The beast claws dug fiercely into the ground as I propelled my body forward with an explosive force.

My comrades, each devising strategies and wielding their combat skills, were working hard to bring control of this battlefield to our side. To support them, Frederica Baumann dashed through the battlefield.

The beautiful golden-furred female leopard raced through the scene, performing her duty as a messenger at the “second” fastest pace amongst those dashing around the battlefield.

Despite the overwhelming superiority of the imperial regular troops in quality, it was thanks to the information gathered by Otto Suwen, its application by Abel, and the quick relay by Frederica, that the disorganized rebels managed to establish a stalemate.

Regardless of whether she was aware of her contribution, at that moment, Frederica possessed critical information that would prove exceedingly impactful.

That was――,

“――My lord and brother have transmitted news of strange signs appearing on the earth.”

Gasping for breath, Frederica arrived at the main tent, pushing her fatigued body to report without fear of exposing her bare skin.

It was Garfiel who had, without boasting of his battle achievements, changed after surviving the fierce conflict and conveyed these words to Frederica.

Covered in blood and seeming to have endured a deadly struggle beyond Frederica’s imagination, Garfiel’s desire to be praised by his sister was, however, set aside in the face of this desperate plea.

Fortunately, near Garfiel was Roswaal, who had arrived alongside the Flying Dragon Corps to assist him properly. Regardless of the feelings Garfiel harbored for his romantic rival, he was receiving the help he needed.

“――This lacks specificity. What are the details?”

“I don’t know; it’s only an intuition granted by my brother’s blessing. But…”

“But?”

“My brother’s intuition tends to be accurate, both for good and for ill.”

It’s as if he possesses a wild instinct; despite never having lived in the wild, Garfiel’s intuition is remarkably keen. While he often embarrasses himself before Ram in everyday life, during battles, his reliability is top-notch.

For this reason, Frederica rushed to the main tent without hesitation.

“――――”

Hearing Frederica’s report, the exquisite beauty Selena Dracloy, a high-ranking noble from the empire and ally of the Flying Dragon Corps, fell into thought.

From what I hear, Roswaal sought her cooperation due to their past acquaintance, and she is likely a woman of questionable temperament, a common trait amongst Roswaal’s acquaintances. However, her excellence in capabilities is beyond doubt.

That is evident from the fact that she is presently charged with the responsibility of overseeing the movements of the now-large rebel forces in the absence of the overall commander.

“Lady Frederica! You should wear something!”

Just as Frederica was contemplating Selena’s profile lost in thought, a red cloak was draped over her shoulder from behind. This cloak was something that a “General” of the Volakia Empire was permitted to wear, yet the individual who put it on her seemed to lack understanding of its significance.

Thus, Frederica was pleased by the pure goodwill, smiling.

“Thank you, Lord Schult. I apologize for my appearance.”

“Not at all! Lady Frederica has worked hard, running around among many people! I think that’s very admirable!”

Schult, brimming with charm in his tiny body, straightened up before Frederica as she pulled the cloak tightly around her.

Though he could only watch restlessly from the main tent and had no choice but to anxiously observe the battlefield, his emotions likely ran deeper than Frederica’s duty as a messenger.

Regardless, it was admirable that Frederica was met with words of encouragement upon her return.

“N, Fre is also great. Woo wanted to run wild with us.”

Beside Schult stood Utakata, with her black hair tipped pink, nodding with her arms crossed.

In response to her aggressive statement, Frederica, taken aback, shifted her focus back to Selena.

Selena stroked the large white scar carved deeply on the left side of her face, saying,

“Signs of turmoil in the land of Volakia, huh? Ignoring the counsel of someone whom Roswaal highly regards would be the mark of a foolish command.”

“Then…”

“While it’s upsetting to admit, it corresponds with the predictions left by the ‘Star Reader’ who mysteriously vanished. It was an exceptionally selfish expression that I alone could be entrusted with a vital role. Almost as if――”

“Almost as if?”

“As if he were the Emperor himself, in all his arrogance, while coming here to confront us.”

Selena, arms crossed, sighed with a complex expression that strove to convey both anger and exasperation.

The subject that she brought up was the masked man――Abel. Originally, he was the one in overall command of the rebels but had left the main tent and delegated that role to Selena.

What kind of exchange happened during that time, Frederica had not heard detailed accounts from Selena.

“What did Abel say to you before leaving?”

“――The conclusion is near, he said. However…”

Selena paused, filling her finely shaped eyes with indignation. The ‘Burning Duke,’ known for his fierce demeanor, pointed toward the battlefield with a hand on his jaw,

“The conclusion will not tip in favor of either the imperial capital or the rebels; it will end ambiguously.”

“Ambiguous… you say?”

Comprehending the implication behind Selena’s expression made Frederica perplexed.

How was it conceivable that such a significant battle could end in ambiguity? After all, describing someone in charge of the battlefield as rendering their efforts meaningless was inappropriate.

Abel, who left such a statement, could only be realistically said to lack an understanding of human sentiments.

Regardless――,

“When you say ‘conclusion,’ does that mean the fighting will come to an end? If so, does that mean that Priscilla, Al, and Heinkel will also return?”

“Schult…”

With worry in his round eyes, Schult stood on tiptoe, peering at the battlefield.

The boy’s gaze settled on a domain created amidst the extreme conditions of battle, where the environment was especially harsh――the two battlefields, one red and one white, were places that Frederica could not approach.

Just getting near, her instincts told her, would be perilous for her wellbeing.

“――――”

Hence, Frederica could not casually offer words of consolation.

What was happening within that space was surely phenomena that exceeded Frederica’s imagination. With this bitter thought weighing on her mind, Frederica’s eyes softened.

“Shu, no need to worry. Poo and Yo are strong. We’re like Mi and Ta.”

“Lady Utakata…”

“And call me Lady-chan!”

“Lady Utakata-chan…”

Proudly, Utakata roughly ruffled Schult’s pink hair.

Though it was an unfounded assertion characteristic of her youth, Schult’s unwavering confidence resonated in his heart. As he nodded vigorously, Frederica couldn’t help but smile.

With this, she turned back to Selena and asked,

“What do you plan to do, Lady Selena? If we are not to disregard my brother’s intuition, we must also address Abel’s statements…”

“It’s a point of hesitation. Of course, there isn’t any time for hesitation.――Look.”

Giving her chin a little lift, Selena directed Frederica’s gaze toward the battlefield, where an unusual phenomenon was evident even from a distance――a gigantic humanoid wall, one of the “Nine Divine Generals,” had turned its back and was diving into the imperial capital.

“Is it heading toward the Crystal Palace?”

“Furthermore, it seems he speaks the truth.――The intent behind your brother’s words claiming that Volakia will become an enemy remains unclear.”

Recognizing the potential for chaos caused by the “Iron Man,” Moguro Hagane, Selena’s face scrunched up.

Then――,

“Inform everyone.――As soon as we learn of unusual activity at the Crystal Palace, cease all combat. Prepare for the possibility that this battle, the spilt blood, and the lost lives may all be left meaningless.”

―――――

A high-pitched sound echoed as blue dragon blades and axes clashed mid-air, sending sparks flying.

Steel was unyieldingly swung to claim the opponent’s life.

My senses dulled, though now that it was directed at me, the terror of having my life threatened washed over me like a wave from within my bones and skin.

I had never thought myself particularly weak at heart. In truth, I felt that I was reasonably courageous compared to others my age, given the grueling experiences I’d endured.

Yet, as my skin blistered from explosions, and I felt a tightness in my lungs, it made me question the foundation of my self-trust.

The primary reason for that doubt was――,

“――!”

Even amidst the chaos of battle, a piercing gaze was directed my way.

The feeling that I hadn’t been forgotten heightened the sense of danger I felt; it was the scrutinizing glare of a man wielding an axe, a soldier of the empire.

The identity of this foe, whose name I did not know, was currently the source of distress for Petra and the others.

Living meant being perpetually on the verge of death.

In any situation, a sudden shift could emerge in the blink of an eye. This man before me seemed like a living representation of that unreasonableness, and I clenched my teeth in frustration.

I knelt to the ground, my breath ragged, supporting Otto, who was bearing the brunt of the magical stone shock that we used as a makeshift escape.

His fatigue weighed heavily on him.

That was why, regardless of whether one was strong or weak, it was imperative that Petra didn’t let any weakness escape her mouth on this battlefield.

“Hyaa! Al-chan!”

“Got it, Miss Medium!”

The mismatch of high-pitched voices, one unfitting for the blood-stained battlefield, synchronously clashed with a low, dark aura as their swords exchanged blows.

Al worked alongside Medium, using his small body to the fullest to take on the imperial soldier. Their combat strength would not be enough to overwhelm the enemy, leading to a fierce and ongoing skirmish.

Al was disappointing to Petra when he arrived as reinforcements.

“If only Garf or Emily were here…”

Not only were they allies she could trust, but their skills would have likely overwhelmed the opponent.

In contrast, Al’s prowess seemed to Petra to be quite lacking.

Compared to noncombatants like Petra and Otto, he was better off, but felt weaker than anyone from Shudrak.

However, the imperial soldier wasn’t particularly outstanding in brute strength either.

Surely, that soldier too would fall far short compared to the likes of Emilia, Garfiel, or the so-called “Nine Divine Generals” of the empire. Despite that, Petra found this soldier terrifying.

There was no need to use extravagant magic to brush off an insect from a flower; you could flick it away with your fingers or splash a bit of water. This imperial soldier’s attitude suggested such a concept lurking beneath the surface.

For Petra and the others, amidst this battlefield, they were merely akin to slightly more industrious insects――.

“――Irritating, you.”

Just as Petra seemed to shrink back, a man’s voice slid into her ears.

For a split second, her shoulders jumped, but the one who was addressed was not Petra but rather, Al, with whom he was crossing blades.

“Gah! Ugh! Ready?!”

The man swung down his axe, aiming for Al’s thicker neck. However, it was deflected by Al’s blue dragon blade as he quickly counterattacked with two or three heavy follow-up strikes.

With unusually questionable dexterity, Al barely managed to parry the onslaught.

I couldn’t watch in comfort; Petra let out small shrieks of “Gya!” and “Whoa!” from within.

“I want to help Al, but…”

Otto seemed equally burdened by the same anxiety; the tremor in his voice went beyond mere fatigue.

Al’s battle, with all its escalating tension, bore the air of impending doom. So far, he had narrowly escaped death at least five times.

Could we count this as the sixth? That seemed like a bad gamble for Petra.

“Indeed, this situation is troublesome.”

However, it appeared the soldier of the empire held a different opinion from Petra’s.

Regardless of the precariousness of the situation, the man who had been continuously thwarted now took a large step back, raising his unarmed hand and lightly waving it toward Al and Medium.

Shortly after, fireballs erupted in the air, racing toward the two against the backdrop of flames.

“What the heck?!”

“Yikes!”

There was no reason to understand, but the spirit summoned by the man seemed to be working against them unfairly.

The fireball they unleashed sped toward Al and Medium as they both braced for impact, while those that missed ignited the surrounding trees as flames engulfed the shrubbery below.

“This is bad…”

Otto muttered, and it was understandable.

The flames unleashed by the fireball hadn’t scorched Al and the others. Instead, they incinerated everything around, attempting to enclose Petra and her allies as they faced the imperial soldier.

The raging flames formed a ring, wrapping them within.

Even if they missed, it seemed the imperial soldier’s intent was to block their escape route, as he watched with the burning passion of arrogance.

“Ugh… Not good…”

Petra couldn’t help but express her frustration as they buckled under the strain of their situation.

Peering through the smoke and flames, Al searched for the figure of the man who had vanished. In the meantime, he was preparing his blue dragon blade, lifting it against the foe, adopting an odd and precarious tilt.

Beside him, Medium anxiously cast her gaze around, expressing her unease at the unseen enemy while urging a quick escape from the increasingly menacing heat.

Certainly, it would be contradictory to prioritize finding their assailant only to lose their escape route. It was prudent to prioritize distancing themselves from this hazardous area.

However――,

“――――”

Otto, gripping Petra’s hand, gently infused it with pressure as he transmitted an unspoken alert.

They must remain vigilant, and Petra deeply resonated with that caution.

With that in mind, Petra placed her other hand atop Otto’s and declared――,

“――Thank you, Petra-chan.”

Just after Otto expressed his gratitude, he contorted his body, collapsing onto the ground. In that precise moment, an axe swung horizontally with precision.

“――――”

Within the flaming domain, the intent to kill from the approaching imperial soldier did not land.

The reality of what just transpired caught the man off guard, yet he quickly regained his composure and attempted to yank back his swinging axe――.

“Jiwaldo!!”

“Ugh!”

Five fingers stood erect, and the weak output of Jiwaldo from Petra effortlessly struck the imperial soldier’s face, scorching his right eye from the five shoots aimed squarely at him.

Sacrificing power to achieve area denial, Petra’s attack successfully fulfilled its purpose, forcing the soldier whose eyeball had been fried to recoil with a cry of agony.

In that instant, a shadow danced through the air in an acrobatic plunge.

“Go for it!”

Leaping off Al’s back, Medium, who crouched behind the fires, propelled herself into motion.

Spiraling head over heels, her weapon, the barbarian knife, swung mercilessly, crashing down upon the unsteady soldier.

“Yahhh!”

The sharp sound echoed, intersecting the vivid red hues of flame.

Yet, the noise did not come from the skull being split, but from Petra witnessing the man naively tilt his head into the oncoming strike.

That resonating sound likely came from the protective gear secretly packed beneath his bandana, and he received Medium’s blow as a result. Of course, he did not remain unscathed.

Swatting at his forehead, he swung his axe wildly, backing away in a haphazard and ineffective fashion as blood streamed down from his brow.

“Damn…”

The blood-soaked bandana fell from the man’s head as he continued to retreat. Though he had been caught by a conjuncture, the blood flowing from the cracked forehead had not stopped.

With his eyes coated in crimson, the man glared at Otto and Petra.

The eyes seemed to ask why his surprise attack had been seen through――.

“――I won’t tell you. I’m not your parent or sibling.”

Despite lying flat on the ground, Otto declared with a tone of triumph.

Listening to that, the imperial soldier clicked his tongue. After wiping the blood from his forehead with his palm, he shouted,

“Ah! Wait! Running away is cheating!”

He didn’t choose the foolish act of irrationally jumping at them in a fit of rage.

With his right eye closed due to the heat and blood, the imperial soldier vanished behind the flaming barrier. Once more concealed from view, Petra stood on guard for another sudden ambush.

“You won’t come… It seems you’re not desperate enough to continue fighting in a disadvantaged state.”

“Ugh, that doesn’t sit well with me! It’s like we’re the only ones fighting desperately here!”

“I understand your feelings, lass. However, it was them who fled without any parting words. We won, we won.――We won!!”

“Victory!!”

Al and Medium shouted triumphantly toward the direction the imperial soldier had fled.

In truth, it remained unclear if this would irritate the soldier, but it inevitably lightened the heaviness in Petra’s chest.

**”It’s done.**

*Anyway—*

“Lastly, how did you read that guy’s movements? It was a gamble, wasn’t it?”

“It wasn’t my credit, it was thanks to Petra-chan.”

With the aid of Al, who sheathed his blue dragon blade, Otto pointed at Petra, but even so, Petra couldn’t wholeheartedly take all the credit.

“From the start, I was the target, so I thought the final move would be aimed at me. What helped me figure out the timing and direction of the approach was the sound of footsteps.”

“Footsteps?”

“Otto-san let me listen to the voices of the little ones under the ground using your ‘Channel’, right?”

“Correct!”

Petra clasped her hands in front of her chest at Otto’s acknowledgment that hit the mark.

Originally, it was Otto’s use of ‘Protection of the Word Spirit’ that allowed him to grasp information across the battlefield, which made him a target for the enemy. The imperial soldiers had a method I didn’t know about that allowed them to evade Otto’s protection, which helped them gauge the situation through animal and insect sounds.

To capture such an opponent, the same methods as before wouldn’t work.

“That’s why the little ones underground said they didn’t have eyes and couldn’t see what was going on outside, so they thought Otto-san wouldn’t be useful.”

“I was thinking they might have chosen their words a little better! Anyway, I listened to the voices of the animals and insects in the ground and figured the enemy’s location based on the footsteps. It was a shot in the dark, but Petra-chan helped me pick up the sounds with Light Magic.”

“Otto-san gave me a signal with a wicked look on his face.”

When Otto gripped her hand tightly, he had asked Petra for support with Light Magic.

With that assistance, Otto deduced the enemy’s position from the footsteps and avoided the final ambush, instead delivering a counterattack that forced the enemy to retreat; that was the crux of the matter.

“Honestly speaking, I wanted to incapacitate that opponent entirely.”

“Agreed. It wasn’t that they were strong; they were just good at killing. More importantly…”

“Hot, hot, hot! We need to get out of here before we bake alive!”

Even after repelling a dangerous foe, the situation around them was still ablaze.

Hearing Medium’s appeal, Al lent Otto a shoulder and replied, “You’re right.” Petra joined Medium, searching for a spot shielded from the flames and led the two.

Thus, attempting to escape before being engulfed in flames—

“We need to get out as soon as possible. We have a reason to return to the main camp now.”

“…That wording feels a bit like bragging about surviving a close encounter with a dangerous opponent, don’t you think?”

“Yeah, it’s a bad story. Time is of the essence. The sound I picked up while trying to listen for footsteps was, incidentally, related information…”

Just as they thought the danger had passed, unpleasant preamble emerged.

With the heat of flames chasing them, Petra couldn’t ignore Otto’s next words as he looked behind him—no, at the entire battlefield with a grim expression.

“Apparently, it seems we have new trouble approaching the battlefield from a different angle than dragons or the burning sky. And it’s quite close…”

Coincidentally, at the same time as his younger brother detected it with ‘Protection of the Earth Spirit’, Otto Suwen expressed the same foreboding thoughts through ‘Protection of the Word Spirit.’

*△▼△▼△▼△*

“—It seems a ‘Great Calamity’ is approaching that could jeopardize the Volakia Empire. As one of the generals of this empire! As a ‘General’ who survived by exposing my shame! I must do everything in my power to be of service to His Majesty the Emperor!”

From a large man—who called himself Goz Ralfon—chained to the wall underground, Rem understood that problems beyond the internal strife were shaking the imperial capital.

Goz, who had only been given meals every other day and was rather weakened, became surprisingly revitalized through Rem’s healing magic, remarkably regaining his vitality.

Perhaps most of that effect came from his own psychological belief.

“Daughter, your healing has saved me! Normally, I would invite you and introduce you as a benefactor to my wife and children, but now, we must head to His Excellency! I absolutely must repay this!”

“Uh, y-yeah…”

“If possible, leave this place and join up with the regular troops! If it’s General Moguro Hagane or Second General Kafma Ilurukusu, they won’t treat you poorly! Avoid all other generals; the conversations won’t go through!”

Goz shouted in a deafening voice. Once released from the chains, he charged fiercely from the underground, intimidating the soldiers guarding the mansion and instructing them to escort him to the Crystal Palace in the distance.

The attitude of the guards split into two camps in response.

It seemed that the soldiers at the mansion were divided between those aware of Goz’s presence and those unaware. Those kept in the dark felt displeased, while those informed only reflected the strong trust from Belstet.

Thus—

“I see. So you stand in my way?”

Goz, whose bare upper body was covered only in muscle, glared at the guards trying to block his path with their weapons.

Unarmed, Goz hadn’t been confined for just a day or two. He was far from in perfect condition. However, the guards’ defiance was determined not by their chances of winning.

“Fine. Just as I pledge my loyalty to His Majesty the Emperor, you will swear allegiance to the Chancellor. I’ll be sure to witness that honor!”

The overwhelming aura he emitted remained clear even as he faced the soldiers opposing him.

Then came his one-sided, demoralizing display in battle.

With a massive fist, he struck, sending multiple guards flying with a single blow.

The advantage in numbers didn’t even register as mere variance. It was an instant, overwhelming suppression.

“I’ve previously heard your name from Abel as one of the ‘Nine Divine Generals’…”

In reality, Rem had only personally encountered the authentic ‘Nine Divine Generals’ when he came across Arakia and Madelin in Castle City Gwararu.

Even when compared to them, Goz’s presence was undeniable.

With the weapons, armor, and the toll of exhaustion on him, Goz stood at a disadvantage now.

“Well fought! That’s what it means to be the sword-wolf of the empire!”

Goz raised his arms amidst the defeated guards, applauding enthusiastically.

Indeed, he was the one who sacrificed himself to allow the true Emperor Abel to escape, but he seemed energetic enough to make one forget the exhaustion of being bound.

Why he had been locked in the mansion’s underground remained a mystery, though.

“Let me say again, Chancellor Belstet Fondalfon! I won’t allow your schemes to go as planned! You too, General Chisha! Uooooooooo—!!”

Before discussing such details, Goz took the soldiers willing to follow him and boldly burst through the front gate of Berstet’s mansion.

Overwhelmed by the valiant might of the ‘Lion Knights’, Rem had no choice but to watch his back.

In any case—

“I have no business with that castle.”

With the soldiers of the mansion unexpectedly gone, there were no longer any obstacles in Rem’s way.

Rem checked the lives of the soldiers Goz had taken down, administered minimal treatment to the seriously injured, and using a sword as a cane, moved through the mansion, stopping in front of a room she had passed by several times.

Then—

“Kachua-san, it’s me, Rem. Please come out.”

“…I definitely don’t want to come out. W-what was that loud voice just now?”

“I understand how you feel. But the owner of that loud voice has already left. I think we should discuss what to do next.”

“What to do…?”

In front of Kachua’s door, where her voice did not show itself, Rem encouraged her to decide.

Currently, thanks to Goz’s bravery, the soldiers in the mansion had been cleared out good and bad, thus diminishing the urgency to leave the mansion.

However—

“The ‘Great Calamity’…”

The reason Goz hurried to the emperor, who was supposedly at the Crystal Palace, was due to that.

To be precise, Goz’s principal reason for heading to the Crystal Palace was to confront the impersonator claiming to be the emperor. Nonetheless, it was also a fact that the aim was to prevent that unfathomable calamity.

In any case, Goz’s advice indicated that staying here wasn’t an option.

Then—

“I—I don’t have a reason to leave here. I-I’m a hostage.”

“There are no soldiers left to keep you here. The reasons for remaining as a hostage have diminished.”

“Even so…”

“—I see. At least let me see that you’re safe.”

Changing her mind but not her stance, Kachua firmly held her ground against Rem.

After a short silence at Rem’s last request, the sound of the wheels of a wheelchair began to move, and the door’s lock clicked open. The door then opened.

“Excuse me. Let’s go.”

“Eh!? W-wait, you!?”

“Sorry. I lied about just wanting to see you safe.”

Rem rushed into the room, quickly finding Kachua at the side of the door and pushing her wheelchair outside.

Although Kachua, panicking, attempted to resist, her efforts to stop the wheels were futile against Rem’s overwhelming force, and she was pushed out without resistance.

“Wait for me! There’s someone here I have to wait for…!”

“I get that. But waiting here is dangerous. Even if you’re waiting for your fiancé, let’s at least go somewhere safe.”

“Safe? Is there anywhere in this imperial capital safer than here—”

There’s nowhere, Kachua likely meant to say.

However, as she was in the midst of saying it, Kachua suddenly widened her eyes and stared into the sky.

Triggered by Kachua’s reaction, Rem also looked up, casting her gaze beyond the walkway of the mansion, where a colossal shadow was casting over the two.

—A tremendously gigantic, human-shaped wall was striding over the mansion, heading further into the imperial capital.

“——”

The footsteps speaking louder and closer than Goz’s rampage or the attacking rebels were far more shocking as they trampled through the city.

Feeling the rumbling of the ground and the jolt in the wheelchair, Rem and Kachua hesitantly exchanged glances.

“S-surely, that wasn’t a discussion about how safe we were…”

“Yes. We need to hurry.”

That gigantic step was surely an exception even amidst this great commotion, but mentioning it and provoking Kachua’s ire would be ridiculous.

With Kachua obediently complying, Rem pushed her wheelchair toward—

“What will you do when your companion is in recovery?”

“Well, I shouldn’t really move him much. But we can’t afford to do that now…”

Responding to Kachua’s comment, Rem reached their destination room together.

Inside was Flopp O’Connell, heavily injured and still in recovery since being brought to the mansion with Rem.

Though Rem wished to let him rest peacefully, even now—

“Flopp-san, it’s me. May I enter?”

“Hmm, is that you, miss? I’ll open up now!”

As soon as she knocked, a reply came, and shortly after, the door swung open. The quick response seemed as if he had been right by the door, and Rem and Kachua widened their eyes, surprised. Flopp had apparently been hiding at the side of the door, holding a compact mirror in his hand.

“Um, Flopp-san, what’s with that mirror?”

“Well, you see, I intended it as a weapon just in case. You heard that very loud voice earlier, right? The city’s in an uproar, and I thought some hostile person might come rushing in.”

Turning the handheld mirror around, Flopp casually answered. Since Rem and the others were ostensibly captives, they hadn’t been left with any weaponizable items in their rooms.

Still, using a mirror as a means of defense seemed amusing.

“…You think you can fight with that mirror?”

“Unfortunately, it’s the only thing I had in the room. I’ve never fought with a mirror before, so there’s a chance I have a latent talent!”

“Well, that’s a bit too far-fetched. Let’s drop the small talk; we need to discuss what’s necessary.”

At Kachua’s cold glare, Flopp replied in his usual tone. His nature put Rem at ease, but at the same time, urgent circumstances made her want to set aside that comfort.

In any case—

“This is Kachua-san, whom I met in this mansion.”

“I’m Flopp O’Connell. You’re the friend of the miss I heard about.”

“…I-I don’t remember becoming friends with her…”

“Then you should start thinking of her as one. Making good friends is a clue to a good life. It’s not a bad thing to have many friends either.”

“I-I think I might dislike you…”

Just as Rem had expected, Flopp had a personality that grates on Kachua. However, since Flopp didn’t seem to mind being straightforwardly called out, if Kachua could show her distaste, then that was arguably the best outcome.

“Flopp-san, about the current situation in the imperial capital…”

“I have an idea. Before going off to battle, Madelin-kun came to visit me.”

“…Madelin-san visited you?”

Although she knew Madelin was acquainted with Flopp, she hadn’t expected her to come visit before heading into battle.

That being said, if a ‘Nine Divine General’ had spoken directly to him, Flopp might know more about the outside situation than Rem.

“In that case, this will be easy. The guards in this mansion have already left, so we’re free to stay or leave… but I think we should leave the mansion.”

“Does that relate to that loud voice earlier and the tremendous ground shaking?”

“Yes, but it’s not just that. More trouble might arise.”

“M-more trouble than that!? N-no way…”

Rem’s concern echoed to Kachua, whose face turned pale and started to tremble.

This wasn’t about scaring Kachua into compliance; it was genuinely dangerous information, even if it was unconfirmed. However, it was also not a definitive enough claim to compel action.

“Even so, I think you should leave, miss.”

“—Yes.”

Prompted by Flopp’s question, Rem nodded without hesitation.

While she had been confined, her life in the mansion hadn’t felt particularly inconvenient. They banned her from going outside, but passage between rooms was relatively permissible. She had also been allowed to assist in treating the heavily wounded Flopp. Plus, she had met Kachua, and there was little room for anger or hatred for Berstet, who should have been her enemy.

In fact, Rem had suspicions that the one to blame for Berstet’s rebellion was most likely Abel Vincent, which only complicated matters more.

That said, without factoring those reasons, the most decisive reason Rem wanted to leave this mansion was likely her own emotions.

Remaining captive would only cause worry to those who had treated her kindly.

That sense of ungratefulness and insincerity urged her to escape such a situation swiftly.

“Okay, understood. I have no objections. I’ll accompany you, miss and Kachua.”

“Are you sure?”

“Even if I stayed, I wouldn’t be able to do anything but sleep in bed. Being a merchant, I can’t help but feel uneasy if I don’t move around a bit.”

While trying not to weigh down Rem too much, Flopp laughed and made a fist. Then he added, “Besides,”

“I’m actually entrusted with a message. If I accidentally sleep through it and miss the opportunity to convey it, there’s no way I could face society or my sister.”

“A message… from whom?”

“A great wager on the part of someone who voluntarily incurred the label of traitor and challenged the Empire’s sword-wolf.”

Winking with one eye as he answered, Flopp made Rem wrinkle her nose.

It didn’t seem like the person could be someone she knew, but having Flopp accompanying her was a real plus.

“Honestly, forcibly pushing you in a wheelchair while carrying Flopp along isn’t going to be an easy task…”

“You ask what I’ll do but have no intention of letting me do it, do you!?”

“If everyone is in danger, it’s fine to leave them be…”

If it came down to needing to forcibly extract them, then Rem would have to do so. She certainly wouldn’t try to save those beyond her range, but if they were within her means, she would have no choice.

Even if she had to bend the other person’s will, she had to do it—while being fully aware that it might not look good.

“——”

In an instant, it felt as if she were doing to herself the same thing she was now doing to others, stirring mixed feelings in her heart.

Shaking off that sensation swiftly, she nodded toward Kachua and Flopp.

“Let’s be careful as we leave the mansion. When encountering someone, let’s be cautious. Whoever they are, they’re likely not acquaintances.”

“Don’t say scary things. …Also, aren’t you injured? Can you manage?”

“Ahahaha, thank you for your concern. Fortunately, the miss administers dedicated healing magic to me. The meat torn from my body is covered, and my blood’s coming back too. The physical aspect is another question, so let me know before we start running.”

“I’ll keep that in mind. My legs aren’t in perfect shape either, and Kachua is in a wheelchair.”

Once more, the three of them realized they each bore a measure of physical instability. Still, no one could be absent; thus, it was vital to cooperate.

Just as they steeled themselves, Flopp then inquired—

“By the way, miss, what about the others who are captured?”

“…I completely forgot.”

Rem’s façade fell flat as she placed a hand to her forehead at Flopp’s suggestive comment.

In this mansion, there was a separate building where other captives were held—specifically, multiple people claiming to be the ‘dark-haired prince’, supposedly a hidden child of the Volakia Emperor.

It seemed most of them were intended to be used for creating a justification to rebel against the emperor, but after the rebellion led by Belstet, regarding the heir to the emperor, it wasn’t a matter of indifference to them either, as they were captured to ascertain whether they were truly who they claimed to be.

“To be honest, they can’t really be said to be enemies or allies, so I would like to ignore them.”

Given the current situation, while Kachua was one thing, the circumstances surrounding Rem and Flopp were exceedingly complex.

There were no substantial motives or claims to support them, yet they had somehow ended up aligned with the rebel forces led by Abel. They had been separated from that group and also had no acquaintance with the captured princes.

Neither their moral standing nor their attitude towards Rem and the others was known.

“——”

Thus, their true feelings reflected the sentiment they expressed just moments ago.

However, it was painful to leave them locked away, especially in a situation where an unfathomable ‘Great Calamity’ was looming and they were trying to escape that scenario.

Though it may be difficult to help everyone, Rem still wished to minimize casualties as much as possible.

That was exactly why she tended to the fallen guards that Goz had laid out.

“…How about we just search for the keys and leave them hanging so they can pull them out themselves?”

“Oh…”

“I-I don’t know, but I really don’t want to get involved with anything that might be dangerous! But I’m more bothered if you hesitate doing that!”

“No, no, it’s not strange at all. Well, yes.”

Seeing the hesitant Rem, Kachua proposed a compromise.

For Rem, who couldn’t think of anything but the binary choice of helping or not, Kachua’s suggestion felt like a ray of hope.

Following her advice, they would search for the key to the separate building, allowing the captives a little trouble in retrieving it. That way, they could ensure both safety and tranquility of mind.

“It seems we’ve reached a consensus.”

Flopp nodded in satisfaction at Rem and Kachua’s conclusion.

During that time, he had been braiding part of his long blonde hair when he gently placed a hand on the door. Then, as he pushed it open, he stated, “Now, let’s wait a moment to search for the key to the separate building…”

Just as Flopp was about to step through the door, he abruptly pulled back that comment, closing the door. Rem and Kachua widened their eyes at the unexpected action.

However, Flopp pressed his finger against his lips, signaling for silence, then cracked the door slightly to peek outside. Rem joined him, looking out.

“—Ah.”

“W-what’s with that reaction? It doesn’t sound like a good omen at all…!”

The reason for Flopp’s shutting the door caused Rem to hold her breath as she perceived something suspicious outside, making Kachua tremble in fear as she asked in a shaky voice.

**Words to ease the anxiety did not come to mind.**

For both Rem and Flopp, it was a scene beyond imagination.

In the courtyard of the Belstetz mansion, figures stood apart from the soldiers.

That figure was—

“…They certainly look like they have terrible complexions, don’t they? Are they sleep-deprived?”

Flopp’s dry joke sounded almost absurd against the grim atmosphere surrounding the figures.

A lifeless hue and cracks running across their visible skin—a group bearing clear signs of the abnormal was occupying the mansion of the Imperial Chancellor.

△▼△▼△▼△

“…At a glance, they were all dressed like Imperial soldiers, huh?”

Flopp whispered as he quietly closed the door, holding his breath among Rem and the others.

To be honest, the strangeness of the scene before them was so overpowering that Rem couldn’t afford to pay attention to such details, and thus couldn’t uncritically affirm Flopp’s words.

However—

“W-wait, these creepy guys lurking in the mansion… doesn’t that mean they are some rebel army trying to kill his Majesty the Emperor?”

“It didn’t feel like that kind of conversation would work with them. It wasn’t that they were furious or overly excited…”

“It felt as if they were different beings disguised as humans. I felt an atmosphere that made it hard to believe we could just talk it out. My wounds ache with an unpleasant premonition.”

Rem couldn’t help but agree with Flopp’s opinion.

Unlike the two who had checked outside, Kachua, who hadn’t seen the problematic figures, was still puzzled, but one glance outside would surely send her into a panic.

Having witnessed such an unnatural presence, Rem suddenly pondered.

“Could that be the ‘Great Calamity’…?”

Having only heard the term from Goz, she could only imagine that the ‘Great Calamity’ was something terrible. Upon now seeing the existence outside after hearing that it was approaching, it felt unavoidably linked.

Moreover, as someone capable of using healing magic, Rem’s intuition kicked in.

“I couldn’t sense any life. It felt…”

“Y-you don’t mean they’re dead, right? That’s ridiculous, like… what’s up with the Hollows…?”

“It might be hasty to laugh it off. They were dressed as Imperial soldiers, but if I remember correctly, their armor was also quite tattered. Perhaps they still bear wounds from their previous lives… what do you think?”

“Whether or not that’s the case, how would I know?!”

Seeing Flopp’s earnest expression, Kachua couldn’t help but shake her head in disbelief.

However, her strong denial signified that she too was sensing the exceptional state following the reactions of Rem and Flopp.

Even worse—

“—Gah!”

“Ugh!”

“—Aah!”

The series of small groans heard was from the guards outside—Goz had knocked them out, and those that Rem had treated were now on the verge of death.

Though it wasn’t something she had seen clearly…

“…It seems like it will be hard to communicate with them.”

Flopp’s words, tightening his cheeks, reflected the inevitable fate of the soldiers.

The pale-faced mysterious force had dealt the final blow to the fallen guards. There was no room left for negotiation, whatsoever. It was hard to think that Rem and the others would be exceptions.

“I…”

If the soldiers had been at least put into a room, the situation would have been different.

If they had moved those defenseless figures to safety, they could have avoided a one-sided death. In that case, the responsibility for their deaths would lie with Rem for not doing enough.

“—Is this a time to be thinking about that?!”

“K-Kachua…”

“Even if we’re feeling down right now, all three of us will just die. I-I don’t want that…!”

Kachua grasped Rem’s face, forcing her to look up. With teary eyes, Kachua bit out her words, trying to tear apart Rem’s weakness.

That momentum and Kachua’s earnest words took Rem by surprise.

After a moment of silence, she nodded quietly.

“Flopp, the situation has changed. We must open the departure room.”

“Yeah, that sounds right, ma’am. I was thinking the same thing. I’m not sure how well we can get along with those captured Imperial princes, but there’s an idea that the enemy of my enemy is my friend.”

“Yes. If there’s a common enemy, there’s a chance we could join forces.”

Upon declaring a change in strategy, Flopp quickly agreed. Receiving their consensus, Kachua nodded vigorously.

“Now that it’s decided, let’s hurry up and do this! You need to break the lock on the departure room. You can do that, right?”

“…I just happened to pick up a sword to use as a walking stick, so I can use that.”

The sword might break, but at least it would be enough to shatter the door’s lock.

It was already difficult to search for keys and walk around the mansion.

“We need to arrive before their attention turns to the departure room, but the issue is…”

“Kachua’s wheelchair…”

Everyone’s gaze concentrated on the wheelchair.

The one gifted by her fiancé was a high-end model with excellent workmanship, but it also meant that the sound of the wheels turning or moving components couldn’t be completely concealed.

It was unsuitable for a situation where they had to move without being noticed.

“I-I…”

Facing the same dilemma, Kachua’s eyes swam back and forth in panic.

However, she knew that she couldn’t separate herself from her wheelchair due to her disability. After some hesitation, she finally spoke.

“Just leave me here and go open the departure room. I-I’ll wait alone…”

“Alone… but, that’s…”

“Lock the room! If I stay silent and hidden, they won’t find me, you know? Especially if they’re like those dead men, it might be safer to just hide and not do anything. I-I’m not telling you to do anything dangerous!”

Her voice rose awkwardly and quickly was a testament to her turbulent heart.

However, Rem and Flopp both understood that Kachua mustered her last bit of courage to speak up.

That feeling of trust shouldn’t be taken lightly.

“Flopp, about Kachua—”

“No, we should honor Kachua’s intentions. The two of us are better off facing this together. In the worst case, one of us can act as bait.”

“――――”

That, of course, was the worst case, but looking away from what she didn’t want to think about would mean being crushed by worst-case scenarios if it ever came to that.

So, while considering the possibility of being crushed by the worst-case, Rem nodded.

“I promise I’ll open the departure room and come back.”

“D-do it right! You’ve got to come back! Absolutely!”

“—Yes.”

Holding Kachua’s hand, Rem exchanged solemn words of promise.

Bearing the worry of the clumsy Kachua, she resolved not to forget that weight. Then, Rem nodded at Flopp, and they headed outside the room.

“――――”

Holding their breath, the two crept into the corridor, scouting the unsettling presence of the “enemy” while trying to make their way toward the departure room at the back of the mansion.

Along the way, the scent of blood carried by the wind hinted at the soldiers’ fates. The enemy was barely a dozen strong, strolling around the mansion with unsteady steps.

“…They seem to be looking for something.”

“Perhaps, living humans?”

“No, killing the guards seemed more like a bonus. With that few of them, there’s likely a clearer target in mind.”

As they crouched low and moved stealthily, Rem and Flopp exchanged opinions on the enemy’s behavior.

Upon hearing Flopp’s sharp insights, Rem grew frustrated, feeling as if she was missing the point entirely.

“This is just my guess based on my thoughts; I can’t know for sure.”

It was disappointing to her when she made Flopp feel like he had to brush her off.

At the very least, she wanted to contribute towards rescuing those captured in the departure room and redeem herself.

“—This isn’t good.”

If anything, the “enemy,” with their bizarre appearances, seemed to possess sensory functions on par with a human, maintaining an odd ability that allowed them to not detect Rem and Flopp.

Thanks to that, they managed to reach the vicinity of the departure room without being seen. However, a problem arose there.

“It seems they didn’t completely overlook us after all.”

Flopp’s words echoed Rem’s silent agreement as they hiding behind the building and looking on. There were three of the problematic “enemies” lurking around the departure room. Given they were looking for something, it was odd that they’d avoid a building that stuck out that much.

The issue was if the Imperial “princes” were kept inside the building, once the door was broken down, the “enemies” would unilaterally slaughter them.

There was no time to waste. They had to take action immediately to save their lives.

“Ma’am, I’ll distract them. Can the three of you take action then?”

“――――”

“It doesn’t matter if we switch our roles, but I think you have a higher chance of success than my clumsy self. I need a quick decision.”

It was forceful, but it was a necessary call.

After a moment, Rem closed her eyes for a second and then opened them.

And—

“Let’s do it. We’ll circle behind them. Flopp, just for an instant.”

“Ah, I got it. I’m not bragging, but I’m quite adept at being bait.”

Nodding at his reassuring response, Rem and Flopp split into two groups.

Positioning themselves among the trio of “enemies” attempting to break open the departure room’s large door, they moved in opposite directions.

“――――”

Tightly gripping the steel sword she brought to shatter the lock, Rem checked its feel.

She had no experience wielding a sword, nor did she believe she could injure someone. If her combat experience could be summed up, it would likely be just breaking Subaru’s finger, which was hardly something to be confident about.

But it wasn’t about confidence. She had to do it.

This was the crucial moment.

“Hey there, everyone! How’s it going? I’m a peddler without goods, and my purpose here is to sell my face to you!”

Suddenly, Flopp slid out from behind the building, calling out to the “enemies.”

Without much of a plan, he had to catch their attention on a whim, and yet his attitude was overly bold and assertive.

“…What’s this, you?”

The reaction of the “enemies,” drawn to Flopp’s appearance, came back in a cold, lifeless voice. Yet, there was undeniable intelligence behind it—quite shocking to Rem, who had thought of them as noncommunicative dead beings.

However—

“Oh? Are you able to talk? If that’s the case, perhaps I should revise my attitude accordingly. What do you think?”

“Ah, if that’s the case, then it’s not a mistake. All the people of the Empire must die.”

“I see… so there’s no room for negotiation, huh?!”

Flopp declared loudly, cutting through the grim response from the “enemies,” melting away the momentary hesitation in Rem’s heart and acting as a clear signal for action.

Once she heard that, Rem wouldn’t hesitate in her next move.

“Ah, ahhhh—!”

At the moment she decided to strike, a voice involuntarily escaped her despite knowing she shouldn’t. To motivate herself from within, she had to sound those notes, pulling her into the action.

Drawing the sword from its sheath, she raised it high and slammed it down on the back of a distracted “enemy.” “Wha—?!” A scream rang out, but in a frenzy, she swung the sword repeatedly.

Not giving the distracted “enemy” attention to turn back, she unleashed a flurry of attacks. She didn’t know how much it would take to incapacitate, so she struck wildly.

While she distinctly remembered the hard impact on her hand, everything else became a blur.

Just—

“Ma’am! We’re fine now! I’ve taken care of all of them!”

“Ah…”

After hearing Flopp’s urgent call, Rem snapped back to reality and found Flopp before her.

Searching for the “enemy” that should have been between them, Rem noticed the pieces of what was the “enemy” scattered below.

The sight of their defeat was entirely unexpected, and Rem stared wide-eyed at what she saw.

“I swear to my eyes, it looked like they shattered. Looking at these remains, it’s as if they broke like pottery or glass.”

“…So they’re dead?”

“At the very least, I’m suspicious if they were alive before this happened.”

Squatting down, Flopp picked up some of the shattered pieces of the “enemy” with his fingers.

Hearing his response, Rem became painfully aware of what answer she had been hoping for.

Taking a life was something Rem wanted to avoid at all costs.

So she wanted to classify what those defeated “enemies” were, to protect her heart, and realized how base an expectation that was.

“Ma’am, their companions will notice us soon. We need to hurry to open the departure room.”

Flopp postponed this feeling of Rem’s to focus on the immediate moment, and Rem didn’t oppose Flopp’s decision, knowing it was correct.

In an effort to justify her actions, she worked to open the door to the departure room, only to notice—

“Eh?”

The scattered pieces of the “enemy” at her feet began to move unnaturally in ways distinct from the wind or an earthquake.

“—They won’t die that easily. They’re dead, of course.”

As a chilling realization hit Rem in that moment, she saw the “enemies” they had supposedly defeated reconstituting before her eyes. The broken pieces of ceramic rejoined as if time were rewinding, revealing cracks reminiscent of stitch lines, reassembling back to their original forms.

“――――”

Both Rem and Flopp stood paralyzed before this impossible sight.

In an immediate effort to protect Flopp at least, Rem thought to do the exact opposite of what she had decided when he had covered for her in Gwararu, putting strength in her legs.

But her unease affected her knee’s balance, preventing her from making an effective stance.

Instead, she inadvertently delivered a fatal stumble before the “enemy.”

She needed to lift the sword, to do it faster than them, yet—

**Too late.**

“—”

A glint of dull light flashed as the “enemy” raised their sword, swinging down mercilessly at Rem and Flopp—it was in that moment.

“—El!”

“Minya!!”

Two high-pitched voices overlapped, and immediately afterward, a transformation unfolded before Rem’s eyes.

In her sights, the three “enemies” with their swords raised were struck through the chest from behind with a violet crystal. Moreover, the shock didn’t stop there.

“Huh?!”

The moment the “enemy” was pierced, it let out a stifled groan, and the next instant, its entire body turned to the same purple crystal that had impaled it, shattering once more.

The distinction was clear—there was not a hint of revival within the fragments that had become violet.

And the one responsible for that incredible act, saving Rem and Flopp just in time, was—

“—Sorry for the wait, Rem! The main event has arrived!”

So boldly declared a figure jumping over the outer wall and into the grounds of the mansion from atop a big horse.

As the black-haired, fierce-eyed boy descended while carrying the girl in the dress in his arms, he cocked his eye closed towards Rem, flashing a toothy grin.

At such a flashy entrance and proclamation, Rem momentarily lost her words and then asked,

“—Who are you?”

The young boy who appeared so gallantly was someone Rem couldn’t recognize at all.

△▼△▼△▼△

—The Crystal Palace in the Imperial Capital, amidst the star-shaped ramparts, in the stronghold of the rebels, various situations unfolded.

Those who know the circumstances and those entirely unaware of them.

Amidst the chaos, the battlefield morphed into a melting pot—no, this was the Volakia Empire.

The land that glorified bloodshed and revered the scattering of lives, where ambitions flourished with actions, pulsed as the legacies inscribed in the Empire’s history rose one after another.

What should one call this but a nightmare?

“—The ‘Great Calamity’”

If not a nightmare, then there is no choice but to call it the “Great Calamity.”

The “Stargazers” that roamed the Volakia Empire proclaimed loudly that this was one of the great disasters bringing the world to ruin, one of the celestial decrees had been given.

It didn’t matter what caused this situation that was now referred to as the “Great Calamity.”

What mattered was that this disaster lured the Empire’s lands to destruction, in hopes of fulfilling wishes at its end.

For that purpose, every possible approach and strategy would be employed.

Kill and be killed, accumulate the corpses scattered throughout the land of Volakia.

Should the blood spilled in Volakia serve as the foundation for their plans, then what comes next is…

“All that’s left is to carry the plan through to the end. —It requires deliberation.”

Thus the embodiment of destruction, the “Great Calamity,” quietly, ever so quietly, celebrated its own existence.

 

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