Chapter 1: As Expected, I Shouldn’t Have Wished

Nightfall descended upon the city of Fejite.

Returning to the Fibel residence, Sistine, Rumia, and Re=L enjoyed a moment of togetherness.

On the dining table at the Fibel residence, an array of appetizing dishes adorned silver tableware: roast beef, fish pie, caesar salad, and a richly spiced stew. The gentle glow of a silver candelabra illuminated the vibrant spread.

“So… how is it? I was pretty confident about tonight’s meal…”

Rumia asked timidly.

“Oh, it’s delicious… you’ve outdone yourself…”

“……”

Sistine, taking a bite, blinked in surprise, while Re=L silently continued eating, her mouth moving like a small animal nibbling away.

“Hehe, I’m glad.”

Seeing their reactions, Rumia smiled brightly.

Sistine’s parents were often away in the imperial capital, Orlando, for work. Moreover, the Fibel residence employed no servants. The upkeep of the mansion and household chores were largely entrusted to helper fairies-—Brownies summoned within the estate.

[T/N: Brownies are household spirits from Scottish folklore. They are kind-hearted creatures who lend a hand with household chores, asking only for small offerings or a bit of respect in return.]

Even so, Sistine and the others made it a point to prepare meals themselves whenever possible, and tonight’s cook was Rumia.

“Still… Rumia, you’ve really gotten good at cooking lately, haven’t you?”

Sistine remarked with deep appreciation, slicing the roast beef with her knife.

“I suppose it’s partly because you were once royalty… but when you first came here, you were hopeless at cooking…”

“Y-yeah, that’s true…”

“And… didn’t you suddenly start taking cooking practice seriously lately? What happened? What changed your mind?”

“Well…”

Rumia hesitated for a moment…

“…So I won’t have any regrets.”

“Huh?”

“I mean, I thought I’d try my best at all sorts of things… or something like that?”

Rumia giggled mischievously, sticking out her tongue with a hint of embarrassment.

Seeing her dear friend like this, Sistine felt an inexplicable unease stir within her.

“Uh, um… Rumia? What exactly do you mean by that…?”

“Hey, hey, Rumia… is there no strawberry tart?”

But before Sistine could probe further, Re=L abruptly interrupted.

“Haha, don’t worry, Re=L. I bought some. After dinner, okay?”

“Mm.”

Re=L resumed eating silently.

Sistine, having missed her chance to press Rumia, reluctantly returned to her meal…

…That was when it happened.

Clatter!

Re=L suddenly kicked back her chair and stood up.

“Re=L!? W-what’s wrong!?”

Sistine, startled, looked up at Re=L’s profile. The usually sleepy, expressionless face was now unusually tense, alertly scanning their surroundings.

And in the next instant—

A loud crash, like shattering glass, echoed loudly around them. At the same time, some kind of protective field within the mansion dissipated.

The defensive barrier of the Fibel residence, meant to repel uninvited guests, had been breached.

“W-what!? What’s happening…!?”

Sistine paled, panicking.

“Probably… an enemy.”

Muttering this, Re=L crouched, placing her hand on the floor, activating the high-speed alchemy technique [Hidden Claw].

With a spinning magic circle and crackling violet lightning, a massive sword materialized in Re=L’s hands.

The gleaming blade, reflecting the candelabra’s light, heralded the shift from the ordinary to the extraordinary.

“I-intruders…!?”

Sistine felt the blood drain from her body.

Though the Fibel family was a lineage of mages, they were upright and respectable. There was only one reason intruders would target their home.

Rumia Tingel, the disowned former princess and cursed Ability User.

The nefarious magical society, [The Researchers of Heavenly Wisdom], relentlessly pursued her.

Surely, they had come for Rumia again—

“Ugh… why now, when Father, Mother, and Sensei aren’t here…?”

Sistine trembled, pale with fear and tension.

But—

“It’s okay. Don’t worry… I’ll handle it.”

Re=L, wielding her greatsword, strode forward without hesitation, heading out of the dining room.

“Wait.”

Rumia grabbed Re=L’s hand, stopping her.

“I know you’re incredibly strong, Re=L… but going alone is too dangerous.”

“Exactly! Rumia’s right! We should all escape together—!”

Sistine chimed in, but—

“…No. Whoever broke this house’s barrier so easily… they’re probably very smart. I don’t think we can escape. I don’t understand it well… but it’s a hunch. And it’s probably right.”

Re=L stated with conviction.

Re=L was utterly hopeless at logical thinking or strategic planning, but her exceptional instincts and combat intuition far surpassed the petty schemes of ordinary minds.

“Probably… we have no choice but to fight.”

No escape, only confrontation.

If Re=L’s instincts declared it so… it was likely true.

“You two stay here.”

“Ugh… Re=L… at least let me fight with you… I can—!”

Sistine, forcing her trembling knees to hold, squeezed out the words.

“No. You’d only get in the way.”

Re=L cut her off bluntly.

“The enemy who broke into this house… they feel incredibly strong. Sistine, you can’t handle them.”

Re=L spoke impassively, but Sistine and Rumia noticed.

The hand gripping her greatsword… was faintly trembling.

(No way… even Re=L is scared of this opponent…!?)

The realization made Sistine feel faint.

“…It’s okay.”

As if steeling herself, Re=L gripped her sword tightly and said,

“Protecting Rumia is my duty… so I’ll fight.”

Then, tilting her head as if dissatisfied with her own words…

“…Huh? Wait, that’s not quite right… it’s not just about duty… and it’s not just Rumia… ugh… I don’t really get it, but…”

She tilted her head repeatedly, struggling to find the right words.

“Anyway, I want to protect Rumia and Sistine… so I’ll fight.”

With those resolute words,

Re=L turned on her heel and headed out of the dining room.

Sistine and Rumia could only watch her back as she marched toward the battlefield, their hearts filled with prayers.

The entrance hall of the Fibel residence.

The lavish space, adorned with fine oak, boasted a spacious, open layout with a high ceiling and a staircase leading to the second floor.

In the center of this grand hall stood the intruder, bold and unyielding.

In the darkness of the night, the faint lamplight scattered throughout the hall barely dispelled the shadows, revealing the ghostly figure of the intruder.

Facing this intruder alone, sword in hand, was Re=L—

Her usually sleepy, expressionless face now brimmed with rare shock and disbelief.

“Why… are you here…?”

“Kukuku… it’s been a while, Re=L Rayford… have you been well?”

The intruder mocked with a low, dark chuckle.

“…!”

Clang. The sound of Re=L lowering her greatsword echoed chillingly through the hall.

Her extreme forward-leaning stance evoked a ferocious predator eyeing its prey—

—Yet, somehow, it also resembled a wounded beast, cornered by a skilled hunter, desperately attempting one last stand.

“Oh my, such bloodlust… I didn’t come here to fight you, you know…”

Despite the storm of fighting spirit, dominance, and killing intent radiating from Re=L, the intruder brushed it off like a gentle breeze and said casually,

“…What do you want here…?”

“Even with that dim brain of yours, you must know.”

The intruder’s mocking demeanor only served to overwhelm Re=L further.

“Rumia Tingel. I want you to hand her over to me…”

“Then I’ll cut you down.”

Re=L deepened her stance, glaring at the sneering intruder.

“I won’t let you have Rumia…! I’ll protect her…!”

She was like a bowstring drawn to its limit, ready to be unleashed—

Yet, even with such a deadly arrow aimed at their throat,

“Yare yare… you should know the gap in our strengths, shouldn’t you?”

The intruder shrugged playfully, their composure unshaken.

“Step aside. If you clear the way…”

In that instant,

“Nooooooooooooooo—!”

As if to declare her answer,

Re=L kicked off the ground, charging toward the intruder.

It was as if a bolt of blue lightning streaked across the floor. Her rapid, zigzagging steps left countless afterimages, closing the distance to the intruder.

“Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaa—!”

The moment Re=L’s figure collided with the intruder—she vanished like mist.

In that split second, the sound of her kicking off walls and ceiling echoed three, four times…

Suddenly, from the intruder’s blind spot—directly above and behind—Re=L shot down like a bullet, slashing at them.

Re=L’s three-dimensional maneuver was almost comical in its audacity.

Losing sight of her in the blink of an eye and being attacked from above and behind was unimaginable.

Normally, it would be impossible to counter—a guaranteed kill.

But—

The intruder drew a slender rapier from their cane with a flourish—

“I can read you.”

“—!?”

Without even looking, the intruder casually parried Re=L’s greatsword that swung down with ferocious speed from above, with their rapier.

The greatsword and rapier clashed, scraping against each other, sending up a shower of sparks.

Carried by her momentum, Re=L’s body passed by the intruder.

“Kuh—!?”

Unable to stop, Re=L’s small frame slid across the floor upon landing.

Twisting her body instantly, she scraped her soles against the floor, turning back.

Re-gripping her greatsword, she prepared to charge again—but—

“…And checkmate.”

Ignoring her, the intruder sheathed the rapier back into the cane’s handle—

Snap!

In the next moment, countless slash marks tore across Re=L’s body, and a spray of blood mist erupted.

“…Huh? …Why…?”

Re=L stared at her ravaged body in stunned disbelief.

“This can’t be… I… didn’t take your sword… I wasn’t cut…”

Her expression showed she couldn’t believe it, couldn’t comprehend what had happened.

But the damage was undeniably real, assaulting Re=L’s body.

Her strength drained, Re=L’s body swayed, collapsing…

“By my calculations, you’re no longer capable of fighting…”

The intruder left Re=L behind, striding deeper into the mansion.

“Good night, Re=L. Sweet dreams.”

…But then,

“…Ugh… grrrr…! I won’t… let you…!”

Gritting her teeth, Re=L clung to consciousness… refusing to fall…

Clutching her greatsword… trembling all over, she raised it…

“Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa—!”

Squeezing out the last drop of her strength, she leaped.

Forcing power into her slashed body widened her wounds, fresh blood spurting from her entire frame—but heedless, scattering blood like petals, Re=L soared—

With a fierce cry, she closed in on the intruder, swinging her greatsword—

In that instant, a whoosh of air. The intruder’s body suddenly sprang into motion.

“You should be proud.”

The intruder delivered a brutal counter knee strike to Re=L’s jaw.

“Ah… guh—!?”

Had Re=L not been so resilient, her head might have been torn from her body… The impact rattled her brain, sending her small frame arcing through the air.

“That one, I didn’t read.”

Re=L bounced across the floor two, three times… this time, she could do nothing, releasing her greatsword… and collapsed.

“Guh, ah… guh… Rumia… Sis… ti… I’m… sorry…”

In her fading, whitening consciousness, Re=L could only apologize to her beloved friends.

Special Missions Annex of the Imperial Court Mage Corps, Executive Number 7,《The Chariot》.

The seasoned ace who had slain countless rogue mages was defeated so easily, so utterly, it seemed like a joke.

…Moments ago, the dining room had been filled with warmth.

But now, a leaden, oppressive atmosphere weighed heavily upon it.

“…Rumia… are you okay? You look pale…”

“Ah… yeah…”

Sistine, concerned, spoke to Rumia, who was staring down with a troubled expression, but Rumia seemed distracted.

It was no wonder. The enemy who had come here was almost certainly after Rumia.

For someone as thoughtful and kind as her, it would be impossible not to feel responsible.

As Sistine hesitated, unsure of what to say…

“…I always thought… a day like this might come…”

Rumia murmured suddenly.

“Rumia?”

“But… I love this gentle world so much… I leaned on Sensei, Re=L, and you, Sistine, who protect me… telling myself, ‘Just a little longer,’ and kept putting off my decision…”

“…!?”

“…I’m… such a cunning, awful person… I knew if I stayed, something like this was bound to happen… I’m sorry, Sistine… I really shouldn’t be here…”

“Rumia!”

Sistine grabbed Rumia’s hand, as if scolding her uncharacteristically pessimistic words.

“Don’t say that! Don’t say what comes next! It’s not your fault! The only ones at fault are the bad people targeting you! You mustn’t get that wrong!”

“B-but…”

“It’s okay! It’ll be fine!”

Sistine spoke rapidly, as if convincing both Rumia and herself.

“You know how strong Re=L is, right? There’s no way she’ll lose! And you know, I’ve gotten stronger too! If it comes to it, I can at least help you escape—!”

Unbeknownst to Rumia, the hand gripping hers was trembling.

In truth, Sistine was terrified. Anxious. She wanted to cry.

But to lift the spirits of the guilt-ridden Rumia, she was desperately putting on a brave face.

“You’re right… Re=L will surely handle it… won’t she…?”

Not wanting to worry her friend, Rumia forced a smile…

Thud…

The sound of footsteps echoed faintly from beyond the dining hall’s door.

“R-Re=L!? Is that you, Re=L!?”

But—no response came.

Tap… tap… tap… The footsteps approached the dining hall steadily, unhurried.

“Re=L, it’s you, right!? Please! Answer me…!”

Still—no response.

Tap… tap… tap… The footsteps grew louder, drawing closer.

And then.

“…N-no… It can’t be… can it?”

Sistine, realizing something, paled and began to tremble violently.

The footsteps approaching the dining hall… that sound… no matter how she listened, it wasn’t Re=L’s.

Re=L’s steps were lighter, almost like those of a small animal.

And the idea of Re=L abandoning Rumia and the others to flee was unthinkable.

That meant—

(It’s not true… It can’t be…!)

Re=L had been defeated.

That Re=L, so strong, had lost to the intruder—there was no room for doubt.

That cruel reality shattered Sistine’s heart into pieces.

She wanted to scream, to cover her eyes and ears, to collapse on the spot.

But—when Sistine raised her face,

she saw Rumia, unflinching, resolute, glaring at the door with unwavering strength…

(…I have to… do what I can…!)

Inspired by Rumia’s courage, Sistine wiped the tears welling at the corners of her eyes.

(What happened to Re=L? What can I even do against someone who could defeat her? There’s so much… but right now…!)

And so, Sistine stepped forward…

“…Stay back, Rumia…”

She began chanting an assault spell, her voice low to avoid alerting the enemy beyond the door.

“《Gather, tempest—》”

Tap… tap… tap…

Using the approaching footsteps as her guide, she carefully timed her spell…

“《—become a warhammer—》”

Controlling the spell to avoid making noise, she meticulously gathered mana, slowly, deliberately…

And then…

Tap… …click.

The dining hall door creaked open just a fraction, revealing a sliver of space. In that instant—

“《—and strike true》!!”

Sistine shouted the incantation with all her might.

A deafening roar, like a cannon fired at point-blank range, reverberated through the dining hall.

From Sistine’s left hand, a ferocious gust of wind—a battering ram of air—surged forth.

The compressed air pressure raged, seeking escape, tearing through the dining hall like a storm—

and mercilessly obliterated the door.

It should have blown apart whoever was on the other side, along with the door—

“—!?”

—but no one was there.

The door was blown to pieces, but the intruder who should have been behind it… was gone.

—No.

“…‘I saw it coming.’”

A split second later, the intruder landed lightly in the space where the door had been.

Astonishingly, the intruder had leapt toward the corridor’s ceiling at the moment of entry, dodging the wind battering ram that had come hurtling through the door.

“N-no… way…”

Sistine stood dumbfounded, her spell—imbued with lethal intent—so easily evaded.

Before her, the intruder stepped slowly from the dark corridor into the brightly lit dining hall.

“Yare yare… Between Re=L and you, that’s quite the greeting, isn’t it?”

Illuminated by the candelabra’s light, the figure’s form became clear—

The moment Sistine recognized who it was.

“Ugh… ah…”

Sistine’s entire body began to tremble as if seized by a fever. Her knees felt like they might give way.

…She could never forget that face. That presence.

“Y-you… you’re…!?”

At first glance, his eyes seemed to glimmer with rational intellect, but deep within burned a pitch-black madness.

A being who, though human, had utterly forsaken humanity—an ‘unhinged’ existence.

A blasphemous zealot who maintained sanity while plunging into madness—

“It’s been a while, Sistine Fibel… I’m delighted to see you again…”

A tall hat, a ribbon tie, gloves, a frock coat… Despite his ‘unhinged’ nature, the young man was dressed in utterly ordinary attire, exuding a gentlemanly air—

“…J-Jatice Lowfan…!?”

Formerly of the Imperial Court Mage Corps’ Special Missions Annex, Executive Number 11,《The Justice》.

A true madman who, to embody his twisted ‘justice,’ bared his fangs alone against Her Majesty the Queen, the imperial government, and the Researchers of Heavenly Wisdom. A man who continued to commit heinous crimes, walking a blood-soaked path incomprehensible to anyone, laughing maniacally all the while—he stood there.

(W-why…!? Why is he here…!?)

She remembered. This man, Jatice, harbored an abnormal obsession with Glenn and Sistine, driven by some incomprehensible desire to prove his ‘justice.’

Could it be… was she the target? Was this a continuation of their battle from before?

As despair turned Sistine’s face ashen…

“Relax, Sistine… This time, my goal isn’t you or Glenn.”

Shrugging with a playful laugh, Jatice turned his clouded gaze toward Rumia.

“…It’s you, Rumia Tingel… Or rather, Princess Ermiana El Kel Alzano… I’ve come to take you into my custody.”

His eyes, rational yet gleaming with fervent madness, were like the demonic gaze of a fiend.

Under that stare, an ordinary person might collapse from instinctual terror, and a faint-hearted one might lose their sanity entirely.

But…

“…You said your name was Jatice-san, correct?”

With dignified resolve, unafraid and unyielding, Rumia posed her question.

“What exactly is your goal? What have you done to Re=L?”

Her eyes burned with quiet, indomitable will as she glared at the monstrous man…

“Depending on your answer… I won’t forgive you.”

Incredibly, she took a stance… to fight.

Unlike Sistine, Rumia knew almost no combat magic, and against an opponent who could defeat Re=L, she stood no chance—not even a one-in-a-million shot. She must have known that.

Then.

For a moment, Jatice’s eyes widened at Rumia’s display…

“Kukuku… Impressive, Rumia Tingel… As expected of her blood. A tainted, evil bloodline that must one day be eradicated… but your nobility and pride deserve my respect.”

Shaking with amusement, he straightened his posture.

“Rest assured… Your dear friend Re=L isn’t dead. I just put her to sleep for a bit. After all, a reckless boar like her makes conversation impossible.”

“…!?”

“I’ve already told you my purpose, Rumia. You’re coming with me… Don’t worry, I have no intention of harming you… I simply need your cooperation.”

“…Cooperation…?”

Jatice’s unexpected words left both Rumia and Sistine frozen.

“Come, Rumia. You don’t have the right to refuse… Oh?”

“…I won’t let you… Jatice…!”

Sistine had stepped forward, shielding Rumia, standing defiantly before Jatice.

“…Rumia… I’ll… I’ll protect her…!”

“Sistie!? No, you can’t!”

“Stay back, Rumia! This guy is an irredeemable monster!”

Sistine’s body trembled with fear and tension… but her emerald eyes, though fragile and on the verge of breaking, shone with a fierce resolve to protect someone dear.

“…”

Jatice gazed into Sistine’s eyes for a moment, seemingly dazzled…

“…Kukuku…”

And then, his shoulders began to shake with laughter.

“Kuha… Haha… Hahahahahahahahahaha—!”

“What’s… so funny…!?”

“Oh, I’m just… thrilled!”

Jatice’s words danced with glee, his expression brimming with joy.

“You’ve grown, Sistine Fibel! The old you, in a situation like this with no reliable Glenn-sensei around, would’ve been too terrified to face an enemy! You’d have cowered like a brat, screaming and sobbing! But this… this is truly magnificent!”

“Shut up! 《O fierce Thunder Emperor, with a spear of auroral light—》”

Ignoring him, Sistine pointed at Jatice, chanting a spell rapidly—

“But—facing me alone? You’re still far too…”

Suddenly, Jatice’s figure blurred and vanished from Sistine’s sight—

“Ah—gh!?”

Sistine’s voice choked with pain.

Beside her, Jatice stood casually…

His cane had struck her neck.

Instantly robbed of consciousness, Sistine’s knees buckled… Jatice caught her gently, laying her softly on the floor.

“Sistie!? Hold on!?”

Rumia cried out in anguish, kneeling beside Sistine to tend to her.

“…Now, perhaps we can finally talk calmly.”

Rumia turned toward Jatice, her gaze burning with quiet fury, while he remained utterly unfazed.

“…Cooperate with me, Rumia Tingel… To carry out my justice… and to save Fejite, which now faces an unprecedented crisis.”

“…What…? Save… Fejite…?”

Jatice’s utterly unexpected words made Rumia blink in surprise.

Peering into his eyes to discern his true intentions, she found only a deep, infinite darkness, stained with chaotic hues.

His true motives… were utterly unfathomable.

“Daaaaah—!? I lost again!?”

Glenn’s exasperated shout echoed through the night.

The setting was Celica’s mansion—the Arfonia residence, specifically the living room.

Glenn and Celica sat across from each other at a table.

On the table lay a tea set and a chessboard.

The two were engaged in a post-dinner wager over a game of chess.

“Hmph… A match is a match. This is mine.”

Celica scooped up the pile of lil coins wagered on the game.

“Grrr… Damn it… Why can’t I win…!?”

Glenn, the defeated underdog, could only watch regretfully as his coins were claimed.

“Kukuku… A true magician can’t just read the board in front of them. You need to read the intentions hidden behind it. You’re still sorely lacking in that. Too shallow.”

“Tch! Shut up! One more time, let’s go again!”

Glenn, bristling at Celica’s lofty lecture, demanded a rematch in a fit of desperation.

“…You’re still going? Give it up already. You’ll be flat broke again.”

“No way! I’m not backing down now!”

Yare yare… this guy’s gonna be living on Shirotte next month…

Celica smirked wryly as she began resetting the chess pieces to their starting positions.

Ding, ding, ding… The sound of a doorbell echoed through the mansion.

“…A visitor? At this hour?”

“Let’s see… 《Who could it be》…?”

Celica improvised a far-sight spell, sending her magical vision to investigate.

Checking the situation at the entrance…

“It’s… Sistine.”

“…White Cat? Why’s Sistie here so late…?”

Suddenly, Celica stood with a clatter, heading toward the entrance.

“W-what’s wrong?”

“Come with me, Glenn. Something’s off.”

Puzzled but following Celica’s unusually serious demeanor, Glenn trailed behind.

When the two opened the front door,

“…Sensei!”

Sistine rushed in with the cold night air…

“…Sensei… Sensei…! Sniff… Uu… Waaaaah!”

She threw herself at Glenn with such force it was almost a tackle, trembling and sobbing.

“…What happened?”

Glenn’s expression sharpened at the sight of Sistine’s utterly distraught state.

Clink.

The faint sound of Celica setting down a chilled teacup echoed in the living room.

“Jatice took out Re=L… and kidnapped Rumia…?”

Having heard Sistine’s account of the events at the Fibel residence, Glenn muttered grimly.

“Yes… When I woke up, Rumia was gone… Probably…”

“…Is Re=L okay?”

“She’s alive… but her injuries are severe. My healer spells couldn’t keep up… She’s resting at the Fibel residence now.”

“A small mercy… I’d say, but damn it… Things have been quiet lately, so I let my guard down completely… That bastard…!”

“I’m… so sorry, Sensei…! I… I couldn’t do anything again…!”

Sistine, shrinking at the table, began to tear up once more.

“Don’t worry about it. As frustrating as it is, Jatice is a master. It’s normal to be helpless against him.”

“…But why did this Jatice punk go after Rumia?”

Celica, arms crossed, asked Sistine calmly.

“From what I’ve heard, this punk’s after Glenn, right? Why suddenly target Rumia, like the Researchers of Heavenly Wisdom?”

“…I don’t know… I just…”

“Damn it…! If only Albert were here…!”

Previously, during the incident at the social ball, the capture of Zayd, a member of the Researchers of Heavenly Wisdom’s

As a result, the military’s strategy had shifted from ‘defense’ to an all-out ‘offensive’… Albert had been deployed to combat the Researchers, leaving Rumia’s protection entirely to Re=L.

(Against ordinary enemies, the mansion’s wards and Re=L alone would’ve been more than enough… But for Jatice to show up now…!)

They’d been completely blindsided by Albert’s absence.

“Either way, we need to rescue Rumia, fast.”

As Glenn stood to take action,

“…I’m moving too, Glenn.”

Celica spoke with a solemn expression.

“…Celica?”

“What? Got a problem? You’re planning to run around Fejite looking for Rumia, right? My magic will make it faster.”

“Well, sure… With your magic, you could probably scour all of Fejite in no time… But what’s with the sudden enthusiasm?”

“Hmph… I owe a lot to Alice… Queen Alicia VII, you know.”

Celica flashed a confident smile at the surprised Glenn.

“…Besides, I need to teach this Jatice punk who’s after you a lesson… Kukuku…”

She laughed lowly, her expression brimming with confidence…

“Oi, Celica… Don’t underestimate Jatice.”

Glenn, sensing a hint of unease at her attitude, issued a warning.

“Sure, in terms of raw magical skill, he’s nowhere near you. But… his danger lies elsewhere… Something… different…”

“What’s that? How sad. Don’t you trust your master’s power? You think I’d lose to some brat who hasn’t even lived half a century?”

“That’s not it! That’s not what I mean! That guy is—”

How could he make them understand the indescribable threat Jatice posed?

As Glenn began to rack his brain… that’s when it happened.

Suddenly, all sound vanished from the world—and his vision flared white-hot.

“—Hah!?”

A few moments later, when Glenn came to his senses…

The wall of the living room facing the garden had been completely blown away by some kind of explosion, leaving it exposed… Before him stretched the half-destroyed living room and a garden reduced to scorched earth.

“W-What in the world just happened…?”

“Instead of worrying about me, you should worry about yourself, you idiot disciple.”

Before he realized it, Celica had calmly deployed a magical barrier, shielding Glenn and Sistine.

And in the charred garden stood countless dark silhouettes.

“Wha—!?”

The silhouettes were people of indeterminate age and gender, cloaked in black overcoats.

Every single one wore a hood pulled low over their face, with a white mask concealing their features.

Each held a different weapon—daggers, scythes, hooked claws, and more—gripped tightly in their hands.

The design of their weapons… somehow resembled Re=L’s greatsword.

“Those tacky masks and cloaks… those mismatched weapons…《Hidden Claw》!”

The moment he saw them, a certain memory seared vividly in Glenn’s mind.

“These guys are the assassination unit of The Researchers of Heavenly Wisdom, the ‘Sweepers’! Why are they here—!?”

“SHAAAAA—!”

As Glenn froze in shock, three Sweepers lunged at him with swift, beast-like agility.

Their movements were terrifyingly precise, a highly coordinated assault.

No matter who he targeted, the other two would finish him off—a Sweeper’s anti-mage assassination formation.

“Guh—!? Damn—!”

Hesitating for just a moment, Glenn ultimately couldn’t act—

The scythe, dagger, and claws gleamed menacingly, closing in on him—

“Sensei—!?”

Sistine let out an anguished scream—that’s when it happened.

“《Stay back》”

A superheated explosion unleashed by Celica roared with a deafening blast, spiraling upward—

In an instant, it engulfed Glenn and the three Sweepers—

But only the Sweepers were reduced to ash, not even a fragment of bone remaining.

Though Glenn felt the sensation of flames licking his skin as he was swallowed by the inferno, he stood there, stunned, without a single burn.

It was Celica’s utterly perfect control of the spell’s output vector—an extraordinary feat of magical skill.

“…S-Sorry! Thanks, Celica!”

As the flames cleared and he snapped back to reality, Glenn hurriedly braced himself against the remaining Sweepers.

Despite three of their own being taken out in an instant, the Sweepers showed no signs of hesitation or fear.

In truth, Re=L—Illushia—was a rare exception. Most Sweepers, upon mastering《Hidden Claw》, became mindless husks, reduced to puppets that faithfully executed the organization’s orders.

Thus, the Sweepers closed in like clockwork predators, tightening their encirclement.

The sight made Glenn and Sistine’s expressions stiffen with tension…

“So, the moment this Jatice guy kidnaps Rumia, The Researchers of Heavenly Wisdom attack us… What’s the meaning of this?”

Stepping forward with a light, graceful stride, Celica positioned herself in front of the Sweepers. Though her slender, elegant figure was that of a woman in her prime, to Glenn, her presence loomed impossibly vast and towering.

Glenn realized something.

Her ability to respond flawlessly even to a complete ambush.

And her raw, overwhelming power that crushed petty tricks as if they were nothing.

Celica’s attitude toward Jatice wasn’t ‘carelessness’—it was ‘confidence.’

As Glenn reaffirmed Celica’s strength… that’s when it happened.

The sound of countless windows shattering echoed from all over the mansion.

And in the garden before them, new Sweepers appeared from nowhere, their numbers growing.

…It seemed the mansion was completely surrounded.

“Oh?”

Yet even then, Celica’s expression didn’t waver—she even seemed amused.

“H-Hey!? What do we do, Celica!? We’ve got a whole crowd here!”

As the mansion grew increasingly chaotic, Glenn shouted, sweating profusely.

“Hmm… but one thing’s clear now.”

Celica glanced at the Sweepers surrounding them and said,

Their hostility and killing intent were unmistakably directed at…

“Their targets are you and me, Glenn.”

“Huh!? Why us!?”

“How should I know? Ask them.”

“Ugh, what the hell! Jatice, the organization—this time, they’re doing things completely different than before!”

Even as they spoke, the killing intent around them grew moment by moment.

“Alright, it’s decided… Glenn, take Sistine and head to that hidden passage in the basement—to that place. I’ll cover you.”

“What!? What about you!?”

“I’ve got to entertain these rude guests… so I’m staying.”

Celica said it so casually.

“Idiot! You think I’d just tuck tail and run, leaving you behind!? Besides, in your current state, using too much magic—”

“Fool. You always lose your cool when it comes to family… that’s why you’re third-rate.”

“““SHAAAAA—!”””

As if to say they didn’t care about their squabble, three Sweepers lunged at Celica with the same swift assassination formation—

“…I’m talking to my cute son. 《Wait there》.”

Without even looking, Celica muttered.

Suddenly, massive ice pillars erupted from the floor, instantly impaling and encasing the Sweepers—freezing them solid, blood, heart, and all, killing them in an instant.

It was utterly overwhelming.

The Sweepers, outmatched by Celica’s sheer dominance, finally halted their advance.

“Frankly, you’re in the way. We don’t mesh well in a fight, and you’re a first-strike ambush specialist. You’re not much use in a defensive battle against multiple foes like this.”

“Guh…”

“If you stick around, I can’t go all out, and even I can’t guarantee I’ll protect you both to the end against a swarm of professional assassins in that state. So, go.”

There was no time to argue or hesitate.

Even now, new enemies were infiltrating the mansion from all directions.

If they were going to escape—it had to be now. There was no other chance.

“Got it. Don’t die, and you better catch up later, got it!?”

“…Who do you think you’re talking to? Worry about yourself.”

Exchanging a glance with Celica, who grinned fearlessly,

“White Cat! Follow me!”

“G-Got it… Good luck, Professor Arfonia!”

Glenn grabbed Sistine and bolted from the living room.

“SHA—!”

The Sweepers moved to pursue them in unison, determined not to let them escape—

“Oh, sorry. That way’s a 《dead end》.”

Countless bolts of lightning erupted from Celica’s fingertips, deftly avoiding Glenn and Sistine, raging like serpents and striking the Sweepers—

“Now, don’t be in such a rush. I’ve prepared some tea for our guests… so take your time and enjoy it—”

Muttering this, Celica snapped her fingers.

With a roar,

Crimson flames spiraled from her left hand, raging like a stormy sea, instantly turning the living room into a sea of fire.

“—!?”

Perhaps recalling the emotion of fear, the Sweepers instinctively stepped back from Celica…

“—My tea is a bit hot, though—!”

With a fierce, cold smirk, Celica elegantly waved her left hand.

The blazing flames around her moved as if alive, surging toward the Sweepers like a tsunami—

It was—hell itself.

Indeed, the Arfonia mansion was swarming with intruders.

Corridors, halls, rooms… enemies, enemies, enemies everywhere…

Based on the situation alone, Celica, left entirely on her own, was completely surrounded by over fifty seasoned assassins.

But…

Celica strolled through the enemy-filled mansion as if on a leisurely walk… swatting down foes like flies, crushing them the moment she spotted them.

“《Vanish》”

Black Magic [Plasma Cannon]—a massive, focused lightning blast swallowed several Sweepers in the corridor, obliterating them without a trace—

“…《Go home》”

Black Magic [Inferno Flare]—a writhing, superheated tsunami of flame engulfed several Sweepers in the great hall, reducing them to nothing, not even a fragment of bone—

“…《Get lost》”

Black Magic [Freezing Hell]—a shimmering, subzero barrier of frost captured several Sweepers on the stairs, shattering them into molecular dust—

Without exception, she annihilated them one-sidedly, mercilessly, with no chance to resist.

Against her overwhelmingly powerful attacks, the Sweepers’ sturdy anti-magic gear was like tissue paper—utterly useless as defense.

“…Yawn… I’m… 《getting bored》…”

Black Magic [Giga Explosion]—a blinding burst of pure energy obliterated a dozen Sweepers waiting at the back gate, blasting them into the sky.

With that scene behind her, Celica muttered irritably under her breath.

“Damn it, don’t screw with me… you bastards… This house is filled with precious memories of Glenn and me… and you’ve torn it to pieces…!”

Though it was Celica’s own magic that had left the mansion in ruins, there was no one around to point that out to the disgruntled mage.

“But… well, I’ve pretty much exterminated them…”

And then…

Celica, who had been roaming the grounds, paused in the scorched front garden, letting out a breath.

The cool night air gently caressed her slightly flushed cheeks.

The moon, as if hiding from the carnage below, had slipped behind clouds… leaving the area pitch-black.

(…Tch. The enemies were all small fry, but they sure took a lot of effort…)

Celica thought, annoyed.

In truth, Celica couldn’t sustain long battles in her current state.

During her encounter at the ancient ruins known as the Taum Celestial Temple, she had faced a mysterious demon, the Demon Blade General Aar-Khan, and her soul had been severely damaged.

Though she narrowly avoided losing her magical abilities thanks to the power granted by the mysterious girl Nameless, the aftereffects lingered, drastically reducing her mana capacity.

If the battle dragged on any longer, even Celica felt it would be tough…

(Enemy signatures—zero. …It’s over.)

Her detection barrier signaled the end of this futile fight.

(Now… time to catch up with Glenn and the others…)

As Celica thought and turned on her heel… that’s when it happened.

“—!?”

Suddenly, a spear-like killing intent rained down from the dark canopy above—

Sensing it sharply, Celica instinctively dove to the side, rolling out of the way.

In that split second, something plummeted from the sky at terrifying speed, piercing and shattering the spot where Celica had stood just half a moment before.

“Tch—”

Celica rolled, swiftly springing to her feet with the momentum and kicking off the ground to gain distance.

There—at the center of a massive crater—was a figure, a spear thrust into the ground.

(Oh? Looks like there’s at least one who’s got some skill…!)

Landing, Celica irritably aimed her left hand at the enemy—

“《Vani—》”

She began to chant a devastatingly powerful destruction spell without mercy—

“…It’s been a while, Celica Arfonia…”

But the enemy’s sudden words—

Made Celica halt her spell mid-chant, against her will.

Because…

(…What? That voice… I’ve heard it somewhere…)

…It was familiar.

“Heh… It’s been a full two hundred years since we last met like this…”

(…Two hundred years? Did he say two hundred years? …Huh? What’s this guy talking about?)

Confused, Celica furrowed her brow.

Just then, the clouds above slowly parted… revealing the moon.

Moonlight spilled down… faintly illuminating the pitch-black front garden…

From the darkness, the figure of the previously indistinct enemy slowly emerged.

A mature, handsome man clad in an old-fashioned paladin’s attire, combining white armor and a robe.

His martial bearing. A gleaming spear in his right hand, a large white shield with a cross emblem in his left.

His golden, lion-like mane of hair flowed calmly in the night breeze—a figure Celica recognized.

“Impossible…!? Why… are you…!?”

Uncharacteristically, Celica could only gape in shock and shout.

“You… in the Great Magic War two hundred years ago… in the battle against the outer gods…!?”

Abruptly—but in this world, there are those known as the ‘Six Heroes.’

Two hundred years ago, they were humanity’s trump cards in the war against the kin of the outer gods.

Celica Arfonia《The Witch of Ash》.

Elliot Haven《The Sword Princess》.

Lloyd Holstein《The Sage》.

Ysiel Crois《The War Angel》.

Saras Silvers《The Silver Wolf》.

And—

“Unbelievable… Am I dreaming? You’re supposed to be dead… You definitely, without a doubt, died in that war! Lazare Asteel《The Steel Paladin》!”

All of the Six Heroes, except Celica, perished in that war two hundred years ago.

After soul-draining battles, they had all exhausted their strength… and fallen.

Yet before the trembling, shocked Celica, that man—Lazare—smirked fearlessly.

“Let me introduce myself again, Celica Arfonia. I am no longer the Grandmaster of the St. Elizares Church’s Templar Knights… I am Lazare of The Researchers of Heavenly Wisdom,《Heavens Order》.”

“Wha—!? T-The《Heavens Order》…!?”

Celica felt as if she’d been struck in the back of the head.

The mysterious magical society that had operated in the shadows of the Alzano Empire’s history—The Researchers of Heavenly Wisdom.

But those who took action were always from the《Portals Order》or the《Adeptus Order》, while the existence of the highest rank, the《Heavens Order》, remained entirely shrouded in darkness. Some even claimed their existence was nothing more than an urban legend.

And now, that enigmatic《Heavens Order》—was standing before her?

(Lazare isn’t the type to make pointless jokes… Does that mean it’s true…?)

Throughout the long history of the empire, the《Heavens Order》had never stepped into the spotlight—

—And now, they had finally revealed themselves.

Celica was witnessing a turning point in history.

(Joking…!? The《Heavens Order》aside, one of the Six Heroes showing up here!? No matter how you look at it, that’s bad news!)

A rare tension and cold sweat gripped Celica’s entire body.

What made the Six Heroes humanity’s trump cards was simple—they were extraordinarily ‘strong,’ far beyond human limits.

For six such heroes to gather in one era was the greatest miracle in human history. Without that miracle, humanity would have perished two hundred years ago.

“Now, let’s begin. I’ve always wanted to fight you at full strength, just once.”

“Damn you—!”

Celica aimed her left hand at Lazare, who readied his spear with a fearless grin.

Why was Lazare alive?

Why was he part of the《Heavens Order》?

None of that mattered now.

Hesitate, flinch, and even Celica will fall—such is the caliber of the Six Heroes.

—Thus, victory lies in seizing the initiative.

“《《《Blast off》》》!!!”

With a single-word incantation, Celica simultaneously activates [Plasma Cannon], [Inferno Flare], and [Freezing Hell]—three advanced spells.

Triple Spell. The supreme technique that defines Celica. To unleash three B-rank military spells with a single modified incantation is the very embodiment of《The Witch of Ash》.

A colossal beam of converging lightning, seething infernal flames, and an absolute zero frost barrier engulf Lazare without mercy.

Such transcendent power could obliterate any ordinary magical defense ten times over and still have strength to spare.

But—

“Have you forgotten my title,《Steel》?” Lazare declares.

At the heart of the raging destructive force, a prismatic aurora rises.

Lazare, wielding a great shield radiating rainbow-hued light, stands unscathed amidst the calamity.

“Tch… As expected, the absolute defense of the ‘Shield of the Power Angel’ remains unbroken…!?”

A holy relic of the Church of St. Elizares, it withstood the otherworldly assaults of the evil god, always at the forefront.

Reliable as an ally—but as an enemy, few foes are as troublesome.

“Now, it’s my turn—”

Lazare raises a spear that emits blinding light, illuminating the surroundings.

Immense holy power surges from the spear’s tip, forming a massive lance of light.

Piercing the clouds above and reaching for the heavens, it resembles a towering pillar of light.

“Tch, the holy knights’ signature Force Saber… How impudent! 《Sever—》”

Celica raises her left hand toward the rising spear of light, beginning a counter-spell.

Thump… Suddenly, Celica feels an ominous dizziness and palpitations—

“—Gah!?”

Abruptly, she coughs up blood violently and collapses to one knee.

In an instant, the strength coursing through her body deflates like a punctured balloon—leaving a crushing sense of exhaustion.

(Impossible, have I already reached my limit!? Damn this useless body—!)

Celica realizes she has gravely misjudged.

She was far more weakened and diminished than she had believed.

“…Truly, may it be thus—Fua Lan”

To Celica, Lazare chants a holy verse and mercilessly swings down the massive lance of light.

It’s as if a colossal alabaster tower is collapsing toward her.

“…Ugh… Glenn…”

Facing the encroaching white annihilation, Celica can only stare helplessly—

Her vision—drenched in pure white—

By strange coincidence, it is precisely midnight, the moment the date changes.

That day, the Arfonia estate splits in two—and vanishes from the world.

And—atop a small hill, some distance from the devastated Arfonia estate.

After defeating Celica, Lazare makes his way to that spot.

There, as arranged, two men await his arrival.

“Heh heh… How’d it go, Lazare-san?”

One of the men, a thuggish-looking rogue, asks with a gleeful tone.

“Glenn Radars escaped. But Celica Arfonia has been dealt with.”

Lazare responds to the man with a calm, matter-of-fact tone.

“Hmph… Was it worth expending such valuable pieces just to make this move?”

The other man, cloaked in a coat darker than the abyss, mutters under his breath.

“With Rumia Tingel abducted by some unknown party, Glenn Radars and Celica Arfonia will surely pursue her whereabouts, mobilizing every magical search resource in Fejite. If that happens, their interference in our plans is all but inevitable. Or… do you believe the Seventh Rank—Septende is so foolish as to remain oblivious to our scheme until the end?”

“No chance. This plan was never particularly well-concealed to begin with… If they start searching Fejite, they’ll inevitably catch wind of our scheme in the process.”

“Then we strike first and crush them. That’s the optimal move.”

“As expected of Lazare-san! With that wretched hag out of the way, it’s practically in the bag, right!? Gyahahahahahahaha—!”

The thuggish man laughs raucously, his frivolous cackle ringing out—

“But, Lazare, you let Glenn Radars escape. Don’t underestimate him. That man is unpredictable. …Let’s hope this doesn’t stir up a hornet’s nest.”

The man in the dark coat offers only a cold warning.

“Hah? What’s that? You dare talk back to Lazare-san? Shut your trap, you loser.”

“…You’re awfully belligerent.”

“Oh? You think you can just forget what happened because you made it back here?”

The air between the thuggish man and the dark-coated man grows taut, screaming with tension.

In the next moment, the situation teeters on the brink of a deadly clash—

“Enough. I didn’t bring you back for petty squabbles like this.”

At Lazare’s intervention, the thuggish man clicks his tongue and backs down.

“Now, we move to the next phase of the plan.”

“Sounds good, but… what about the main piece? Someone snatched Rumia-chan, didn’t they? If she’s been taken out of Fejite… doesn’t that ruin everything?”

“There are those working in the shadows to sabotage our plan… Likely the ones who abducted Rumia Tingel.”

In response to the words of the thuggish man and the dark-coated man,

“No matter.”

Lazare produces a small key-like object from his pocket, displaying it with absolute confidence.

“I see… The ‘key.’ So you’ve finally made your resolve.”

“…Indeed. Regardless, once our plan succeeds, Rumia Tingel will die… sooner or later, without fail. And—we shall triumph over the ‘Status Quo Faction’…”

And so,

Lazare and his group set into motion—

“Let us begin. For the glory of heavenly wisdom, and—for our Grandmaster.”

Thus,

The curtain rises on the great upheaval later known as Fejite’s Worst Three Days—