I Was a Sword When I Reincarnated (LN) - Volume 15 - Chapter 4

Chapter 4: Resurrection of the Calamity

『From here, let's proceed using Dimension Shift.』

「Nn.」

『We don't have too much magical energy to spare, so let's move quickly. Also, Urushi will follow along using Shadow Shift.』

「Woof!」

Feeling the vigilance of the Vivian Guardians toward us, I activated Dimension Shift.

Urushi, while moving through the shadows at the bottom of the lake, couldn't follow us. The places where Urushi was hiding were surrounded by the Guardians. Even within the shadows, it seemed they could sense him.

『Urushi, go back!』

（Off...）

Forcing him to come along might cause the Guardians to go berserk. It was better to let him focus on stalling Zelyse.

Fran and I continued smoothly across the water. After a while, we noticed something strange up ahead.

『What's that?』

「Shirasu?」

As Fran mentioned, it looked like pillars. White cylinders, about five meters in diameter, rose from the depths of the lake toward the sky, and there wasn't just one of them.

『Let's take a look from above.』

「Nn.」

Looking down from above, we could see a dozen or so of these white pillars evenly spaced, forming a circular pattern. There was no doubt that this was the center of the lake.

『I sense some weird magic here.』

「It's creepy.」

From the center of the circle, we could feel strange magic. It wasn't malevolence, but it wasn't ordinary magic either. As Fran put it, it was an unsettling and unpleasant magic.

「Master, should we go straight through?」

『There's no other choice.』

I wanted to be cautious, but we didn't have much magical energy left. We couldn't afford to leave this situation unattended, and we needed to check the source of the magic. Fran descended into the water while maintaining her momentum. In this area, the water depth was quite shallow, less than ten meters. At the lake bottom, we found a mysterious structure.

At first glance, it resembled a temple. It was made of the same white stone as the pillars, with a central altar-like structure. It appeared to be ancient, yet remarkably well-preserved. There was no moss, dirt, or signs of decay. It maintained its pristine, pure-white appearance.

And in the center of that temple, there was an unusually intense source of magic. Amidst the beautiful white temple, it emitted a distinctly foreign and toxic aura. It had a peculiar design, reminiscent of a large wheel with thin tentacles protruding from it, all made of amethyst.

（What's that?）

『That's a magic stone, no doubt about it. Zelyse's magic stone weapon!』

The grotesque object placed directly above the altar seemed to absorb the surrounding magic and channel it into the temple. The eerie feeling we had experienced was likely our aversion to having our magic drained.

「We've come this far.」

「Rhyn!」

Suddenly, the spirit Rhyn appeared. With a sorrowful expression, Rhyn looked towards us.

「This place is special. You can safely deactivate your Dimension Shift now. The guardians won't enter this place.」

Following Rhyn's words, I deactivated Dimension Shift. There were no signs of the Vivian Guardians outside the temple making any commotion. It seemed they wouldn't come this far. Since there was no air here, I enveloped myself in a wind barrier for breathing. The Vivian Guardians didn't react to it either.

「Have you also seen that huge magic stone?」

「Nn.」

With a troubled look in Rhyn's eyes, Rhyn gazed at the magic stone weapon. It was a resentful gaze.

Clearly, that thing was unwelcome even to Rhyn.

『So, is that the device to resurrect the Great Beast?』

「That's right. It's using the surrounding magic to slowly erode the seal on the magical beast. Without performing the ritual to reseal it, the seal will self-destruct in a few days, and the Great Beast will fully revive soon.」

「Then, can we perform that ritual?」

「To perform the ritual to reseal it, we need preparations. We might make it in time if we hurry...」

「What do we need to do for that ritual?」

「Only Weena Rhyn knows. Whether she'll perform the ritual or not, I can't say.」

「What do you mean?」

「Ask her yourself.」

Rhyn still didn't seem willing to reveal crucial information.

「So, if we destroy that thing, the magical beast won't revive?」

「It's impossible to destroy it. Zelyse has layered multiple barriers and reinforced it. I tried it myself, but not a single scratch appeared. It's impossible without power on the level of a High Elf.」

Rhyn herself seemed to be a high-ranking spirit. For her not to leave a single scratch... It was truly incredible.

However, that might not be the case for others.

「Rhyn, just one thing. Is it okay to destroy it?」

「If you can, please do. That way, the worst-case scenario can be avoided. But it's impossible. So, please flee from this country. You'll get caught up in this.」

In response to Fran's question, Rhyn sadly shook her head.

「If it's okay to destroy it, then I don't care, Master.」

『Alright!』

「...No matter what happens, I won't regret it.」

With Rhyn's sorrowful words behind her, Fran attacked the magic stone weapon.

「Brilliant Lightning Rush—Heavenly Judgment!」

With black lightning trailing behind it, the lightning-fast slash rushed forth.

*Clang!*

However, the feedback from her attack was somewhat different from what she had expected. It felt dull, like hitting a hard rock with a blunt blade.

「Huh?」

There was no change in the magic stone weapon in front of her. Fran tilted her head in confusion, but I understood the reason.

『It looks like it didn't leave a scratch.』

My ability to absorb magic stones only works when I consume a wounded magic stone. In other words, if it doesn't suffer even a scratch, the ability won't activate.

「Ugh...」

『Well, then... I'll use Sword God Transformation.』

This was a situation where we had to push ourselves. However, Fran shook her head, her face on the verge of tears.

「No!」

Ever since Fran heard about me transforming into a sword, she has become a bit more worried. Well, I can't blame her entirely. While in Sword God Transformation, there is an impact on me as well due to optimization. She's probably feeling uneasy about that. At that time, I was literally a sword itself. Moreover, my durability is in a dangerous range.

『But, if we don't do it this way, it'll be difficult to leave a scratch on that thing, right?』

Even with a full-powered Heavenly Judgment, it remained unscathed. Certainly, using Sword God Transformation in my current state is quite dangerous, but for just a moment, it shouldn't be too much of a problem. However, Fran continued to shake her head.

「Absolutely not.」

『Then what should we do?』

「Leave it to me.」

With a determined expression, Fran gripped my hilt.

「I will definitely cut that thing. So, Master, don't overexert yourself.」

Saying so, Fran relaxed in front of the magic stone, taking deep breaths in a relaxed manner while increasing her concentration. Her posture was identical to what she had just been doing when she was about to use the Black Lightning God Claw. However, her current state seemed even deeper.

Rather than building up magic power all at once, she seemed to be planning to gradually gather strength over time.

Honestly, I wanted to stop her. Her recent failure meant it was still too early for Fran to attempt such a technique. Pushing herself like this would put a significant burden on her. It worried me because we shared higher-level skills like magic power control.

However, she was already controlling a large amount of magic power within her body and had entered a meditative state. Stopping her now might actually be dangerous. Furthermore, if we didn't use Sword God Transformation, we had no other options.

In this case, there was nothing else to be done. I maintained the wind barrier and other defenses while assisting Fran.

Nevertheless, compared to earlier, I felt that there was less waste in the flow of magic power. Could it be that her attempt from earlier had allowed her to grasp something?

The flow of magic power circulating within her body and the density of Black Lightning both had far fewer distortions than before. Of course, it was far from perfect, and the burden on Fran hadn't lessened.

As evidence of that, the resilient Fran had a pained expression. Just by looking at her face, it was clear that she was enduring a significant amount of pain. However, we couldn't afford to cast healing spells or the like. Casting any other magic power during this delicate and precise manipulation of magic would only get in the way.

I sent my encouragement to Fran silently in my heart and watched over her quietly.

In the midst of this, Rhyn suddenly raised her voice.

「Zelyse is coming!」

『...I see.』

This was bad. However, I didn't say anything to Fran. Fran should have also heard Rhyn's words, but she didn't react at all.

I also refrained from asking anything further. Right now, I shouldn't interfere with Fran.

Nevertheless, I couldn't sense Zelyse's presence. She must be using her transparency ability to deceive the Vivian Guardians' gaze.

However, Rhyn seemed to understand. Perhaps it's because she's a Time Spirit? Rhyn, with an anxious expression like that of a human girl, was by Fran's side, who was quietly repeating her breaths.

And so, after a short yet intense period of time had passed, a shadow leaped into the water.

It was Zelyse. She took out a magic stone from her pocket and tossed it at her feet. As a result, a powerful magic emanated, completely transforming the surrounding scenery. It seems she had the ability to create a dome of wind. Was that also a type of magic stone weapon? Inside the dome of air created underwater, Zelyse unsheathed her magic sword, Zelyse.

「I've caught up! Can you stop right there?」

Zelyse wore quite an anxious expression. There should have been an ironclad defense on the magic stone weapon, but she still seemed uncertain. Perhaps she valued Fran highly for defeating the magic stone weapon earlier. Additionally, she might be cautious due to her magic stone weapon being easily defeated.

However, she was too late.

Fran, with wide-open eyes, moved as if she was sinking into the water.

「Black Thunder God Claw!」

At the same time, my blade was enveloped in black lightning.

Earlier, Fran had tried to use the Black Thunder God Claw, a technique where she created black lightning blades and wielded them herself.

However, the true form of the Black Thunder God Claw was to wrap it around a weapon. Naturally, this method was easier. Fran knew that, but she chose to use the type that could be used independently because she was worried about me. Using the divine attribute twice in one day was too much. It was clear that I, who was already battered from Sword God Transformation, would suffer even more in this state.

But, now, we had to destroy this magic stone weapon. We absolutely had to succeed.

Moreover, using the Black Thunder God Claw for just a moment would cause less harm to me than using Sword God Transformation for the second time today. That's why Fran didn't activate the Black Thunder God Claw until the moment of the thrust. She deliberately chose a method of activation that was difficult to control to minimize the time I spent enveloped in the divine attribute.

But, as expected of Fran. In this critical moment, she displayed perfect control.

「Haaaah!」

『Alllright!』

It was a thrust using all her strength. From the ankles to the knees, waist, shoulders, elbows, wrists – every ounce of power was transmitted without waste. It was a breathtakingly beautiful thrust. However, the power contained within it was fierce and terrifying.

*Clang!*

The resistance was dull. It wasn't much different from when I had used Heavenly Judgment against the magic stone weapon earlier. However, the results were significantly different from before.

『Here it comes!』

「Nn!」

The enormous purple magic stone right in front of us had completely disappeared. A massive influx of magic power flowed into me.

『Uoooooooooooooooooooh!』

What in the world is this! An incredible surge of magic power! It's beyond comparison with a Rank B Magic Beast's magic stone. It might be similar to when Fanatics cannibalized each other.

『...』

It goes beyond mere pleasure; my mind is going blank.

（Master?）

『...』

Ah, no, this is bad.

I'm being engulfed—

（Master!）

I can't think of anything, but Fran's voice poured down on me like divine inspiration.

『...F-Fran?』

（Are you okay?）

My consciousness abruptly awakens. That's right, we're still in the middle of a battle.

Fran's voice really is something special. It always reaches me, no matter the circumstances.

『I'm sorry. You had to see me in such a state.』

It was dangerous. If Zelyse had attacked me now, I would have been utterly useless. The magic stone within that magic stone weapon was of a high rank, that's why. Thank you, Zelyse. That was quite a feast.

Oh no, this is bad. I'm still a bit disoriented. I need to get it together.

「...Hey... Really...?」

Zelyse is dumbfounded. She must be quite surprised.

The eerie magic that had covered the temple disappeared when the magic stone weapon vanished, but there's no time to relax.

（Master, are you okay?）

『...I'd like to say I'm fine, but...』

It's pretty bad. I absorbed a tremendous amount of power, and as a result, my normal sword abilities have significantly declined. My durability has decreased significantly, and it hasn't started to recover at all. The fact that there are still small nicks on my blade means that my self-repair isn't functioning.

It's likely the recoil from using the divine attribute too much.

『Honestly, it's quite dangerous for me to fight against her in my current state.』

（Alright.）

Zelyse is still in a daze, but we don't know when she might attack us.

I thought that, but what Zelyse said next was completely unexpected.

「Haha... Ahahaha! Amazing! Amazing, Fran-san! You're incredible!」

She started laughing with genuine joy. It's not a lie. She's genuinely saying that.

Her thoughts are definitely beyond our imagination.

「You know, the old me was really cautious of you. I finally understand why now. You must have put me through hell, Fran-san.」

What does she mean? The current Zelyse and the old Zelyse are supposed to be working together, right? But from her words, it seems like the previous Zelyse didn't know in detail why she should be cautious of Fran.

「The old Zelyse?」

「How do you think I and the old me are related, Fran-san?」

「Companions. I hate even one Zelyse, let alone two.」

「One or two pests, it doesn't make a difference.」

「Ah, hahaha! You're really harsh!」

Fran has quite a sharp tongue. She must be in a really bad mood.

She probably feels strong anger toward Zelyse for irresponsibly trying to release the seal of the Great Demon Beast.

「Well, Fran-san, whatever you think of me—」

「Damned insect.」

「Let's put that aside! The old me and I, well, we're more like fellow researchers at best. Our relationship is surprisingly dry, you know? It's not like Fran-san and I can talk about anything and everything.」

「Why not? Listening to the past could help avoid mistakes.」

「Because it's boring.」

There it is again. But, in Zelyse's code of conduct, that's an indispensable part.

「Knowing what's going to happen in the future and acting accordingly? How boring! Besides, the future can change easily. Especially when there are others from the old timeline like the old Romeo-kun.」

That's certainly true. In reality, because Sierra acted here, Romeo and Zelos Reed aren't captured by Zelyse.

「But you see, the old me, I'm cautious and try not to meddle with one person. I won't go so far as to give detailed information because I dislike it. Well, at most, I get data on research results.」

So, the current Zelyse hasn't heard much information from the old Zelyse.

「The old me understands that too. He doesn't do things like forcing information out of me. Oh well, it's convenient to have another self at times like this. With just a word, he understands everything.」

Indeed, normally, you would want to share detailed information about what happened in the past timeline. You'd want to know and tell, like what kind of mistakes you made and what kind of enemies you encountered.

At the very least, if it were me, I'd definitely share detailed information with my other self.

「But you see, there's one person the old me is cautious about or, should I say, who gives me a hard time. I won't go into detail because I don't like it, but it seems like the old me had a bitter experience with someone in the old timeline.」

Zelyse says that and throws a meaningful look at Fran.

「Me?」

「That's right. For example, when I first met you, Bulbora. There, I planned to let loose a large number of magic stone soldiers.」

「A large number?」

「I had prepared a hundred of them, you know? But the old me was so noisy about how it would be a waste and that it was better to use those magic stones for another plan. He unusually insisted on that, so I changed the plan.」

I see. Probably, the old Zelyse had deployed a large number of magic stone soldiers in Bulbora, and Fran probably wiped them all out. From her tone, it's clear that they were hardly effective. There probably wasn't much difference in the outcome, and if Zelyse could save valuable magic stones by changing the plan, then giving up on deploying magic stone soldiers in Bulbora would have been the better choice.

It's quite unfortunate for me though. After all, having a hundred magic stone soldiers would have brought in a substantial amount of magic stone value. It must have been an incredible bonus for us back then.

「As I watched this, I understood why the old me was wary of you. Well, maybe not you, but your sword, I guess? Well, Fran-san's skills could be a factor too. Anyway, you have the power to make magic stones disappear. It seems that it's okay as long as you inflict even a slight injury, regardless of the abilities, strength, or type of the magic stone.」

「...」

「Heh, you're on guard, huh? Even if it doesn't hit, it's only a matter of time?」

Tch, it seems my abilities have been quite exposed! From magic stone swords to giant magic stone weapons, it's only natural for them to notice if I show them multiple times right in front of their eyes.

「For me, who considers myself a magic stone user, it's the worst match. You could even call it a natural enemy.」

「...Then why not surrender?」

「Nah, I haven't lost yet, you know? Your abilities are troublesome, but just a bit.」

Zelyse's gaze turned toward me.

It's a look that's directed at an intriguing research subject. Honestly, I'm used to being seen as an object, but this guy's gaze is always a bit unsettling. It feels like he can see right through me.

「I'd like to analyze that sword and study it.」

「I won't give it to the likes of you.」

「Heh, it seems that sword has some secrets after all. I'm getting even more interested!」

Easily seen through! I need to divert the conversation here!

「...What about Sierra?」

「Oh, him? If you're curious, why not try forcing the information out of him?」

「I will.」

「You're still so confident, even in that sorry state!」

As Zelyse said, we were quite worn out. I was obviously drained, and Fran seemed fatigued enough for me to notice. It wasn't as severe as panting, but there was no hiding the exhaustion. It seems that using the Black Thunder God Claw was quite a strain.

But our fighting force isn't just Fran and me, you know?

『Urushi!』

「Grr!」

「Whoa!」

Summoned by the beast summons, Urushi attacks Zelyse. However, he dodges the surprise attack with graceful movements, avoiding the ambush from the shadows. His perception and reflexes don't seem like those of a rear guard at all.

「I thought I had tricked you so well!」

Zelyse screams in frustration, but he's perfectly evading Urushi's surprise attack. It's clear he's cautious of Urushi's ability to use time-space attribute attacks. Moreover, while keeping an eye on Urushi, he engages Fran head-on. As I felt in our previous battle, he's quite strong as a warrior.

「Hahaha! That sword is indeed incredibly strong! Now, let's see what happens with this!」

「Mmm.」

『A magic stone sword, huh?』

When Zelyse takes out a magic stone sword and I catch it, the sword is absorbed into me. However, Zelyse didn't seem to show any signs of regret. Instead, his smile deepens.

「Hahaha! Then how about this?」

『Again!』

Zelyse once again attacked in succession with the magic stone sword he had taken out, clearly aiming at me, not Fran. However, forcibly avoiding the attacks would disrupt Fran's posture, which was a bonus for me. There was no choice but to accept the magic stone sword once again head-on.

As a result, the magic stone sword in Zelyse's hand was absorbed by me and disappeared. However, upon witnessing this, Zelyse let out an ecstatic laugh.

「Amazing! So it really is the power of that sword! A magic sword that absorbs magic stones! Fantastic! I definitely want to research it!」

Disgusting! However, suddenly, Zelyse put on a serious expression and tilted his head. Then, he looked at Fran with a meaningful expression.

「Eh? Is that so? Hmmm.」

「What?」

「It's just that the old me thought you'd be more of a letdown.」

「A letdown?」

「The old Fran-san was stronger, scarier, and more dangerous.」

「!」

Fran was clearly irritated by Zelyse's words. The current Fran is quite strong. Does this mean that there was a significant difference between the old Fran and the current one?

Speaking of differences between then and now, it could involve the time-slip group, such as Sierra and Zelyse. Ah, that's right, there was a significant difference between then and now.

It was the battle at Bulbora. If what Zelyse said was true, the old me must have annihilated the magic stone soldiers and become significantly stronger. I might have even jumped up by four or five ranks at once.

What would be the result of that? There's a high possibility that we became stronger at a faster rate, enabling us to defeat even stronger magical beasts than we can handle now. This could have accelerated my transformation into a sword.

In other words, I might have become stronger than I am now, but at the same time, I might have completely lost my humanity.

As Zelyse said, I would have been stronger (because I was enhanced), scarier (because Fran wouldn't have had the leeway to restrain me, and I would have gone on a rampage), and more dangerous.

Thinking about it this way, were we saved by the old Zelyse? Well, it was more of a coincidental outcome. If anything, it might have been the old Fran who had a positive influence on us. Thanks to the old Fran going on a rampage, we were ultimately saved, and we now have hope.

『...』

（Master, what's wrong?）

『Oh, I was just wondering what happened to the old Fran.』

（...I'm sure she's fine.）

『Why do you say that?』

（Because Master would never abandon me. Even if something goes wrong, you'll quickly return to normal and save me. That's why I'm okay.）

『Well, but Rhyn said I turned completely into a sword, didn't he?』

（It's okay. Because you're Master. I'm sure everything will work out somehow.）

Fran's straightforward feelings come through.

『I see... You're right.』

（Yeah!）

Feeling Fran's trust in me, I can't help but genuinely believe it myself. There's no way I would ever become a complete sword and leave behind such an adorable Fran. The old me would have felt the same way for sure. So, as Fran says, there might be a chance for us to regain our hearts someday, perhaps with the right trigger, immediately.

Fran is the same. Even if there are moments when she goes berserk, she'll quickly realize her mistakes. What if I'm not there? Well, that doesn't matter. She'll surely find a way to regain herself, even without my help, and give the old me a good punch to snap back to sanity.

Besides, we have no way of knowing the past anymore. Whether the previous timeline branched off into parallel worlds or was overwritten and disappeared in the current time, we don't know.

So, it's better to think positively. There's nothing we can do by worrying.

And now, we have to defeat the psycho handsome guy right in front of us!

『Now, Fran. Are you ready?』

（Mm! Sorry for the delay.）

Zelyse may think we're underestimating him, but we've been preparing our secret weapon while fighting.

Payback time for underestimating Fran!

（Master, let's go!）

『Yeah!』

In normal circumstances, running away from here would be the best choice. However, if we were to flee here, Zelyse might do something to the seal on the magical beasts again.

The seal is already significantly weakened, and we wanted to prevent that from happening.

That's why Fran is staking everything on this battle. If we can't fight for an extended period, then we'll just have to go for a quick showdown.

『Haaah!』

「Taah!」

『Resonance Magic! (Resonance Magic!）

The magical power emitted from both me and Fran mixes together, creating a single magic spell.

This is the secret technique we acquired during our training in the Magic Wolf Plains, the Resonance Magic.

It's a skill where multiple magicians resonate their magical power to cast a single spell together. It's apparently very rare.

After all, it's a unique skill. And to activate it, every participant must possess this skill. Meeting the activation conditions was extremely rare in itself. Moreover, simply having the skill didn't mean you could use it.

You had to control the wavelength and magnitude of magical power to synchronize them. In other words, you needed to have the Resonance Magic skill and be an advanced practitioner of magical power control. So, people with these criteria coming together was quite rare.

Even Amanda had only seen it activated a few times. It seems it was used by a group of high-level magical beasts deep within dungeons. Originally, I think it was a skill for dungeon magical beasts. In dungeons where they could produce large quantities of the same species with the same abilities, activating it would probably be relatively easy.

I just happened to defeat the magical beasts I owned in the Magic Wolf Plains by chance.

They were bizarre slimes connected by tentacle-like appendages, forming a set of five bodies. They were called Resonance Slimes. Well, I captured them before they could use Resonance Magic, though.

「Kuu...!」

『Fran, do your best!』

Fran lightly presses her temple and lets out a groan. This is one of the reasons why this magic couldn't be used effectively in actual combat.

Normally, this magic was designed to be used by groups of ten or twenty magical beasts working together. However, Fran and I were using it just by ourselves, which placed a significant burden on the user.

In particular, the strain on the brain was quite severe. According to Fran, it felt like "someone was swinging a spiked hammer inside her head." It must have been excruciating. Fran's resilience in not screaming was incredible.

「Aaah!」

『Good job, Fran! You did well despite the pain!』

Despite her screams, Fran manages to complete her part of the spell.

Fran strains her mental energy, enduring the pain, and completes the spell formula. I manipulate my own magical power and synchronize the output in an instant.

As a result, a pale blue lightning bolt is released from us, rampaging wildly and covering our surroundings.

This lightning bolt precisely captures Zelyse, who had been looking nonchalant while in a phased state.

「Gah! W-What is this?」

「Grr!」

「Guu!」

Zelyse staggers greatly after taking the Resonance Magic. Urushi seizes the opportunity, his fangs digging deep into Zelyse's body, inflicting serious wounds. Moreover, the lightning is still raging.

This is the effect of Resonance Magic. Fran's lightning attribute and my spacetime attribute blended together, resulting in spacetime-imbued lightning being unleashed. Its properties and effects can vary widely depending on the attributes and imagery infused into it.

However, its power isn't particularly overwhelming. Because it requires all participants to synchronize their magical power, it would fail if one person's magical power is too dominant. In this case, I adjusted to Fran's magical power. Besides, due to the splitting headache, Fran couldn't adjust to me even if she wanted to.

Furthermore, combining attributes consumes magical power, which further reduces the spell's potency.

Compared to something like Kanna Kamui or Heavenly Judgment, it could be considered weaker.

But in situations where multiple attributes are effective, like the current one, it's an extremely useful spell. It combines the speed of lightning with the spacetime attribute, allowing it to damage even phased entities like Zelyse.

「Kuaaa! What is... this?!」

Zelyse had probably thought it was just thunder magic. Even though he was in a phased state, he was surprised to be struck by lightning. It seemed that even someone like Zelyse couldn't immediately discern its true nature on their first encounter.

『Now's our chance while the effects of Resonance Magic linger!』

「Mm!」

Fran rushes forward to strike down Zelyse. Both Fran and I are prepared to give it our all in this single blow.

However, in the next moment, all of us, including Urushi, suddenly stiffen and wear expressions of shock.

「What is this...?」

「Kuhn.」

『Hey, something is emerging from the depths of the temple! It's incredibly powerful magical energy!』

「Why is the seal of the Great Magical Beast breaking? I haven't done anything...」

From the center of the temple, gray magical energy slowly oozes out as if crawling.

We hastily leap backward.

「Uwaaaah!」

Immediately after, Zelyse lets out a loud scream. It's not the usual exaggerated voice but a genuine scream. However, this reaction is expected.

「Guh...! What the hell! Get away!」

Thin, jellyfish-like tendrils coil around Zelyse's body in multiple layers, binding him tightly.

Upon closer examination, these were extremely fine tentacles resembling those of a jellyfish. Countless tentacles overflow from the gaps in the pure white floor and assault Zelyse.

He should have been using his phasing ability, but it seemed to be futile.

Is the Great Magical Beast trying to resurrect for real? But why? Is it because of the battle here?

『Where's Rhyn? Rhyn should understand the situation, right?』

（Hm? He's not here?）

Just then, Rhyn's voice is heard from behind.

「I told you to run...」

「Rhyn?」

Amidst the overwhelming magical power that seemed to belong to a magical beast surging from the lake bottom, Rhyn appears with a sad expression.

「Too late now... Because I never thought I'd get an opportunity like this for real...」

『Rhyn! What do you mean by that?』

Rhyn's words continue after suddenly appearing in front of us.

「Thank you, Fran. Thanks to you, the Great Magical Beast of the lake is undergoing an imperfect resurrection...」

「Rhyn did it?」

「Yes.」

Despite Fran's incredulous expression, Rhyn firmly confirms it, though with a guilty look.

「Why...?」

「If it was going to fully revive anyway, I thought it'd be better to force it into an incomplete revival. And... 」

「And?」

「...It's nothing. More importantly, hurry up and run. You guys can still escape. And tell Weena Rhyn to brace herself. She'll understand if you say that.」

Rhyn conveys this unilaterally and disappears abruptly as usual.

Zelyse still hasn't managed to free himself from the tentacles.

「Darn it!」

It seems like he's having trouble activating his phasing ability.

It's as if only parts of his body are in the phased state. Indeed, some of the tentacles are passing through Zelyse's body.

However, since his entire body isn't phased, it appears that he got entangled with one of the numerous extended tentacles, and even if he somehow succeeded in phasing the part that was entangled, he would fail to phase other parts, resulting in him being captured by the tentacles again and again.

For someone who initiated nearly ninety percent of this resurrection themselves, he's quite the idiot!

『Fran! Urushi! Let's just get away for now!』

We have to escape from here. Engaging in close combat with an unknown opponent is too risky with so many uncertainties.

「Mm!」

「Woof!」

「Aaaaaahhhhhhh!」

With Zelyse's high-pitched scream echoing behind us, we quickly flee the scene.

We attempt spatial teleportation to put a good distance between us — but it fails.

『Huh?』

「?!」

It's not that the teleportation didn't activate; it didn't work as planned. We intended to escape dozens of meters into the sky in one go, but instead, we only moved a few meters to the side.

Considering Zelyse is in a phased state and captured by the tentacles, there seems to be something in this vicinity disrupting spacetime magic. Is it the work of the Spirit of Time, Rhyn?

『We need to run!』

「Mm!」

「Woof!」

To escape from the countless transparent tendrils surging from the temple floor, Fran and Urushi jumped into the air in a single leap. They continued to kick through the air, dodging the tentacles that approached rapidly, sometimes countering with magic. However, while they could destroy the tentacles, the rate at which they multiplied was overwhelmingly faster.

As they slashed one, two more would appear, and as they slashed two, four more would emerge as if gushing from the temple. Furthermore, due to exhaustion, Fran couldn't use "Brilliant Lightning Rush."

Transparent, thin tendrils attacked Fran from all directions, covering the airspace. It became clear that their escape routes were gradually diminishing. It reminded Fran of the Thread User, Felmus, whom she had fought in the martial arts tournament.

『We're in trouble! At this rate, we might be enclosed by a wall of tentacles!』

「Mm!」

If they continued to struggle like this, they might be trapped within a dome of tentacles.

Fran lashed her battered body with her whip and increased her speed. Her face was contorted in pain.

Darn it! If only I were in perfect condition!

『No, wait... Could it be!』

I hurriedly checked my status.

『Indeed! Just a bit more!』

If I played my cards right, I might be able to fully recover all at once.

『I don't have any magic stones!』

That's right. What I checked was the "Self-Evolution" category. If I could gain about 50 more magic stone points, I should be able to rank up. However, there were no magic stones in the dimensional storage either. There were a few goblin corpses, but they couldn't provide anywhere near 50 magic stone points.

Fran's storage also had no magic stones or anything of the sort. Maybe this method was impossible after all? No, wait.

『If we're talking about magic stones, there's someone who's likely to have them! Fran, hold on just a bit longer!』

「Mm!」

I released Fran's hand and descended rapidly.

「Zelyse!」

「Wh-Who are you?」

I ran towards Zelyse with a clone created through Body Duplication, unsure how long I could fool him.

「If you have any magic stones, hand them over! If everything goes well, you might also be saved! And for now, I'll let you off the hook!」

「Eh? Uh? What?」

「Hurry up!」

「Ugh, this is so confusing, but I'm desperate!」

Zelyse seemed momentarily confused, but he probably understood that he couldn't escape on his own. Despite his doubts, he decided to follow my words.

He took out a medium-sized magic stone from his pocket. It seemed like he had it stored in an item bag within his robe.

Without hesitation, Zelyse tossed the magic stone towards my clone using only a snap of his wrist. It was probably a magic stone from a threat level C or B magical beast.

「Take it, you thief!」

「Hahaha! Thanks!」

After receiving the magic stone, I turned my back on Zelyse as if I were blinded and absorbed it with my main body. Well, with a little thought, it would probably be obvious what I was doing, but for now, it was worth a shot.

『It's here, it's here!』

The battered main body was instantly repaired, and a vast amount of magical power overflowed.

Furthermore, there was no damage left from the divine attribute.

『It's a complete recovery!』

I managed to absorb just over 50 magic stone points. It was a close call, but I had achieved a rank up. I hadn't expected to rank up again in such a short period. Thanks to the magic stone weapon set up to break the seal of the great demon beast, my magic stone accumulation had been extremely slow recently due to Fenrir-san within me being weakened. Even now, with just that, I could easily obtain over 500 magic stone points.

The accumulated Self-Evolution points were 60. It was still a small number, but there was no helping it. If I believed Announcer-san's words, things should return to normal after the next evolution.

『Fran! Sorry for the wait!』

I dismissed my clone and returned to Fran's side.

「Urushi, come here!」

「Woof!」

『All right! Let's mow them down in one go! Fran, focus all your efforts on escaping!』

「Understood.」

These tentacles could be destroyed with magic. If they could cut down the widespread tendrils in an instant, they should be able to create an opportunity to escape. I tried to activate the most powerful spell I could use, "Kanna Kamui," in rapid succession—only to be shocked.

『No way! This is...』

（Master?）

『The magic formation isn't stabilizing at all!』

I initially thought it was disrupting my spatial magic, but it seemed different. When trying to use a certain amount of magical power, something seemed to interfere. It became clear that the spell formation of "Kanna Kamui" I had constructed was warping due to interference from the outside. It wouldn't activate like this.

What should I do? Should I repeatedly cast weaker spells that I could release instantly? But that wouldn't provide enough power. There was no way I could handle the countless tentacles with that.

As I hesitated for just a few moments, I noticed that magic power was emanating from Zelyse.

「Oooh!」

『Is this...a barrier?』

「Hurry up!」

Zelyse had thrown towards us a magic stone weapon containing a vast amount of magical power. This barrier was incredible. It not only protected against the tentacles but also mysterious interference. The spell formation had instantly stabilized. The reason he hadn't used it himself was probably because, even if he managed to temporarily block the tentacles, he had no means of escape. Normally, it was a tool meant to momentarily block large-scale enemy spells. However, with my current abilities, that moment was more than enough.

『Oooh! Burst through it!』

I activated "Kanna Kamui" all at once. By intentionally reducing the convergence rate, I expanded its range.

「Wait, what about me?」

As a result, six "Kanna Kamui" were unleashed in all directions, and the entire area was engulfed in white lightning.

『Now's the time!』

「Mm!」

Fran, holding the downsized Urushi, summoned her last ounce of strength and soared through the sky in one burst. From the midway point, she used Telekinetic Air Ride. Pushing through the bursting lightning and flames, we ascended forcefully.

Looking down, the location of the temple was obscured by steam, making it impossible to see clearly. The vapor was electrified, and I could hear crackling sounds.

Zelyse should have been caught up in it too, but I wonder what happened to him? I mentioned he might be saved, but I never explicitly promised to save him. I did make sure not to hit him directly, though... Did he manage to escape? Well, I couldn't imagine him dying like that. As a result, it seemed like I had kept my promise not to pursue him.

『Let's get away from the temple as soon as possible.』

「Mm!」

「Arf!」

Urushi and I started fleeing at full speed. From where we had been just moments ago, an immense magical power began to leak. Even though we should have been quite far away, neither Fran nor Urushi nor I felt safe at all.

Both Fran and Urushi had their fur standing on end. Fran seemed to be breaking out in a cold sweat.

As for me, I felt an overwhelming pressure enveloping my entire body. It wouldn't subside no matter how far we moved away. In fact, it felt like it was growing stronger.

『It doesn't feel like hostility or malice, but...』

「Scary.」

「Woof...」

「It wants to eat us.」

「Kuhn.」

That's right. This was hunger. A terrifying hunger emanated from this presence. It wasn't just Fran and Urushi; I was recognized as prey too.

『Moreover, it's tainted.』

「Mm...」

「Woof...」

It seemed that within the great demon beast, fragments of an evil god were mixed in. The malevolence mixed with the magical power leaking out was quite powerful. Even compared to Zelos Reed and Murelia, it was no less formidable.

「We'll go to Weena Rhyn.」

『Got it.』

As for why Rhyn had released the seal of the great demon beast, we didn't understand. Had Rhyn truly released the seal in the first place? To get the answer to that question, we needed to meet with Weena Rhyn.

『Even so, the influence should be minimal at this distance.』

「But it still feels a bit tense.」

「Woof.」

Though I thought we had moved several kilometers away, Fran and Urushi still seemed to sense something unsettling. At the moment we realized that the great demon beast was no ordinary existence, Fran, who had been looking back, gasped.

「!」

At the same time, her astonishment was transmitted to me.

「Master, look...」

『Seriously...! I see, it's a great demon beast!』

In our line of sight, emerging from the lake, there was something massive. At this distance, Appraisal couldn't reach, and we couldn't accurately estimate its strength. However, we could tell just from its immense size. Even in our current state, it had to be over 100 meters in length. The Midgardsormr had been long and slender, giving more of an impression of length than size. Moreover, it had been underwater, so we hadn't seen its full appearance.

Perhaps because of that, this great demon beast on our side seemed even larger. We had no idea how large it might become upon complete revival.

「Grrrrr!」

It roared with a deep voice, a gray something. Its body underwent eerie pulsations and enlargements, preventing us from discerning its true form. The only thing we could grasp was that if we let it run loose, it would likely cause a lot of damage.

『Let's hurry back!』

「Mm!」

「Grr!」

We hurriedly returned to Seftent. The town was already in chaos. Many people were running around in the harbor. There were ships of various sizes docked at the pier, some with broken masts and others with scorched marks. They must have been part of the merchant fleet. However, there were fewer of them than expected, perhaps only about one-fifth of the total. Could it be that so many ships had sunk?

In one corner of the harbor, adventurers had gathered, gazing at the great demon beast with stern expressions. It appeared much smaller from here, but those adventurers who knew the lake well seemed to have a good grasp of its size.

They quickly noticed Fran. Well, it was pretty obvious she had returned riding on a big wolf from the direction where the incident had occurred. It was only natural that she stood out.

「Hey! Could you be the Black Lightning Princess?」

「Oh, it's really her! Black Lightning Princess-dono!」

Her face had become well-known during the mock battle. They recognized Urushi too and greeted us without any signs of suspicion.

「A massive magical beast has appeared.」

「Well, you can tell just by looking...」

「I don't know the details either. But more importantly, I have a few questions.」

「Huh? What is it?」

「Have you seen Sierra?」

「Sierra?」

「Yeah, that kid. The one with the blue hair?」

「The one with blue hair, who was using teleportation magic to help people? Did she have an older sister?」

「I just registered her recently. I thought she was a weird one, hanging out with other adventurers and not knowing common sense. But she turned out to be a nice person. She's also a spacetime mage. I might invite her to our party.」

「Someone asked me about her before. They said she might be aiming to make a name for herself by resolving the lake's abnormalities.」

「Well, if that's the case, she'll just refuse normal requests. Oh, sorry, we got off track. We haven't seen Sierra either. Juzeka, who was teleporting around, disappeared somewhere too.」

「Even though she has such a strong presence, she hardly stands out normally. She's a mysterious one.」

In the end, we couldn't find out what Zelyse had done with Sierra. It seemed she hadn't been seen in Seftent. She didn't trigger our detection either. We couldn't search any further for now.

「Also, what happened to the merchant fleet?」

「It's a mess.」

「It's unbelievable what happened to the fleet.」

The adventurers informed us with grim expressions. Due to Modoki's attack and the massive explosion, many ships had suffered damage, and there had been significant casualties. Nevertheless, the ships that remained intact had managed to disperse and dock in the nearby towns, allowing many people to disembark.

Seftent, in particular, had many damaged ships docked, and the relief efforts were underway.

「We're currently verifying the identities of the deceased. Over there, in the square.」

「I see.」

「I'll show you the way.」

We went to the town square. In the square, a large number of people and a dozen or so bodies were laid out. It was heart-wrenching to see people clinging to the bodies of their loved ones, sobbing uncontrollably. The cries of children, in particular, sounded especially despairing. Fran clenched her fists, and I could sense her suppressing her anger.

Seeing this scene, my desire to kill Zelyse welled up once again. When we escaped from the temple, I should have forced Kanna Kamui into action, even if it meant pushing it to the limit. But at that time, Fran's escape was the top priority, and I couldn't afford any unnecessary actions.

（Master?）

『Yeah, that's right.』

We approached the people from the ships that were in the square and lined up the bodies of the victims we had found during our journey. We didn't have much time, but I felt that we couldn't neglect this aspect. Among the crew members here, there were friends and relatives, and the square resounded with even more mournful cries.

（Zelyse...! The next time I see her, I will definitely defeat her.）

『Yeah, that's right.』

（Grr!）

Afterward, we offered a silent prayer and left the scene.

When we returned to the camp, the students had gathered anxiously. They probably still didn't fully understand the situation.

When Fran descended at the camp, the students approached her. The first to speak up was Carona.

「Fran-san! The town is in turmoil. Do you know what happened?」

「...The merchant fleet was attacked by a magical beast.」

「I see! What's the extent of the damage?」

「It's quite severe. We've reported it to Weena Rhyn.」

「I see. I apologize for taking up your time.」

When Fran mentioned Weena Rhyn's name, the students naturally made way for her.

They were indeed students of the academy. They seemed to understand that panicking at a time like this wouldn't be helpful.

「...It might be dangerous to stay here. Prepare for evacuation.」

「Eh? But...」

「It's an instructor's order.」

「Understood.」

At times like this, having authority was convenient. Well, in reality, I didn't have the authority to give such orders, but it was an emergency situation.

『Let's talk to Weena Rhyn first to begin the evacuation process for everyone. She should know that something has happened.』

「Nn!」

In fact, it wouldn't be surprising if she had learned everything through the spirits.

「Weena Rhyn!」

「Fran...」

Weena Rhyn, seated in a chair, had a face dominated by an overwhelming sense of sorrow. Her disheveled hair suggested she might have run her hands through it repeatedly. Given her current state, it seemed plausible that she had done something like that.

「Why did the lake's magical beast revive? The seal wasn't supposed to be that weak yet...? If this continues, Rhyn will disappear!」

Weena Rhyn spoke with a face covered, and her words were filled with anguish. But Rhyn would disappear? But...

「That Rhyn is the one who resurrected the magical beast.」

That's right. Although Rhyn probably just hastened the revival of the magical beast whose return was already certain, she gave it that final push. Fran couldn't help but mutter with visible anger.

「...What? Rhyn? No way...」

「Yes, it's true.」

「Why...?」

「I don't know.」

『Well, we'd really like to know.』

Then Fran and I explained everything that happened at the bottom of the lake. How Zelyse had attempted to break the seal, but we had stopped her. That the seal was on the verge of breaking soon, but there was still a little time left. However, Rhyn had resurrected the magical beast.

It seemed that Weena Rhyn couldn't believe it. She stared blankly at the void.

「A message from Rhyn.」

「!」

「Prepare yourself, she says.」

「...But if she does that, then she... by her own...」

Clearly, the relationship between Weena Rhyn and Rhyn was a mystery. Was that child she mentioned referring to Rhyn? If so, they weren't just acquaintances. From their previous reactions, it seemed like they had a close relationship.

「What's the relationship between Weena Rhyn and Rhyn?」

「...What should I say?」

「I'm asking.」

「Right, I suppose.」

Weena Rhyn smiled wearily. She seemed to be mentally exhausted.

「In simple terms, we are twin sisters. That's what we are.」

「Sisters and spirits?」

『Can such a thing happen, even among elves?』

Even though they were elves, it seemed like it was an improbable miracle.

「Rhyn was originally a High Elf.」

Weena Rhyn spoke, explaining their relationship. So Rhyn had become a spirit from being a High Elf?

「Rhyn made a contract with the lake spirit that had been incorporated into the magical beast, and she integrated herself with the spirit to become a spirit.」

「Is that even possible?」

「Perhaps it was possible because Rhyn was particularly skilled in spirit magic among the High Elves. It would be impossible for me.」

The fact that she had merged with the lake spirit, which had become one with the magical beast, meant that Rhyn had also become a part of the magical beast. Afterward, Rhyn weakened the magical beast from within and sealed both it and the lake's center with a sealing technique she had prepared.

Weena Rhyn's acquaintance who had sealed the magical beast was none other than her twin sister, Rhyn.

「Later on, I formed a contract with Rhyn, who had become a spirit... If I had left her alone, Rhyn would eventually have completely assimilated with the magical beast and disappeared.」

Normally, the contract between a spirit mage and a spirit wouldn't be as deep as assimilation. It was more like being together or summoning the spirit when necessary, a kind of give-and-take relationship.

However, Weena Rhyn's excessively strong feelings for Rhyn, the unusually deep connection resulting from being twins, and the unexpectedly high affinity with spirits that High Elves possessed brought about this unusual situation.

「I originally had a different name, Weena.」

「She changed her name after forming a contract with Rhyn?」

「No, it's different. When I made a contract with Rhyn, our souls fused together. As a result, we became one individual called Weena Rhyn.」

Fundamentally, it seemed like Weena was the dominant personality. Her memories and appearance remained Weena's. However, there had definitely been changes. Rhyn's tastes and consciousness had mixed with Weena's. In essence, it was about someone else blending in, making you not entirely yourself. It might seem disconcerting under normal circumstances...

「I was overjoyed, to be honest. I thought we could be together forever. That's what I thought.」

The thought processes of long-lived beings were still a bit hard to grasp. Well, perhaps being twins had something to do with it.

However, after hearing the current explanation, one thing still didn't quite make sense.

「So, the Rhyn I met...?」

「The Rhyn I contracted with integrated with the lake spirit and became a spirit herself. But, a part of Rhyn remains sealed inside the magical beast.」

So, a small part of Rhyn, who had integrated with the lake spirit, became Weena Rhyn, while the rest remained sealed inside the magical beast? That might explain why Weena Rhyn had control; perhaps Weena had taken charge of the part that was left.

「Rhyn might be able to break free from the seal for a short time and manifest. But she didn't come to see me. That's probably to prevent the interaction between Rhyn inside me and the one inside the magical beast... Even so, I really want to see her...」

Weena Rhyn seemed oddly unstable when talking about Rhyn. She appeared more like a teenage girl who was ecstatic and worried about the actions of her crush than someone talking about her twin sister.

「What does Rhyn mean by 'prepare yourself'?」

「...Yes.」

「Rhyn said that you would understand if Weena Rhyn told you.」

「...No.」

「Weena Rhyn?」

「I refuse. I won't do such a thing. I won't let Rhyn disappear...!」

Weena Rhyn mumbled something for a moment but then suddenly stood up from her chair.

Perhaps she had made up her mind; her eyes sparkled with a crazed intensity.

「I'm going to seal the magical beast!」

「Can you do it?」

「It would have been impossible until now. But I think I can do it now.」

With those words, Weena Rhyn started running. Despite her determined expression, her steps seemed somewhat unsteady. It wasn't like she was stumbling, but there was a hint of instability in her gait.

「I'm going with you.」

「What about the students?」

「Oh, right... I should instruct them to evacuate this town. Fran, gather the other instructors and take care of things until we escape.」

「Understood.」

Weena Rhyn reacted as if she had completely forgotten about the students. She was indeed acting a bit strangely.

However, Weena Rhyn was the only one who could seal the magical beast. There was no choice but to entrust her with this task.

「Are you okay?」

「I'm fine. I'll be okay.」

She didn't look fine at all. However, it didn't feel right to point that out. Weena Rhyn was carrying a tense atmosphere around her to such an extent that it was difficult to bring it up.

「I absolutely will seal it. I'm prepared, so I'm going. Please take care of the rest!」

Weena Rhyn declared as if shouting, then ran off without stopping. There was no time to halt her. While I was genuinely worried, ensuring the evacuation of the students was also essential work.

『We should do what we can.』

「Nn!」

As Fran headed toward the students, it seemed that the preparations for evacuation had already been completed. They had abandoned their tents and were carrying only essentials like food.

「Fran-dono, what happened?」

Innes, the combat instructor, approached on behalf of the others. She was highly respected by both the teachers and students and appeared to be acting as the leader.

「A massive magical beast appeared in the lake.」

「A magical beast?」

「Nn.」

As Fran explained, not only Innes but also the other instructors and students wore puzzled expressions.

「Has the headmaster dealt with it?」

「He has.」

「Eh? Even so, is evacuation necessary?」

Ah, I see. Weena Rhyn was an absolute figure for the people of the academy. It might be difficult for them to understand why evacuation was needed, even with Weena Rhyn taking action. After all, a slightly stronger magical beast could be dispatched swiftly without causing harm to the surroundings.

「This magical beast is formidable. Weena Rhyn might not be enough.」

「T-That's...!」

「So, this means it's at least Threat Level A or higher...」

「Nn. That's why we need to evacuate quickly.」

「Understood!」

After Fran, a formidable individual, explained the situation, everyone seemed to grasp the severity of the situation.

Weena Rhyn, who could hold her own against an entire nation single-handedly, and a heinous magical beast that even Weena Rhyn couldn't guarantee victory against. If these two engaged in a serious battle, the collateral damage to the surroundings would be enormous.

「Do we have directions for the evacuation route?」

「Not particularly. I'll leave it to Innes.」

「Roger.」

With that, the academy students departed from the Seftent campsite. The column of evacuees from the town joined them as well. Information had apparently flowed from the Adventurer's Guild to the mayor. The evacuees' thoughts were unified – they wanted to distance themselves from the lake as much as possible. Many people crowded the road leading east.

We walked along that road with the academy students. However, I noticed something there.

『Romeo and Zelos Reed aren't here.』

（...You're right.）

『Are they at the rear? Urushi?』

（Off.）

Even with Urushi's nose, we couldn't discern Romeo and Zelos Reed's whereabouts. In other words, they weren't among these evacuees.

『Where could they have gone?』

「Is something wrong?」

『Hmm...』

I was worried, especially about Romeo. Carona spoke to Fran, whose expression had clouded.

「What happened?」

「Do you know where Romeo went?」

「Romeo...? Oh, the adorable child accompanied by the headmaster? You mean he's not here?」

「Nn.」

「Eh? He's not here? That's not good at all!」

Carona's exclamation was echoed by the nods of the surrounding students.

「But if the magical beast that appeared is an opponent even the headmaster needs to fight seriously against...」

「In that case, there might not be room to protect them.」

「This is bad...」

At a time like this, it was difficult to determine whether the students who were concerned not only for themselves but also for the young children could be considered kind or simply lacking a sense of crisis.

However, Fran seemed to think favorably of them. Perhaps it was because she shared the same opinion.

『Fran, what Weena Rhyn ordered was to take care of the students' evacuation.』

（Nn.）

『Also, we've already evacuated from the town.』

（I see.）

Fran slapped her hand as if realizing a blind spot. Then, she rushed to Innes, who was leading at the front.

「Innes.」

「Yes! What is it?」

「Is it okay for the others to continue without me from here on?」

「Yes, there shouldn't be any problems!」

In response to Fran's question, Innes nodded without hesitation. However, it wasn't just a casual response. Currently, there were adventurers escorting the townspeople, and the defensive force was more substantial than they had imagined. As Innes said, it seemed that there wouldn't be any issues if Fran left.

「Furthermore, for us, not only the students but also that child is a target to protect. Knowing he's not here, I can't just leave him behind!」

「That's right!」

「I want to go back and search for him!」

The instructors regretted not confirming Romeo's presence when they departed. However, it couldn't be helped. On the journey from the academy to Lake Vivian, Romeo and Zelos Reed were under Weena Rhyn's jurisdiction. Even after arriving at the lake, they rarely interacted with the instructors. Asking them to recall their existence only during evacuation was an unreasonable request.

However, they had their own sense of pride as instructors.

「Please, Fran-dono!」

「Fran-san, we also request your help. Please save that child.」

「Actually, seeing that child was therapeutic for me.」

「I understand that feeling.」

「I hope he's safe.」

「Understood. I'll go save Romeo.」

With that, we returned to Seftent, accompanied by many instructors and academy students bidding us farewell.

『Urushi, search for Romeo's scent. Fran, focus on detection.』

「Woof!」

「Nn. Got it.」

Weena Rhyn hadn't shown any signs of causing any trouble yet. We didn't know what she was planning, but we needed to find Romeo before a large-scale battle occurred. Additionally, we had one concern.

「Sierra mentioned something. The previous Weena Rhyn, despite the risk of Romeo dying, still used his power.」

『If there are no other options, I'll ask for alternatives.』

「If they say there are no other options?」

『I... don't know.』

The monstrous magical beast couldn't be left unchecked. It would have to be defeated or sealed. However, sacrificing Romeo for that purpose was something that Fran couldn't accept.

What should I do? What if Fran turns her blade against Weena Rhyn?

I understand it rationally. Romeo should be sacrificed. There's no need to weigh the options. But my emotions are not in agreement. Sacrificing that boy who resembles Fran, I feel a strong aversion to it.

「Master?」

『For now, let's find Romeo.』

「Nn!」

As we returned to Seftent, we immediately rushed to the campsite. However, there was no trace of Weena Rhyn or Romeo there.

『Where could they have gone? Urushi, can you track their scent?』

「Woof...」

Urushi nodded, but he seemed unsure. There seemed to be a scent lingering in the vicinity. However, it was unclear where it had gone. Still, seeking a lead, Fran followed Urushi's lead.

「This way?」

「Woof!」

Cutting through the townspeople who were still busy preparing for evacuation, Urushi reached the harbor. His gaze was directed at the monstrous magical beast. So, did that mean Weena Rhyn was heading to seal the beast?

『Weena Rhyn's and Romeo's, Zelos Reed's scents are going in the same direction, right?』

「Woof.」

There was no doubt that Weena Rhyn had taken the two with her. Perhaps she intended to use Romeo's power after all?

「Let's go after them!」

「Woof!」

Prompted by Fran, Urushi dashed off again with a determined expression. And so, ten minutes later, we saw it.

『I see it! Over there! There's definitely Weena Rhyn!』

「But... this...」

『Oh no! Our worst fears might be coming true!』

On the lake, close to the monstrous magical beast, there was something that looked like a circular stage with a diameter of about 15 meters.

Pure white stones paved the area, and pillars made of the same material stood at the four corners. It seemed reminiscent of the temple where the monstrous magical beast was sealed. But what was most important was the people on top of it.

In the center of the stage, Weena Rhyn was standing. Romeo and Zelos Reed were with her. Or rather, could they be called "with her"?

In a place on the stage that resembled an altar, Romeo and Zelos Reed were laid out. It was clearly a sacrificial position. Was she seriously planning to use Romeo and the others as sacrifices for something?

「Urushi, go over there!」

「Woof!」

Following Fran's instructions, Urushi descended onto the stage. But was it already too late?

A dense magical power swirled around the surroundings, clearly indicating that some sort of ritual was in progress.

「Weena Rhyn!」

「Fran, you came.」

「What are you doing?」

「I'm in the middle of a sealing ritual. Please don't interfere.」

Looking closely, Romeo and Zelos Reed's limbs seemed forcibly restrained by water shackles. Fran narrowed her eyes sharply.

「What do you intend to do with Romeo and Zelos Reed?」

「These two will serve as the foundation for the seal.」

「...As sacrifices?」

「Yes.」

She admitted it so readily!

However, there was no hint of remorse in Weena Rhyn. It felt like the most natural thing to do, so I nodded in agreement.

「Fran, this is necessary.」

「But—」

「Wait. You don't need to worry about us.」

The one who interrupted Fran's words was none other than Zelos Reed, who was held captive. Romeo was sleeping, but Zelos Reed appeared to be conscious.

「...What do you mean?」

「I'm the one who's going to die. Romeo will be saved, right?」

「Yes. Romeo has the skill sealed within him, the Holy Communion of the Evil God. If you shoulder all of the burden, Romeo's life will be spared.」

That meant Zelos Reed would die in Romeo's place? Was that what was happening?

「If Zelos Reed dies, won't Romeo die too?」

「That contract has already been revoked. But once a connection is formed, it doesn't easily disappear. By utilizing that connection, it becomes possible to transfer the burden meant for Romeo to Zelos Reed.」

Romeo and Zelos Reed were in a peculiar contractual state where any harm suffered by Zelos Reed affected Romeo as well. In fact, if Zelos Reed were to die, Romeo would lose his life as well.

However, Weena Rhyn explained that she had revoked that contract and, using the faint remaining magical connection, had constructed a spell to shift all of Romeo's damage and burden onto Zelos Reed.

Honestly, I found that acceptable. However, there was someone who raised objections.

「...Is there no way for both Romeo and Zelos Reed to survive?」

「Oh? Zelos Reed wants to be saved too?」

「...I promised. After the contract was revoked, I would take Zelos Reed to the orphanage in exchange for his life. In other words, his life belongs to me.」

「So, what's your point?」

「I won't allow you to die on your own. And...」

「And?」

「If I woke up one day, and Zelos Reed was gone, Romeo would be so sad... I would be sad too if I woke up one day and Master was gone.」

I had thought this was the case all along, but Fran seemed to associate herself and Romeo closely.

「Hmm? So, are you defying me?」

Weena Rhyn muttered this, and a terrifying amount of magical power emanated from her. Just this killing intent alone could kill an ordinary person. Under the pressure of Weena Rhyn's intimidation, cold sweat dripped from Fran's forehead. However, Fran's gaze, locked onto Weena Rhyn, never wavered.

「I'll ask again. Is there no way for Romeo and Zelos Reed to avoid death?」

「There isn't.」

In response to Fran's question, Weena Rhyn, still emanating her intimidating aura, answered without hesitation. It meant there was no other option. However, I understood. I understood the hidden truth behind those words.

『Fran... She's lying.』

『Oh, right.』

In other words, there was a way to avoid sacrificing Romeo and the others.

「...Lies.」

「It's not a lie.」

『It's still a lie.』

The words claiming it wasn't a lie turned out to be a lie.

「Tell me a way for Romeo and the others not to die!」

「...There isn't one.」

「Lies.」

「Tch.」

Looking at Fran's expression filled with conviction, she must have realized that her lie had been completely exposed. Weena Rhyn narrowed her eyes sharply.

「I've told you there isn't one. Is that not enough for you?」

The pressure emanating from her only increased. However, Fran didn't flinch at all.

「Tell me.」

「...Haa.」

Clearly frustrated, Weena Rhyn was at a loss. Still, it seemed she had enough restraint not to suddenly eliminate Fran. Or was it simply because they were in the middle of the ritual?

The killing intent she exuded was strangely menacing, given that she wasn't making a move. Was this Weena Rhyn? No, perhaps this was the true Weena Rhyn.

「Well, what if someone else were to die instead?」

「What do you mean?」

「Let's say there's a way to resolve the situation without killing Romeo and Zelos Reed. And suppose that way ultimately involves sacrificing someone else. What would you do then?」

「Who would that be?」

「Just a hypothetical.」

「That's...」

Just as Fran was about to speak, a voice intruded.

「You don't need to worry about that sacrifice.」

Rhyn's voice interrupted Fran, and Weena Rhyn, looking behind Fran, widened her eyes in astonishment. Her expression went from anger to blankness, then from frustration to astonishment.

「Rhyn... is that you...?」

Weena Rhyn muttered in a hoarse voice. Indeed, the true identity of the voice that had intervened was a spirit girl with beautiful heterochromia, Rhyn.

「Hey, don't I look a bit different?」

「As a spirit, my appearance is transient, but... for now, can I say this is my true form?」

As Fran pointed out, Rhyn's appearance was quite different from before. If not for her matching voice and eye colors, she might not have been immediately recognized. Rhyn's current appearance vividly reflected the delicate and slender features of an elf, to the point that she could be considered a twin of Weena Rhyn, complete with long ears.

「I'm glad you survived, Fran.」

Although I wondered who was saying this, there was no irony or malice in those words. It seemed to genuinely express joy at Fran's safety.

「It's been a while, Weena.」

「Yes! It's been hundreds of years...」

「Well, even if Rhyn within you and I are at odds, it doesn't matter anymore. The great beast will revive regardless. I don't care if it's me or the Rhyn within you.」

Come to think of it, when Weena Rhyn approached the lake too closely, the great beast would activate, and the seal would loosen. That's why Rhyn couldn't meet Weena Rhyn. However, since the revival was already unstoppable, there was no point in not seeing each other anymore.

But the expressions of the two were contrasting.

Weena Rhyn had a tearful face, but undoubtedly, there was joy within it.

However, Rhyn remained expressionless. Moreover, there was no sign of joy in her demeanor. Rather, she seemed disappointed. But what was she disappointed about? And Fran couldn't grasp the meaning of her earlier words.

「Hey. What do you mean, 'don't worry about the sacrifice'?」

「Hehe. Well, because I'm the one who will be sacrificed.」

「Eh?」

Passing by Fran, who tilted her head in confusion, Rhyn moved smoothly toward Weena Rhyn.

「Weena Rhyn... you intend to reseal the great beast, don't you?」

「That's right. With the Holy Communion of the Evil God, I can carry it through to reseal it. Isn't that so?」

「...Yes, that's right. We might be able to reseal it.」

「I knew it.」

「But do you understand, I don't want that?」

Just after Rhyn said that, Weena Rhyn's expression seemed on the verge of tears.

「...What is Rhyn's goal? What do you want by reviving the great beast?」

「I want to perish. That's why I don't want to reseal it.」

In response to Fran's question, Rhyn answered. We had thought that perhaps she was dissatisfied with being sealed and was planning the revival. After all, Rhyn and the great beast were connected, and she had released the seal herself.

However, it seemed her motivations were different from what we had assumed.

「Why do you want to perish?」

「I just want to be free, at long last.」

Not wanting to be free but wanting to grant freedom? In other words, she wasn't concerned about her own fate?

「Weena Rhyn... you should be able to destroy me if it's you.」

「...」

Weena Rhyn responded to Rhyn's words with silence. However, the raging emotions within her were evidenced by the red blood dripping from her tightly clenched fists.

「Weena Rhyn—」

「No! Why should I have to destroy you?」

「Please. This is the best chance now that you've partially revived, to completely eliminate the great beast.」

「No!」

「Even if we reseal it, there's no guarantee that someone like this won't try to revive it again. We should destroy it.」

「No!」

Weena Rhyn, acting like a tantrum-throwing child, covered both ears and shook her head, refusing vehemently. Her actions were truly childlike. However, Rhyn didn't relent and continued to speak.

「Weena Rhyn. With you as you are now, you can defeat the incompletely revived great beast.」

「No!」

「Sealing it again won't change anything. Someone might try to revive it like this again. We should destroy it.」

「No!」

Weena Rhyn, seemingly regressing to a childlike state, screamed while shedding large tears. Perhaps, encountering her twin sister Rhyn had truly brought her back to her childhood feelings.

「Other people don't matter! I don't care about anyone else! I just want to get you back!」

「That's impossible.」

「It's not impossible! I've made preparations for the day when Rhyn and the great beast can be separated. I fulfilled Rhyn's dream and opened a magic academy! I even established systems to make it easier for spirits to move around the academy when I was still a spirit! Like Rhyn used to do, I've made donations to orphanages and protected the country to gain recognition for Rhyn!」

In response to the shout that even hinted at madness, Fran took a slight step back. Her tail swayed gently from side to side, and her ears were flattened. She seemed quite overwhelmed.

「Weena Rhyn...」

Rhyn's face contorted with sadness. It was understandable.

From what I could gather, Weena Rhyn had dedicated her life to Rhyn. All her actions were for Rhyn. That might not be an exaggeration. Even her kindness toward others seemed to be ultimately for Rhyn's sake.

The person Weena Rhyn wanted to set free, as mentioned by Rhyn, was most likely Weena Rhyn herself.

「I just... want to be with Rhyn again...」

「If I were to separate, the great beast would regain its full power. The world could be on the brink of destruction.」

「I don't care about that. A world without you doesn't matter...」

Uh-oh. It seemed that Weena Rhyn's expression was gradually darkening in response to her words. Perhaps, during her conversation with Rhyn, the emotions she had been suppressing were becoming uncontrollable.

「Separate...? If I use the Holy Communion of the Evil God, could I possibly... remove the power of the Evil God? Then I could get Rhyn back...? No matter what happens to the world...」

Weena Rhyn's thoughts were descending into complete darkness. Seeing this, Rhyn sighed sadly.

「Actually, it would have been better if Weena Rhyn could just destroy the great beast as she is, without using the Holy Communion of the Evil God... 」

「...!」

Sensitive to Rhyn's muttering, Weena Rhyn bit her lip until it bled and repeatedly shook her head, unwillingly.

「For now, let's solve the primary issue, shall we?」

「The primary issue?」

Fran muttered with a puzzled expression. There were so many problems that it wasn't clear which one Rhyn was referring to as the primary issue.

「If I can use the Holy Communion of the Evil God, we can save a lot of things, right? Whether it's defeating it or sealing it.」

「But...」

「Do we have to sacrifice either Romeo or Zelos Reed?」

「Nn.」

「In that case, we can borrow their power.」

Rhyn lightly waved her hand, and a swirl of black light appeared in that spot. Immediately afterward, from within the vortex, someone emerged, a human. Seeing this, Fran let out a small cheer.

「Sierra! You're safe!」

「Yeah, somehow.」

Sierra and the others had been left behind as a diversion for Zelyse, but they had been on the verge of death due to the use of powerful magic stone weaponry. However, they had been saved by Rhyn. Right after being ensnared by water tendrils and dragged into the lake, they had been transported to some small island in the lake using teleportation magic.

「I was resting there, but...」

She had been summoned by Rhyn and brought to the current location.

「I understand why Sierra and the others are safe. But why did you summon them here?」

「It was their wish. And it aligns with my purpose as well.」

Their purpose? Wasn't Sierra's and Zelos Reed's purpose revenge against Zelyse?

「Weena Rhyn, we'll also be joining that ritual.」

「Huh? Who are you people?」

Weena Rhyn didn't know Sierra? Well, they lived in different towns, and there might not have been a reason for them to meet. "Sierra" even cautiously explained this to Weena Rhyn. Despite her skeptical gaze, Weena Rhyn seemed to have decided to believe Sierra, who was essentially Rhyn's counterpart, after hearing Rhyn's words.

「I see... Yes, there's a resemblance.」

The shock of seeing an existence from a different time seemed to have settled her thoughts. It was as if she had partially emerged from her state of despair. In Weena Rhyn's eyes, as she compared Romeo's and Sierra's faces, a rational light had returned.

「...I understand that. So, grown-up Romeo, what is your purpose?」

「With the Holy Communion of the Evil God, we won't let Romeo or Zelos Reed die. That's our wish.」

Sierra declared this and looked up at the bewildered present-day Zelos Reed.

「Romeo... is that you?」

「Yeah, it's me, old man.」

「Haha... Is this a dream...?」

In response to Zelos Reed's murmured words, Sierra nodded gently with a kind expression.

Then, both the young Romeo and Zelos Reed proposed a new way to Weena Rhyn, a way for them not to die.

「If one person bears the burden of the Holy Communion of the Evil God, they'll die. So, what if we distribute the burden among us?」

「I see. That makes sense! Two Romeos and, well, I don't know if you can call this Zelos Reed, but this Zelos Reed and Sword Zelos Reed!」

「Right. That's it. By sharing the burden among the three of us—myself, the present Zelos Reed, and the Magic Sword Zelos Reed—the effects of the Holy Communion of the Evil God will increase.」

In other words, they had found a way to use the Holy Communion of the Evil God without anyone dying.

However, Weena Rhyn's expression remained stern.

「Even so, it doesn't change the fact that it's dangerous. You might not die, but you could lose most of your power.」

「We're prepared for that. But we will never abandon Romeo and the old man—Zelos Reed. We'll save them, no matter what.」

It seemed Sierra had understood that from the beginning. Their main goal was clearly to protect the present-day Romeo and Zelos Reed.

「If you want to save them, why not stop the ritual?」

「...If we let the fully revived Great Demon Beast run rampant, everyone on this continent will be annihilated. It's that kind of existence. So, it's better to bet on any chance of survival.」

Sierra and the others were seeing the Great Demon Beast for the second time, and it seemed they understood its terror. To declare that the continent would be destroyed meant that Sierra, in particular, had a grim expression. She remembered the Great Demon Beast and felt fear. That's why they supported sealing the Great Demon Beast using the Holy Communion of the Evil God, even if it meant putting themselves in danger.

However, was this really a good thing for Rhyn? Rhyn wanted the Great Demon Beast to be completely destroyed to free Weena Rhyn from her obsession. But if the Holy Communion of the Evil God could be used, it might be possible to seal it again. In other words, Rhyn's wish might not come true.

From Rhyn's perspective, it would have been best for Fran to stop the ritual and make Weena Rhyn resolve to defeat the Great Demon Beast. But now Fran had no reason to stop the ritual. Fran had been trying to stop Weena Rhyn because she had been told that Romeo and Zelos Reed would die. However, with Sierra and the others joining, the danger of death had been eliminated.

Honestly, it was understandable that both Weena Rhyn, who didn't want to destroy Rhyn, and Rhyn, who wanted to be free along with Weena Rhyn by destroying the Great Demon Beast, had their reasons. However, if Rhyn attempted to destroy herself, it would put her in direct opposition to Weena Rhyn. Rhyn seemed to understand this danger as well.

Even though she had brought Sierra and the others herself, Rhyn seemed troubled by something.

「It would have been best if they didn't have to be involved...」

I see, it was like an insurance policy. If Weena Rhyn made the decision to destroy the Great Demon Beast, no problem. But if she couldn't convince her, they would have to seal the Great Demon Beast. In that case, since they needed the Holy Communion of the Evil God, Sierra and the others were necessary. It seemed that was the situation.

「Weena Rhyn...」

「...No matter how many times you ask, I...」

Tension once again filled the air between the slightly calmer Weena Rhyn and Rhyn.

From my perspective, it seemed unlikely that these two opinions would ever converge, as long as Weena Rhyn, who held the reins, didn't yield. And given the frenzy I witnessed earlier, I couldn't imagine a future where their opinions would change.

However, it was Fran who intervened. Despite being surrounded by the intimidating presence of her superiors, she fearlessly asked a question.

「Hey, is there really no way to grant both of your wishes?」

「That's impossible, Fran. I want to perish. But Weena Rhyn—」

「Don't destroy Rhyn. I'll never allow it. Someday, I'll revive Rhyn, and I'll return to being Weena.」

「About that...」

Fran pointed her finger at Rhyn, and Rhyn tilted her head.

「Is the reason Rhyn wants to perish for Weena Rhyn's sake?」

「That's right. Through the spirits, I've been watching over Weena Rhyn. But I can't bear to see her pushing herself for my sake anymore. Besides, Weena Rhyn has been acting somewhat differently lately.」

「I've changed?」

「Yes. But, you see, Fran and the others have helped me understand why. Even though you're twins, it's a miracle that both of your human minds could coexist without going insane.」

Ah, I had thought that Weena Rhyn's mental state had become unstable because of meeting Rhyn... but could it be that their consciousness had started to blend, causing this instability?

Considering the time I had spent as a sword, losing emotions, I realized the importance of the relationship between the body and the mind.

Wasn't this a serious problem? If Weena Rhyn went mad and started rampaging, the country could easily fall into chaos. In terms of the level of threat, it was certainly above Class A.

「If I, as the primary consciousness, perish, Weena Rhyn should be able to return to being just Weena. It's not just for Weena's sake. That way, many people can be saved.」

To return Weena Rhyn, who had shown signs of madness, to sanity. That was Rhyn's reason for insisting on perishing.

「Rhyn should return to your original form, and Weena should be freed. There's no need for destruction.」

In response to Fran's words, Rhyn shook her head.

「Like I said earlier, if I separate from the Great Demon Beast, it will regain its power.」

「Can't something be done with the Holy Communion of the Evil God?」

I was impressed by Fran's words. Right, what if we used the Holy Communion of the Evil God to suppress its power? With the current, imperfectly revived, weakened Great Demon Beast, and Weena Rhyn's power, it might be possible to defeat it, right? Instead of Rhyn sacrificing herself to weaken it, could we achieve that through the Holy Communion of the Evil God?

But both Weena Rhyn and Rhyn shook their heads together.

「We can weaken it, but there's no way to destroy it.」

「Can't Weena Rhyn defeat it? Weaken it with the Holy Communion of the Evil God and then have Weena Rhyn deliver the finishing blow.」

「The ritual to weaken the Great Demon Beast using the Holy Communion of the Evil God can only be performed by me. However, if I were to perform that ritual, it would exhaust me significantly, and I wouldn't have enough strength to destroy it.」

「Can't Rhyn do it in your place?」

「I'm sorry. This body of mine is temporary. I can use the abilities of time and water to some extent, which are my true powers, but I can't do more than that.」

「I see...」

It seemed that Weena Rhyn found it difficult to perform both the ritual and combat. It wouldn't go smoothly as they wished.

「At the very least, if that beast were a bit weaker...」

「What do you mean?」

「If the Great Demon Beast's power were a bit weaker, there might be a chance to defeat it with the remaining strength after the ritual.」

「So, you mean we should weaken it by inflicting damage?」

In that case, couldn't we just launch a full-scale attack on the Great Demon Beast, Fran and Sierra included?

「It's impossible. We can't get close to the Great Demon Beast.」

Weena Rhyn muttered sadly, "Can't get close?" I understand if there's a strong barrier or fierce retaliation, but what do you mean by "can't get close"? Rhyn and the others then succinctly explained to me.

「You might not know, but the Evil God has the power to control and drive mad all living beings. Unless you've undergone spiritual transformation like me, resisting it is difficult.」

「Weak humans can be dominated just by getting close. And the fragment of the Evil God sleeping within that Great Demon Beast is the Evil God's throat. Its voice carries even greater cursed power.」

Weena Rhyn said this while pointing at the Great Demon Beast.

「Doesn't it feel strange that you can't hear the Great Demon Beast's voice from this distance? Even if it's still in the process of breaking the seal, you should be able to hear its voice, right?」

I see. Actually, we have been hearing its roars.

「There's a barrier around this stage to block the Great Demon Beast's voice.」

I had thought that it was because of the distance, but it turned out to be thanks to the barrier surrounding this stage.

「Even I can't get too close to that beast. I'd be dominated by it. Before that happens, it's impossible to repeatedly attack and weaken it.」

In other words, it's either all or nothing. If we can't get close and destroy it, we'll be dominated by the Great Demon Beast. So, we have to land one powerful blow to defeat it.

However, after hearing the current conversation, Fran and I had a glimmer of hope.

『The domination of the Evil God, huh...』

（If it's Master, will it be okay?）

『Yeah, that should be the case.』

Fenrir had mentioned it before. My human soul should be immune to the control of the Evil God.

『The question is, Fran, can you do it? Announcer-san, do you know?』

〈The sword and its wielder are inseparable. The wielder can also nullify the control of the Evil God.〉

『What about Urushi?』

〈I confirm the connection of souls with Master. The individual named Urushi can also nullify the control of the Evil God.〉

『All right! It means we can fight!』

〈Yes, no problem.〉

Thank you, Announcer-san. You're dependable as always!

『Fran, Urushi. Did you hear that?』

（Yeah! With us, we can save Romeo, Weena Rhyn, Rhyn, and even Zelos Reed!）

（On it!）

「We'll weaken the Great Demon Beast.」

「Woof!」

「Then after Rhyn separates it, we'll weaken it with the Holy Communion of the Evil God, and Weena Rhyn can deliver the finishing blow!」

Suddenly, Fran suggested attacking the Great Demon Beast, and Weena Rhyn gave her an exasperated look.

Rhyn had a similar expression. As twins, Rhyn and Weena Rhyn looked remarkably alike despite Rhyn's much younger appearance. Well, that's probably why Rhyn had changed her appearance. If the already mysterious girl suddenly looked exactly like Weena Rhyn, it would likely cause some commotion.

「Did you even listen to what Rhyn and I were saying? You can't get close to the Great Demon Beast.」

「No worries.」

「No, it's not a matter of determination.」

「Urushi and I are immune to the control of the Evil God, so we're fine.」

「Huh?」

「What?」

Their slightly foolish expressions were uncannily alike.

「We can nullify the control of the Evil God. It's no problem at all.」

「Something like that is impossible...」

Rhyn, upon hearing Fran's statement, widened her eyes in disbelief. Weena Rhyn seemed equally astonished.

「...Is it not a lie?」

「...I've never heard of such an ability.」

「But it's true.」

Even as Fran insisted, it seemed that the people around them didn't believe it, casting skeptical glances.

「To be honest, if Fran were to be controlled and start rampaging in this situation, there would be no way to handle it.」

「But if we can really weaken the Great Demon Beast... we might be able to separate Rhyn.」

「Leave it to me.」

In the end, no matter how much Fran asserted, Weena Rhyn and the others couldn't dispel their doubts. Nullifying the control of the Evil God was apparently an unbelievable story for them. Even though a strong individual could repel the control, it didn't mean it was nullified. They were merely enduring it. Even if it was evil, a god was a god. There shouldn't be any beings capable of nullifying their power. That seemed to be their common sense.

However, when Fran said, "The incredible power of this sword!" they seemed to accept it to some extent. Weena Rhyn and Rhyn knew about my true identity as an Intelligence Weapon. Also, Sierra, who didn't know much about me, seemed to have sensed something.

「...I will accompany you too.」

「Sierra? What about the ritual?」

「After inflicting damage on the Great Demon Beast, I can return to the ritual.」

「But aren't you forgetting about the control of the Evil God? Like I said before, unless you're a spiritual body like me, you'll be manipulated. Well, there was an exception with Fran, though.」

「Do you believe me?」

「My intuition is telling me that it's better for you to participate.」

「Intuition?」

「I'm a time-controlling spirit, you know? It's more than just intuition.」

While not exactly clairvoyance, it seemed to be a power that allowed her to choose better options.

「My intuition is also suggesting that Sierra will be fine.」

「In my case, it's thanks to this sword. Zelos Reed's sealed demonic sword, Zelos Reed. Thanks to it, I can resist the control of the Evil God.」

Was it because Zelos Reed was an evil person that he had resistance to the control of the Evil God? No, if he was evil, wouldn't he be more susceptible to the influence of the Evil God?

「Thanks to Zelos Reed's skill called 'Cannibalism,' I can absorb the power of the Evil God in return.」

I see, it's because of that skill. It seemed that the scope of its use was broader than I had imagined. Maybe I should research it a bit more.

As I was thinking about that, I noticed an unusual distortion of magical power. Several meters above the stage, there was a swirling presence of temporal attribute magic. Was Rhyn doing something?

Then, suddenly, a figure emerged from that vortex.

「Shall I join in on this attack?」

「!」

「Who are you?」

Not only Fran but also Sierra, Rhyn, and Weena Rhyn were surprised by the voice that suddenly descended from the sky. It seemed like no one had noticed. In fact, it wasn't Rhyn's doing. It appeared that through that vortex, someone had been listening to their conversation.

Floating there was a tall woman, or rather, it seemed like she was standing on some kind of platform. She had long, flowing sapphire-blue hair and ruby-red eyes. Her skin exuded a beautiful gloss and sweetness reminiscent of chocolate. There was no mistaking it; this was Juzeka, the one Jill had mentioned.

She wore a lightweight outfit consisting of a red martial artist's suit with a white coat with a robe. Even though it was a casual attire, just her presence alone made it clear how powerful she was. Rhyn, who had been unable to sense the teleportation, confronted her with a stern expression.

「How did you get here like this? Deceiving my eyes at this lake...」

「Well, I'm also somewhat skilled in time-space magic. I'm familiar with how to handle such situations.」

「...Who are you? I've never seen you before.」

「My name is Juzeka. I'm technically classified as an adventurer. But do you have the luxury of engaging in such questions now? Isn't it time to take action?」

Juzeka's words were reasonable. However, we were no different from them in distrusting this sudden appearance of a mysterious person. Sierra, however, cut through our doubts.

「I don't know who you are. But if you're willing to lend your strength, I'm asking for your help.」

That's right. Right now, we needed as much firepower as we could get. Undoubtedly, a strong individual was offering to cooperate. That was all that mattered. But we wanted to be clear about whether they were an enemy or an ally. I asked Fran just one question.

「So, one thing. Are you on our side?」

「Yeah, for now. Let's say that the enemy of my enemy is my ally. I want to stop Zelyse's reckless actions.」

『I'm not lying.』

「Nn. I believe you.」

「...If Fran and Sierra believe, then I will too. My intuition is telling me that.」

「If Rhyn says so, then I will too. But what about the control of the Evil God?」

「That's not a problem either. I also have a method to repel the control of the Evil God.」

That was also true. It was quite rare to have individuals who were not susceptible to the control of the Evil God gathered here... However, the possibility of defeating the Great Demon Beast had certainly increased.

「Okay, let's sum it up. First, I'll start the ritual to use the Holy Sacrament of the Evil God. At that time, Sierra, Romeo, and Zelos Reed need to be here.」

「Nn.」

「During that time, Fran and Juzeka will launch the attack, and when the ritual is completed, Sierra will join the attack.」

「Leave it to us.」

Even if the Holy Sacrament of the Evil God is activated, it seems that its effects won't be immediately manifested. In the first place, the Holy Sacrament of the Evil God is the ability to absorb power from the targeted evildoers and make it one's own. During this process, you can only issue commands to weakened evildoers.

This time, it was necessary to steal the malevolence from the fragment of the Evil God sleeping within the Great Demon Beast, and disperse the malevolence that would originally flow into Romeo to Zelos Reed and Sierra. Until the ritual had a somewhat firm effect, Sierra had to remain at the ritual site.

However, once the Holy Sacrament of the Evil God was activated and the flow of malevolence was established, it seemed that Sierra and the others could leave the ritual site without any problem. From there, Sierra, the Magic Sword Zelos Reed, and even the current Zelos Reed could join the battle.

「And the results afterward will depend on your efforts.」

「If we can effectively chip away at the Great Demon Beast's power, I'll destroy it once Rhyn separates. But if it's impossible, I won't separate, and Weena Rhyn will reseal it with her sealing technique.」

If everything went well, everyone's wishes would come true. Even if it failed, they should be able to at least maintain the seal. Honestly, it would be more like postponing the problem and covering it up, but it was much better than the Great Demon Beast being revived. Fran didn't seem to intend for things to end that way, though.

「I'll make sure everyone can smile in the end.」