Your petty tactics are tiresome… though, I suppose you have no choice against this demon’s power.”

Vice, accompanied by the demon, strides lightly toward where Albert disappeared.

“But these trees are in the way. Too many hiding spots… might as well burn them—”

But as Vice searches the forest for Albert, he suddenly stops.

He has no choice but to stop.

In the aftermath of their magical battle, a wide, cross-shaped clearing has been scorched open—and at its center,

“…”

Albert stands, arms crossed, waiting.

“Wha…?”

Under the moonlight, Albert’s form is clearly visible. No more places to hide.

Until now, Albert had used the forest’s bushes to obscure vision, striking unexpectedly to barely contend with the demon.

An open clearing like this is overwhelmingly disadvantageous for facing the demon head-on.

“S-So… you’ve finally given up…”

Though briefly shaken by Albert’s unexpected appearance, Vice quickly regains composure, sneering like a snake.

“You finally realized… you can’t beat my demon.”

“Yeah. Right now, I don’t have the means to kill your demon.”

Albert states it matter-of-factly, as if it’s an undeniable truth.

“Hyaha, hyahahahahaha… That’s right! My demon is the strongest!”

“…”

Albert remains silent. Has he given up? He stands there, motionless, not even chanting a spell… just quietly.

“Then… I’ll take your soul…?”

“…”

“Oh, I can’t wait! How much stronger will my demon become after devouring a soul like yours!? I owe you thanks, Albert!”

Vice grins cruelly…

“Do it! I, Vice Sunarth, your master, command you by your true name!《Count of Madness》Narkis! Devour that insolent man’s soul!”

In an instant, the demon charges at Albert, kicking up a fierce gust.

Its overwhelming mass barrels toward him—

“Yeah… right now, I don’t have the means to kill that demon.”

But Albert glances at the demon as if it’s something trivial—

“—So, I borrowed the tiger’s might.”

The demon raises its rock-like fist, roaring as it swings down at Albert—

That fist, meant to crush Albert from head to toe—

—doesn’t.

“…What?”

The demon’s fist stops just before touching Albert.

As if in awe of Albert, the demon trembles violently.

“W-What are you doing…!? Kill him! Narkis! I, your master, command you by your true name!《Count of Madness》Narkis! Slay that impudent fool!”

“Hmph. For a demon summoner, you’re awfully ignorant of demonology. …Look closely at where I’m standing.”

Pointed out, Vice finally realizes.

“A cross-shaped scorched mark—no, wait… this is… could it be…?”

The scorched cross stretches far in all four directions—east, west, south, and north.

And so—

“From above, it would look like a ‘black sword pointing north.’ You, who claim to be the master of《Count of Madness》Narkis, should know what that means.”

“T-The symbol of《Demon King of the Black Sword》Maeves…!? The true lord of《Count of Madness》Narkis…!?”

Visibly shaken, Vice stumbles back.

“Indeed, things bound by the laws of this world… physical attacks or magic have little effect on a ‘demon,’ a conceptual entity. That’s the rule. But a demon is, after all, a conceptual entity born of human fantasy. A concept falls before a stronger concept… that’s also the rule.”

Albert fixes the young man with a sharp gaze, stating calmly.

“Standing at the center of the ‘black sword’ that invokes Maeves, I am, in effect, Maeves’ proxy. A servant cannot raise a hand against the proxy of their true lord.”

What an incredible feat. Albert had improvised a conceptual weapon in this very place.

“Ah… aah… no way…!? Were you aiming for this!? All your meaningless magic was to camouflage drawing this in the aftermath…!?”

Of course, merely drawing a symbol isn’t enough. To invoke Maeves, every line requires complex, arcane rituals rooted in demonology.

To pull that off while fighting the demon, as if it were a side task—

“Using the symbol of a higher demon to banish a lesser one with its authority… unorthodox, but it’s the basics of exorcism. That’s why summoners take utmost care to keep a demon’s true name hidden from others… but you grew arrogant with its immense power. You thought humans couldn’t defeat or overcome demons.”

Albert glances at the demon, now completely cowed.

“《Narkis, Count of Madness, by the name of the Demon King of the Black Sword, I command thee: release the souls thou hast bound, depart this mortal realm, and return to thy homeland. This is the decree of Maeves》…”

As Albert calmly recites the sacred verse,

The demon’s body shimmered with light—and suddenly, it scattered into countless particles of light.

“Aah!? M-My servant—!?”

The particles of light—the freed souls—ascended to the heavens, and the demon completely vanished.

“No way…!? Even if you used Maeves’ symbol, to banish a high-ranking demon like Narkis, you’d need a priest of extraordinary virtue… What… are you? Just who are you!? Weren’t you just a mage!?”

“My identity doesn’t matter. More importantly…”

Albert turned to face Vice.

“Are you out of servants already? Then it’s time you pay, you fiend. You’ll face retribution for toying with the dignity of innocent people. There’ll be no mercy.”

Pierced by Albert’s sharp, hawk-like gaze, Vice gulped and staggered back.

“H-Hii…!?”

For a while, Vice could only tremble, tears welling in the corners of his eyes, frozen before Albert, who loomed like a demon king.

But suddenly, as if resolving himself, Vice’s eyes blazed with murderous intent—

With a spring-loaded motion, he pointed at Albert and rapidly chanted a spell.

“《I wish for thy death—》!”

“—Too slow.”

In that instant, Albert’s left fingers blurred in a spinning motion.

A pre-cast spell activated with a delay, and a flash of lightning shot from his fingertips, slicing through the darkness.

Albert’s Black Magic [Lightning Pierce]—a godlike feat of speed that pierced the moment itself.

The lightning unerringly struck Vice’s skull, killing him instantly.

“Hmph. Took more effort than I thought. A demon summoner, huh?”

Glancing at Vice’s lifeless body with an emotionless gaze, Albert muttered coldly.

(…No good. This isn’t nearly enough. With this level of power, I’ll never reach that man…)

He stared intently at his left palm, then clenched it tightly with a grimace.

Flashing through Albert’s mind, as always, was the back of a certain elderly man in monk’s robes.

The despair and hatred that man had inflicted upon him that day still smoldered darkly in his heart.

But now wasn’t the time to indulge in such nostalgic sentiments.

“…Hmph.”

Instantly switching his mindset, Albert turned on his heel and began to walk away—

At that moment—

“Gyoehhhhhhhh—!?”

Bernard was spectacularly blown back, tumbling across the ground.

“Tch, what a pain! This guy’s a heavyweight, ain’t he!?”

Using the momentum of his roll, he pushed off the ground with his hands and swiftly regained his stance.

The unstoppable force slid Bernard back several paces in that position—

“Mmm—?”

Bernard braced for a follow-up attack, but the enemy was nowhere to be seen.

“Your reactions are dull, Bernard!”

“!?”

Seth, a master of Black Arts, had circled behind Bernard in that split second.

“Die!”

A heel, like a hammer swung downward, closed in on Bernard’s skull.

His right leg crackled with tremendous electric energy, roaring with explosive sound.

“No way!? When I die, it’ll be—”

Bernard’s reflexes barely kept up, and as he turned, he swung his arm to deflect the blow.

At the moment of impact, electricity and flames clashed fiercely, bursting apart—

“—on a bed, with a cute girl by my side, aaaaaah—!?”

But the force of the impact threw Bernard’s stance back, causing him to stagger—

“Oooooooohhh—!”

Seizing the opening, Seth let out a beastly roar and unleashed a barrage of punches with both fists.

The relentless flurry of blows came like a wall of fists closing in—

“Gyowawawawa!?”

Bernard countered with his own fists, blocking, deflecting, knocking away, and parrying.

Each clash of fists sent magic bursting outward, the shockwaves gouging the surroundings.

At a glance, Bernard seemed to be holding his own with veteran skill, but he was clearly being overwhelmed.

With each of Seth’s strikes, Bernard’s body wavered, pushed back, sliding further.

And then—

“Dieeeeee—!”

Seth’s high roundhouse kick—

“Hooaaaaaa—!”

And Bernard’s right fist—clashed fiercely above their heads.

A storm of roaring electricity and flames erupted, the ground was torn apart, and the shockwave swept the surroundings—

“Heh, another test of strength, eh? Fine by me! Here we go, young’un—”

The balance of their locked fist and kick lasted only a moment.

“—Wait, no way!?”

Bernard quickly lost the struggle, his overpowered body sent flying backward.

But as he was blown back parallel to the ground—

“Yoink!”

Bernard reached out, grabbing the trunk of a nearby tree—

Using it as a pivot, he spun his body around to kill the momentum and landed.

“Geez… have some respect for your elders…”

He brushed off the soot covering his body with a disgusted expression.

“Impressive, Bernard. Your skill in deftly handling my attacks is truly remarkable.”

“Being praised by a musclehead doesn’t make me happy. A cute girl, maybe, but not you.”

“But—you’ve grown old.”

Ignoring Bernard’s nonsense, Seth declared as if passing judgment.

“I see. In your prime, you must indeed have been the destructive fiend of legend. But with age, your absolute magical power, your violence, and your aggression have faded. Your current Black Arts, with its fangs dulled, are… weaker than mine.”

“Haa…”

Bernard let out a sigh, as if to say, “What a hassle.”

“Well, yeah, probably. Can’t fight the march of time. My magic’s weakened, and I don’t have it in me to go all ‘Hyahha! Time to disinfect the filth!’ like I used to.”

“…Honestly, I can’t help but call this a disappointment.”

Seth spat disdainfully.

“Shall we end this? Even a weakened foe deserves respect as a predecessor. I’ll erase you in an instant, without suffering.”

With that, Seth readied his fists.

An even more overwhelming surge of electricity crackled around them.

“Well, that’s mighty kind of ya…”

Bernard, as if resigned, let his arms hang limply and stood still.

And then—

“Dieeeeee—!”

Seth charged forward, raising his fist.

His sheer speed broke through the air, sending shockwaves rippling outward.

With each step, he unleashed a storm of destruction, closing in on Bernard.

In the next moment, Bernard would likely be reduced to minced meat—

In such a situation—

“Tch, sure, my Black Arts might be weaker than yours right now…”

Bernard grinned, the corner of his mouth curling up…

“But who said I’d stick to Black Arts till the end?”

Clink!

Suddenly, a musket appeared in Bernard’s hand, as if by sleight of hand, and he aimed it at the oncoming Seth—

“—What!?”

The musket’s muzzle roared. A fiery projectile shot forth, closing in on Seth.

Seth reacted instantly, knocking the bullet away with his fist—

Boom!

The moment it made contact, the bullet exploded, engulfing Seth in flames—

“Gah!? A magic bullet that triggers an offensive spell on impact!?”

But a musket could only hold one shot. If this was his trump card, Seth had seen through him.

—Or so Seth thought for a moment.

Bernard casually tossed the spent musket aside…

Clink! Clink!

Two new muskets appeared in his hands.

“Here we go! Take this, take this, take this, take this—!”

Shoot the musket, discard it, summon a new one.

Shoot the musket, discard it, summon a new one.

With both hands moving in a blur, he unleashed a relentless barrage of explosive flames, pinning Seth down.

The rapid-fire onslaught of his quick-draw roared—

“Take this, take this!? Where’s all that momentum from before!? Getting tired!?”

“Tch…!? Resorting to guns when you’re out of tricks…!?”

But the muskets flying through the air showed no sign of running out…

Seth blocked with his magically enhanced arms, but at this rate, he’d eventually be overwhelmed—

(…No, they’ll run out eventually!)

Seth, focusing on defense, was certain of it.

He caught a glimpse through the gaps in the rising flames—the secret behind Bernard’s trick.

Between Bernard’s fingers were countless twig-like objects—likely muskets, pre-loaded with magic bullets, compressed and frozen to twig size with magic.

By instantly thawing them, he restored the muskets to their original size, creating this barrage. If so—

As Seth predicted—

“Oh? Ran outta stock. Shoulda brought more, eh?”

At a certain point, Bernard’s assault abruptly stopped.

“Oooooooohhh—!”

Seizing the chance, Seth dove into Bernard’s range.

But Bernard, with a smug expression, flicked a small stone upward with his right thumb.

“Tch, you’re too hasty, young’un. Underestimating your enemy’s resources…”

Flash! The stone burst above, flooding the area with blinding light, as bright as midday—

(—A Flash Stone!? A magical tool!? Such petty tricks—!)

But to a seasoned warrior like Seth, who could sense his enemy’s movements through presence and breath, such a thing was no obstacle.

Unfazed, Seth charged, bringing Bernard within the range of his fist.

He unleashed a ferocious punch.

But Bernard nimbly cartwheeled to the side with one arm, dodging Seth’s charge—

In that instant, a thin line glinted from Bernard’s left fingers, arcing through the air.

The line sliced through the air with a whoosh! encircling Seth, who had missed his attack—

The lightning surging in Seth’s right arm flickered out—

Splat! A dull sound of flesh and bone being severed echoed.

“Wha—!? Gaaaaaaah—!?”

Suddenly, Seth’s right arm was cleanly severed, spiraling through the air in a spray of blood.

“…After all, you never know what kind of ace your enemy might be hiding, right?”

Upon closer inspection, several ultra-thin steel threads dangled from Bernard’s left hand.

With a smug wave of his left hand, the steel threads glinted in the moonlight, dancing around Bernard as they sliced through the air with a whoosh!

“Guh… Those are… steel threads enchanted with [Dispel Force]…!?”

Clutching his bleeding stump, Seth glared hatefully.

“Figured they’d be especially effective against someone like you, who’s maxed out their arm strength with magic… Well, normally, even these wouldn’t work on you.”

Bernard shrugged with a self-satisfied smirk.

“But with your blood boiling from me ‘tainting’ our serious fistfight with something as cheap as a gun, plus your vision impaired by the Flash Stone, you couldn’t track these threads’ movements. That’s the deal.”

“You…!? You read me down to my very core, and deliberately played along with a Black Arts fight…!?”

“Pfft—Hahaha! Dirty, right!? Idiot! The victor writes the rules! Guffaw! Seriously, a ‘serious fight’ in a deathmatch? What a moron! Dehyahyahya!”

It was hard to tell who the real villain was… Bernard cackled loudly.

“When you’re old, you gotta fight smarter! Going toe-to-toe with you young bucks head-on? This old bag of bones wouldn’t stand a chance! Hmm?”

Then, Bernard struck a Black Arts stance again.

“Well, that’s all my tricks used up… Guess I’ve got no choice but to fight fair and square now. Tch, even with one arm, I probably can’t beat you… So, how should I play this? Don’t wanna die just yet…”

“You… old fox…!?”

Bernard claimed he couldn’t win against younger opponents in a straight fight…

(But maybe… this guy’s actually hiding the power to crush his opponent head-on, even in a fair fight…)

For a legend, he’d seemed oddly weak, which had bothered Seth. Perhaps he’d been holding back his Black Arts to lull Seth into complacency—a real possibility. Bernard’s suspiciously relaxed demeanor, despite being overwhelmed, suddenly felt ominous.

(It could be a bluff… but that’s not the only concern…)

There was also the chance Bernard was hiding another trump card Seth hadn’t anticipated. Or that he’d secretly set some unknown trap.

The doubts were endless. At this point, Seth couldn’t trust a single word or action from this old man.

(This is… Bernard Jester, Special Missions Executive Number 9 of the Imperial Court Mage Corps,《The Hermit》… What a cunning man…!)

Of course, Seth still had plenty of tricks up his sleeve. He could unleash more power. Losing an arm or two was no big deal, and his vaunted Black Arts were far from exhausted.

But—even so, losing an arm hurt. To defeat this old man head-on, Seth would need to go all-out, with everything perfectly aligned.

Thus, Seth made a snap decision.

“Well, guess this is my guaranteed loss event… No helpin’ it. Go easy on me…”

“Uooooooohhh—!”

Ignoring Bernard, Seth slammed his remaining arm into the ground.

The impact caused a massive explosion, kicking up a cloud of dust that obscured everything…

By the time the smokescreen cleared… Seth was already gone.

“…He retreated, huh. Smart move.”

Confirming Seth’s presence had completely vanished, Bernard sighed.

“Tch… Thought he was just a reckless meathead, but he’s surprisingly cautious and sharp.”

Bernard scratched his head irritably.

“What a mess… My magic tricks got a bit exposed to the enemy… Would’ve preferred to silence him for good right here…”

He said something chilling so casually that it would make anyone’s blood run cold…

“Eh, whatever. That’s its own kinda fun.”

Grinning like a mischievous kid who’d just pulled a prank, he chuckled.

“—See? I told you, didn’t I? ‘You can’t beat me.’”

Glacia stood there, her expression one of disbelief.

The icy aura around her had, at some point, come to a complete standstill.

“…Just… what are you?”

“Nothing special. I simply endured your onslaught until the end… until the situation turned in my favor. That’s all.”

Indeed. In the end, Christoph had weathered Glacia’s relentless assault to the very last.

Using every trick in the book, he’d repeatedly reformed his barriers, sacrificing his own body, calmly reconstructing them… never letting his spirit break, surviving that frozen hell.

Even as his body was left in tatters…

“It’s a reversal. One of your allies has been taken down, another has retreated… while my allies are still standing. In a few minutes, they’ll be here. You understand that much, don’t you?”

Christoph gave a gentle smile.

“…Can you, alone, defeat me, Albert-san, and Bernard-san?”

“N-No way…♪ Because☆ I’ve got♪ This winter on my side…♪”

Glacia tried to intensify the icy aura around her, but…

“If I may… the nature of your magic has been laid bare by the gleam of amethyst.”

Christoph said this so matter-of-factly.

“Didn’t you notice? Among the layers of defensive barriers I set up, I secretly wove in an analysis barrier… to uncover the nature of your magic.”

Ping! Christoph flicked a gemstone with his thumb, revealing an amethyst.

“Now, about your freezing aura… It doesn’t actually have as much effective range as it seems, does it? Fifty meters centered around you. You’re overwhelmingly powerful only within that range. Outside it, with proper magical defenses, it’s not unbearable.”

“…!?”

“Even within that effective range, your freezing aura, while incredibly potent, takes a bit of time to cool a normal-temperature environment. Once it drops below a certain temperature threshold, you’re practically invincible… but there’s always a gap before that happens.”

The moment Christoph began his analysis, Glacia fell silent.

“Thus, you constantly spread your freezing aura around you, cooling the surroundings as you move, and when a battle begins, you first freeze my feet to pin me down… because you’re not good at fights where positions keep shifting.”

“…”

“In other words… contrary to the impression of its ferocious power, your magic is more suited for defense than offense… It’s a magic that truly shines in a stronghold defense battle, where both sides stand their ground and fight from fixed positions. Naturally, this analysis has already been sent to Albert-san and the others. Now that your weakness is exposed… I can confidently say that for those two, the rest of this fight will simply be a ‘hunt.’”

At Christoph’s pointed remarks, Glacia visibly paled.

“No way…♪ You were aiming for this… from the start…? Haha!☆ So when you said I couldn’t beat you…♪ that’s what you meant…?”

Exactly. “You can’t beat me” is not at all the same as “I can beat you.”

“In terms of sheer strength or combat achievements as a mage, I don’t even come close to Albert-san or Bernard-san. But when it comes to defensive battles, I won’t lose even to them. Holding you back and creating an advantageous situation for those two… that’s my role.”

He says it so simply, but analyzing an opponent’s magic, stalling with a purely defensive strategy, and expecting allies to win and come to your aid is no small feat—it requires extraordinary skill and courage. It also demands absolute trust in your comrades, betting your life on them.

Christoph, Number 5 of the Imperial Court Mage Corps’ Special Missions Annex,《The Hierophant》. He, too, was no ordinary man.

“So, what do you say? Shall we keep fighting? I’m reaching my limit here. If you can hold out for a few more minutes, you might be able to take me down.”

Glacia placed a slender finger on her delicate chin, calmly assessing the situation.

The result…

“…No choice, then♪ How unfortunate♪ Oh, truly unfortunate♪”

A swirling blizzard began to envelop and conceal Glacia’s form…

“This time, it’s your victory, Christoph-sama♪ Such a wonderful gentleman♪ Let us meet again♪”

With a hyuo, the blizzard surged into a fierce vortex…

“The next time we meet♪ I swear♪ I’ll make you mine…♪ It’ll be the joyous beginning of our happy future~♪ Oh, oh, how delightful♪ So delightful♪…”

And then, as the blizzard cleared as if it were a lie…

Glacia’s figure had vanished, as if she were a fleeting illusion.

And then—

“Gahaha! Ye survived, Chris-boy! Well done!”

“Ow, ow!? That hurts!? Stop it, Bernard-san!”

Under the moonlight, the three members of the Special Missions Annex safely reunited.

Bernard was heartily slapping Christoph’s back.

“…As reckless as ever. You’re a different kind of trouble compared to Glenn.”

Albert calmly healed Christoph’s battered body with a [Healer Spell].

“Haha… I couldn’t pull off something this reckless without Albert-san and Bernard-san.”

“I’ve told you time and again to retreat cleanly if the situation turns unfavorable. What would you have done if we had been defeated?”

“…I believed in you. There’s no way you two would lose to those guys.”

“Hmph, that’s naive. Excessive faith clouds accurate judgment… Point deducted.”

Christoph gave a wry smile at Albert’s stern, detached response.

“…It’s done. Can you move? …Don’t push yourself.”

“Yes, I’m fine. Not perfect, but it won’t hinder me in combat.”

Though slightly unsteady, Christoph stood on his own after the healing.

“Still, I’m really sorry. I let Glacia

“No worries, no worries! Surviving’s the job for the young’uns!”

“Exactly. Even this old man

“Oi, you!? You’re bringing that up here and now!? My dignity—”

For a moment, a warm, almost unbefittingly relaxed atmosphere flowed among the three, despite the battlefield.

In the midst of a grim warzone, this fleeting sense of unity bloomed, as they rejoiced in each other’s safety.

But that moment was brief, and the air between them soon tightened like ice.

“…So, what happens now?”

“The outside is secure. There should be movement inside now as well.”

“Aye, from here on, it’s hard to predict. We’ll just have to stay flexible and ready.”

The three’s expressions had fully transformed into those of mages living in the shadows.

Looking up at the moon, Albert mused.

(With our near-total victory, the plans of

If so, everything up to this point had gone according to Eve’s plan.

In that case, it was only a matter of time before Eve ensnared

But would it really end so smoothly?

If it did, that would be ideal… but now, the fact that Bernard and Christoph’s opponents withdrew so readily was nagging at him.

(So, what’s next—?)

Naturally, the moon he gazed at offered no answers to his question.