Volume 2
Chapter Four: The Dearly Missed Comrades-in-Arms
A heavy silence dominated the scene.
It felt as though this entire area had been severed from the outside world by a vacuum. The distant clamor that reached their ears seemed devoid of reality, like sounds drifting in from another realm.
In a secluded corner of the academy, where no one else was present save for Glenn, Rumia, and the guards surrounding them...
“W-What... I... plotted to assassinate Her Majesty...? To be executed...?”
Rumia stood in a daze, her shoulders trembling.
“Evidence has been secured, vile criminal. There is no room for leniency nor opportunity for defense. You will quietly become the dew upon my blade.”
The captain of the guards declared this to the trembling girl with cold detachment.
The white blade he raised gleamed with a sinister, murderous intent.
Not a trace of jest could be felt in his demeanor.
“Resistance is ill-advised. If you obediently acknowledge your crimes and accept your punishment, we have no intention of inflicting unnecessary suffering. We vow to end your life as swiftly as possible.”
Rumia’s forehead glistened with cold sweat, her face drained of color, and she hung her head in silence.
The captain turned his gaze to Glenn, who stood shielding Rumia behind him.
“And you there. That girl is a criminal. If you persist in protecting her, you too will be dealt with for high treason. Now, hand her over.”
“...That’s a pretty sick joke.”
Glenn’s voice was hard with irritation as he glared at the guards before him, biting back his anger.
“Rumia, plotting to assassinate Her Majesty? Don’t make me laugh. If that’s the case, show me the evidence.”
“There is no obligation to disclose such matters to an outsider. This is a highly political issue, not something a mere commoner like you should meddle in.”
The guard’s unilateral attitude pushed Glenn to the edge, and he snapped back furiously.
“Are you kidding me!? You’re saying you can execute her on the spot without a warrant or trial!? Does that even fly!? Since when did the Empire sink to the level of uncivilized barbarians!? Go reread the Imperial Charter from the beginning, you dimwits!”
“You’re the one who needs to reread the Charter. Her Majesty the Queen is the supreme head of state. Her word supersedes all laws and takes precedence over everything.”
“Hah! I’m not here to debate legal interpretations!”
“Hmph, nor are we. I don’t know who you are, but if you continue to shield this heinous criminal, you’ll be dealt with as an accomplice on the spot.”
“What did you say? Have you lost your mind?”
“Your insolent tone toward us, loyal servants of Her Majesty, is tantamount to insulting Her Majesty herself. That alone establishes a fine charge of lèse-majesté, doesn’t it?”
“You’d better watch it, you...!”
The atmosphere grew increasingly heated. Neither side showed signs of backing down, and an irreparable tension began to fill the air.
It was Rumia who first doused the escalating situation with cold water.
“Wait, please, Sensei!”
As if steeling herself, Rumia cried out.
“...I will comply with your orders.”
Clenching her trembling hands tightly at her chest, Rumia declared resolutely.
“...Huh? H-Hey...?”
Glenn turned to Rumia, his face a mix of anxiety and confusion.
“To think that I, in my audacity, sought to harm Her Majesty... now that I reflect on it, I am overwhelmed with shame for my insolence. Thus, I shall atone with my life. So, please, show mercy. Sensei... this man has nothing to do with this!”
“You idiot! What are you saying—!”
Glenn started to shout at Rumia, but...
“No, Sensei!”
Rumia cut him off before he could continue.
“If you keep protecting me, you’ll get dragged into this mess too...!”
“No, but—! This is insane! There’s no way this is right! It’s got to be some kind of mistake! It has to be! Why are you just accepting this... damn it!”
Glenn raised his fists toward the guards.
Perhaps deeming him an obstacle, the guards’ killing intent surged toward Glenn in an instant.
“N-No! Sensei, please stop!”
“Sensei...? Hmph? So you’re a magic instructor at this academy? Hah, cease your futile resistance, mage. Do you think you can take on all five of us at once? We are combat specialists.”
“Oh? You won’t know unless you try, will you? Scared?”
The moment Glenn spat out his provocative words, five silver flashes cut through the air with a whistling sound.
Before he could react, five swords, wielded with blinding speed, were pressed against Glenn’s neck and throat from all directions.
“...Tch.”
Glenn faltered, words catching in his throat.
These five guards were undoubtedly highly skilled, their coordination flawless. Had there been distance, or had it been one-on-one, things might have been different. But at this close range, with every avenue of evasion sealed, there was nothing he could do.
“Bluffing is unwise. What can a mere mage do at this distance? Besides, we’re clad in anti-magic gear. Your vaunted tri-elemental attack spells or mental corruption spells won’t easily affect us. Still want to try? You, alone, against five elite guards?”
Glenn clicked his tongue in frustration.
At this distance, in this situation, he was indeed powerless. Even if he managed to take down one or two with a desperate tri-elemental attack or mental corruption spell, the remaining guards would skewer him.
That wouldn’t save Rumia.
“And we’re not just the five here. The others are scattered, searching for that girl, but our total forces are far greater. What do you hope to achieve by resisting alone?”
“...!”
“Stand down and behave, mage. This is your final warning.”
As Glenn, sweating profusely, scanned the guards for any opening, Rumia’s voice, trembling as if on the verge of tears, delivered the final blow.
“Sensei, please... it’s enough. It’s enough... if this continues, you’ll...”
Seeing Glenn’s resolve to resist waver, the guards slowly withdrew their swords.
“...Sorry.”
“There’s no need for you to apologize, Sensei.”
To Glenn’s utterly exhausted expression, Rumia offered a brave smile.
“...This is goodbye, isn’t it?”
“Yeah.”
“It’s all so sudden, it doesn’t feel real.”
“...Yeah.”
“Please take care of Sistine and the others.”
“...I’ll figure out a way to explain it.”
“Hey, Sensei... actually, I—”
“More importantly,” Glenn interrupted, suddenly looking up and facing Rumia with a sincere expression.
“...At least keep your eyes closed until the end. It’ll... make it less scary.”
The moment Glenn said this—
“—Gah!?”
The hilt of a guard’s sword struck the back of Glenn’s head.
Unable to withstand the blow, Glenn crumpled to his knees, collapsing to the ground, unconscious.
“Kyaa!? Sensei!? W-What are you—!”
“Relax, we just put him to sleep. It’s troublesome if a mage resists.”
As Rumia tried to rush to the fallen Glenn, one of the guards seized her arm.
“Now, enough of that. Come here, criminal! Hurry!”
With swords pointed at her, Rumia was dragged along.
“Right here! Stand here!”
Rumia was brought to a nearby street tree. Her hands were bound behind her back, and swords were pressed against her neck from all sides, leaving her unable to move.
Then, the captain, likely the executioner, stood before Rumia, drawing his sword taut.
“Relax your body and don’t move. If I miss your vitals, you’ll suffer longer.”
For a moment, Rumia stared at the blade’s tip with distant, hollow eyes.
“...Yes.”
With a deep breath, Rumia closed her eyes, as Glenn had instructed.
Rumia Tingel had always been prepared for a day like this.
She was supposed to have died three years ago. Her existence, if made public, would bring unnecessary chaos to the nation and beyond—a deadly poison. Thus, she was meant to be quietly eliminated to protect the country.
It wasn’t an unusual story. Struggles among heirs to the throne, factional conflicts involving royalty, or sacrifices to appease stronger nations—history was replete with examples of royals being killed. Rumia was simply one such case, nothing more.
But she had been spared.
Alicia, pitying her, had gone to great lengths to keep her alive. That Rumia, who should have died, had lived until today was a stroke of immense fortune.
And Rumia understood painfully well that this was merely fleeting luck.
She had always known that a day like this might come.
Even having fallen to the status of a commoner, Rumia remained a ticking time bomb for the Alzano Empire. She had always braced herself for the possibility that her mother, the queen upholding the nation, might one day, for some unavoidable reason, decide to eliminate her.
This abrupt execution order—it must mean that time had come.
And so, Rumia was able to face this moment with a surprising degree of calm.
This was inevitable. She, who was supposed to die three years ago, was now facing that fate. That was all.
But even so—
(...It’s scary.)
She had prepared herself, but death was still terrifying. Her trembling wouldn’t stop. Her heart pounded violently, her breathing grew short and ragged, and her thoughts spiraled into a murky haze.
Above all, the thought of parting this way with Sistine, who treated her like a true sister; Sistine’s parents, who loved her like their own; her close friends at the academy; and—Glenn. The unbearable sadness of it all overwhelmed her.
Someone, please help me. I don’t want to die yet.
She wanted to clutch her head and scream.
(I really... don’t want to die...)
She wanted to learn so much more from Sensei. She wanted him to remember that three years ago, he had saved her life. She wanted to do more with Sistine, see more, talk about everything.
And, at the very least, just once, she wanted to see her real mother—
(...Oh, that’s right...)
She finally realized.
(At the end... she came to see me...)
Tears welled up at the corners of her eyes.
Glenn was right. She had known her true feelings all along.
(I should’ve been more honest... Why did I act so stubborn...?)
But it was too late. Everything... was too late.
(...Farewell.)
A single tear rolled down Rumia’s cheek—
And then.
Shupa!
A sound like something bursting rang out overhead.
“Ugyaaaaaaa—!?”
Instead of the searing pain of death, what assaulted Rumia was a piercing scream.
“...!?”
Startled, Rumia instinctively opened her eyes.
“Ugh, aaah...!? My eyes, my eyes—!”
“Ugh... I can’t see... I can’t see anything...!”
What Rumia saw were the guards, clutching their eyes in agony, their swords dropped to the ground.
What was happening? As Rumia blinked in confusion...
“See? Told you closing your eyes was a good idea, right?”
With a smug grin, Glenn, who had somehow risen to his feet, approached Rumia.
“Ow, that hurt like hell... They hit me hard. Well, their mistake was thinking I’m just an ordinary mage. Truth is, I’m better at hand-to-hand combat, and a blow like that? I can shrug it off any day.”
He cast a glance at the flustered guards, still clutching their eyes.
“And when spells won’t work on an enemy, there’s always this approach.”
“S-Sensei...? What did you...?”
Unable to grasp the situation, Rumia asked, and Glenn answered with a triumphant tone.
“The spell [Flash • Light]. I set off a powerful one right above your head.”
Black Magic [Flash • Light]. A basic self-defense spell that emits a blinding flash to dazzle the enemy’s eyes. It has no lethal power, but—
“If you time it right, it’s pretty damn effective. ...Yo.”
“Guh!”
“Hau!?”
Glenn struck the necks of the surrounding guards with hand chops, knocking them out one by one.
“Y-You bastard! Such a cheap trick...!”
The last remaining captain groped for his dropped sword and raised it, still unsteady, his vision clearly not yet recovered.
“Pfft! ‘Our anti-magic gear makes us immune to tri-elemental attack spells and mental corruption spells,’ huh? Da—hahaha, you idiot! Did you really think those are the only tools a mage has!? You’ve swallowed the military manuals whole, haven’t you? Lacking real combat experience, huh?”
“Tch, you dare insult us, which is to say, you insult Her Majesty—guaah!?”
Before he could finish, Glenn’s right fist smashed into the captain’s face.
“Like I’m gonna listen to you ramble. You’d recover your sight otherwise...”
Glenn looked down at the collapsed guard with exasperation.
“Now, Rumia. I’ll untie you.”
Glenn pulled out a folding knife and cut the ropes binding Rumia’s hands.
“S-Sensei... what have you done...? Raising a hand against the Royal Guard...!”
Freed at last, Rumia stood in a daze for a moment but soon grasped the gravity of the situation and confronted Glenn with a trembling voice.
“Uh, well, you know? My mouth slipped, my hands slipped, what do I do?”
“What do you mean, ‘what do I do’...? What were you thinking!? Now you’ll be charged with high treason too!”
“Uh, yeah, that’s... bad, huh?”
Glenn’s cheek twitched as he wiped away cold sweat.
From his expression, it was clear he hadn’t thought this through.
“You need to get out of here! If someone sees you—!”
“It’s fine. There’s gotta be someone reasonable in the Royal Guard. We’ll talk to them first and...”
“There—! Over there—!”
Suddenly, a third party’s furious shout echoed.
Looking over, they saw a new group of guards charging toward them.
“Look! Our comrades have been killed!?”
“You traitor, siding with the vile criminal! You’ll rust our blades!”
“We’ll avenge the fallen, who died before fulfilling their duty!”
Misunderstanding the situation entirely, the guards were brimming with killing intent, leaving no room for negotiation.
As the approaching guards drew their swords in unison, Glenn’s face paled, his cheek twitching.
“Hey, didn’t your moms teach you to listen till the end!?”
“W-What do we do!? If this keeps up, Sensei, you’ll—!”
“Do or don’t do—”
“Kyaa!?”
Glenn scooped Rumia into his arms and sprinted toward the iron fence surrounding the academy.
“《The Law of the Three Realms, the Balance’s Rule, the Scale Tips to Port》!”
Chanting a three-verse rune spell, he leaped.
Their bodies soared to an impossible height, defying human strength.
Black Magic [Gravity • Control]. Glenn had weakened the gravity affecting them, making their bodies as light as feathers.
Carrying Rumia, Glenn cleared the academy’s iron fence in a single bound, landing outside.
Releasing the spell, he hit the ground running, dashing toward the city.
“They escaped—!”
“After them! Don’t let the traitor get away—!”
Shouts pursued them from behind, but Glenn had no time to look back.
“Argh, damn it all! Why does trouble keep piling up!? This is why I hated working—! Long live being a shut-in—!”
Amid the scenery streaming past like a torrent, Glenn’s anguished, heartfelt cry echoed.
Chased by the Royal Guard, Glenn, with Rumia in his arms, darted through the labyrinthine back alleys, weaving right and left. They moved from Fejite’s northern district, home to the magic academy and student quarters, to the western district’s residential area.
In this life-or-death game of tag, Glenn’s knowledge of the terrain gave him the upper hand. In a deserted alley, he finally confirmed they’d shaken their pursuers and set Rumia down.
“Haa, haa... what a mess this turned into...”
Leaning against the alley wall, Glenn wiped sweat from his brow, catching his breath.
“Now, what to do...”
As he steadied his breathing and pondered his next move, Rumia spoke up.
“Sensei... why...?”
Her face was etched with anguish.
She must deeply regret dragging Glenn into this.
“Don’t you understand? If this continues, you’ll...”
“Hey, if I abandoned you, White Cat would chew me out, right? Her lectures are so shrill, I can’t stand them.”
Even in this situation, Glenn’s flippant remark irritated Rumia, despite her usual patience.
“This isn’t the time for jokes! We need to think seriously about what comes next, or you really will be killed for high treason!”
“Yeah, it’s bad, huh... Maybe my past achievements could cancel this out...? Nah, probably not... haa...”
Despite the gravity of the situation, Glenn’s demeanor was unchanged, his boldness almost refreshing.
Feeling foolish for getting worked up alone, Rumia sighed.
“Sensei, please, answer one thing honestly.”
Resigned, she asked.
“What?”
“Why did you save me? You’re in real danger now. You could be killed at any moment. Why would you do something so reckless for me...?”
Depending on his reason, there might be room for leniency.
She needed to clarify this, but—
“Maybe I’ve fallen for you? You know, it’s a classic tale—guy does something crazy for the girl he loves, no matter the consequences. Got it? Now shut up, I’m thinking.”
“Sensei! I’m asking seriously!”
Glenn’s dismissive, joking response made Rumia raise her voice.
Her shoulders trembled with frustration as she stared at him earnestly. Glenn glanced at her sidelong, scratched his head awkwardly, and muttered under his breath.
“...Because of a promise.”
“A promise?”
Rumia parroted his cryptic words back at him.
“Nah, it’s nothing.”
He brushed it off, but he had definitely said “promise.”
A promise to whom? About what? Curious, Rumia tried to press further, but Glenn placed a hand on her head, cutting her off.
“Don’t worry. I didn’t do this without some kind of plan. ...Well, I might’ve done it anyway, but still.”
“Sensei...”
“It’s fine. Her Majesty... your mom would never order your execution without a trial. There’s got to be something behind this sudden kill order. Trust me.”
Rumia couldn’t fathom why he was so certain.
“The win condition is simple. If we can slip past the Royal Guard and meet Her Majesty, we win. If we can just see her, all the misunderstandings will clear up.”
Again, Rumia didn’t understand why he was so sure.
Oblivious to her doubts, Glenn continued his thoughts.
“The question is how to reach Her Majesty...”
The queen was in the northern district, inside the magic academy. Glenn and Rumia were in the western district. By now, the city’s gates were likely sealed, and Royal Guards were deployed across all districts. Naturally, the queen would be surrounded by her guards.
Evading pursuit was one thing, but securing an audience with the queen in this situation was nearly impossible.
“...Wait, are we screwed?”
Realizing the precariousness of his plan, Glenn broke into a cold sweat.
“But we don’t have to meet her directly!”
Cursing his own slow thinking, Glenn pulled a split gemstone from his pocket.
“Sensei, what’s that?”
“A long-range communication magic device. A gem split in two and magically treated to transmit sound between the halves. The other half is with Celica, so we can talk to her through this.”
Of course, it was Celica’s creation—Glenn lacked the skill to craft such an advanced device.
“Anyway, Celica should be with Her Majesty in the VIP seats right now. If we talk to Celica, we can get her to speak to the queen, stop the Royal Guard’s rampage, and sort this out.”
Glenn immediately chanted a spell to activate the device.
A metallic resonance sounded from the gem pressed to his ear.
And then.
“...Glenn?”
Celica’s voice came through the gem.
“Hey, Celica! Nice, you picked up right away this time! I was worried you’d ignore me like last time.”
“...”
For some reason, Celica was silent. Had his slightly sarcastic tone offended her?
“...Celica? Whatever, listen. I need a favor. I’m caught up in some serious trouble, and—”
As Glenn began to explain, Celica cut him off.
“I can’t do anything.”
“—!?”
Her reply was cold, devoid of emotion, pushing him away.
“Hey, wait. I haven’t even—”
“Sorry, Glenn. I can’t say anything.”
“Huh? What’s that supposed to mean, you idiot!? I’m serious—”
Irritated, Glenn started to fire off complaints, but—
“I’ll say it again, Glenn. Listen. I can’t do anything, and I can’t say anything.”
“—!?”
Glenn finally realized something was off with Celica.
This situation was far more complicated than he’d anticipated.
“...Celica, answer what you can. Do you know what’s going on with me?”
“...I know the gist of it.”
“And you can’t do anything about it?”
“Right.”
“Are you with Her Majesty?”
“...Yes.”
“What happened? Why are the Royal Guard acting like this?”
“...”
Silence.
“Why has Her Majesty officially ordered Rumia’s execution?”
“...”
More silence.
Apparently, those were things she “couldn’t say.”
What was going on? What had happened? Celica was a seventh-rank mage, one of the continent’s finest. How could anyone impose such restrictions on her?
(Damn it, I don’t get it... What the hell’s going on...?)
As Glenn clutched his head in frustration, Celica spoke.
“One thing, Glenn. It’s up to you.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
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“You’re the only one who can break through this situation... Yes, only you.”
“What does that even mean...?”
“Think hard about what I mean, Glenn. And find a way to get to Her Majesty. If you can make it, I’ll deal with the Royal Guard surrounding her somehow... Any more is too dangerous. I’m cutting off.”
“Hey, wait!?”
Spouting cryptic words and leaving him hanging, Celica abruptly ended the communication.
No matter how many times Glenn chanted the spell to reactivate the gem, there was no sign of Celica responding.
“Damn it, I don’t get it... And ‘come’ she says!? How the hell am I supposed to get to Her Majesty alone... Tch!”
Indeed, the Royal Guard boasted exceptional individual martial prowess and skill, but their primary duty was protection, so their real combat experience was limited. Their mastered magic consisted mainly of military attack spells or healing spells. For Glenn, who had fought countless battles as a former member of the Imperial Court Mage Corps and possessed a broad knowledge of magic as a competent mage, evading them with various tricks and tactics was feasible as long as he focused on escape.
But going on the offensive was an entirely different matter.
The sheer difference in numbers and firepower loomed as an insurmountable wall.
To make matters worse, the Royal Guard’s commander, Zelos, who likely stood closest to Her Majesty, was a battle-hardened veteran from forty years ago during the Holy War of Devotion. It was said he had fought on equal terms with Johannes, the “Sword Saint” and Grandmaster of the Holy Elisabeth Church’s Templar Knights. He was fundamentally on a different level from the other guards.
(No matter how I look at it, this is beyond me. If only I had... even just one or two allies—)
In his mounting frustration, Glenn slammed his fist against the wall.
That’s when it happened.
A shiver ran up his spine, like an icy blade slicing through him.
“—Killing intent!?”
Instinctively honed from past experiences, Glenn’s reflexes snapped his gaze toward the source of the murderous aura.
There, atop the roof of a building across the street, stood two figures—a man and a woman. Without a doubt, they were staring directly down at Glenn.
Their distinctive attire and builds were unmistakably familiar.
From the depths of his memory, their identities bubbled up like air rising to the surface—
“Re=L!? And Albert too!? Why are they here—don’t tell me, not just the Royal Guard, but the Court Mage Corps is mobilized too!?”
The moment Glenn recognized them—
Re=L kicked off the roof like a coiled spring, sprinting down the building’s wall.
Upon landing, she muttered something, slamming both hands onto the ground.
A surge of magical energy crackled like violet lightning, and in an instant, a massive cross-shaped greatsword materialized in Re=L’s hands. In its place, a chunk of the cobblestone street vanished entirely.
Having transmuted the cobblestones into a steel greatsword, Re=L hefted the weapon onto her shoulder and charged at Glenn like a bullet—
“Tch!? Alchemy—her signature high-speed weapon forging using [Qualitative Transformation] and [Elemental Array Conversion]!? And so fast!”
There was no time to marvel at her flawless technique.
There was no room for doubt. Right now, Re=L and Albert—Glenn’s former comrades-in-arms—were enemies. Just like the Royal Guard, they had come to hunt him and Rumia as foes.
A wave of despairing urgency seared through Glenn. Of all people, it had to be those two—
“Damn it, stop! If you don’t, I’ll shoot!”
But despite Glenn’s sharp shout, Re=L didn’t falter, charging forward undeterred.
The distance between them closed rapidly—
“—《O Silver Ice Wolf, Clad in Blizzard, Dash Through》!”
Without hesitation, Glenn chanted a three-verse rune spell.
In the next instant, a frigid gust erupted from Glenn’s outstretched left palm, a blizzard roaring forth as the surrounding temperature plummeted far below freezing.
The overwhelming vortex of icy air froze the moisture in the atmosphere instantly, transforming it into a barrage of ice pellets that surged toward Re=L.
The military attack spell, Black Magic [Ice • Blizzard]. Within its effective range, anyone caught in this spell without magical defenses would have their blood frozen in moments, their heartbeat stilled. The relentless hail of ice pellets would then shatter their frozen body into pieces.
Normally, this spell would halt any opponent in their tracks. A battle-hardened mage would either erect a magical barrier instantly or retreat from its range—either way, their advance would stop.
It should have stopped her—but Re=L didn’t stop. Unfazed by the freezing gust, undeterred by the ice pellets pummeling her, she shielded only her eyes with her arm and charged forward relentlessly.
“That damn boar—!”
True, the freezing gust itself could be resisted with the enchantment of Black Magic [Tri • Resist], but it couldn’t block the physical impact of the ice pellets. That Re=L endured it spoke to her extraordinary toughness and sheer recklessness, belying her appearance.
“Rumia! Stay back!”
Clicking his tongue, Glenn tossed aside the robe slung over his shoulder and chanted another rune spell.
The spell was Black Magic [Weapon • Enchant]. Infusing his fists with magical energy to reinforce them. Facing that girl in close combat with bare hands would be tantamount to suicide—
“Iyaaaaaa—!”
Re=L’s charge reached Glenn, catching him within striking distance just as his spell completed. She raised her greatsword overhead, her arrival like a tempest.
Re=L swung the blade down.
A sword flash like lightning.
A strike devoid of hesitation, straight and unyielding, brutal yet almost elegant.
“Tch—!?”
Glenn caught the ferocious blow with his fists crossed above his head.
How could such immense strength come from Re=L’s slender arms?
The moment Glenn blocked the sword, an overwhelming shockwave slammed through his entire body, threatening to crush him. The ground beneath his feet cracked and shattered.
“Gah—aaah—!?”
Spitting blood, Glenn desperately held his ground to avoid being crushed.
“Sensei!?”
“I’ve been waiting for this moment, Glenn!”
Re=L instantly reversed her grip on the greatsword. Despite its immense weight, she wielded it as lightly as a willow twig, unleashing a second and third slash at Glenn without pause.
Byugoo! The sword’s tip tore through the air with a roaring gust—
“Tch—!?”
Glenn dodged right, left, and backward, evading the storm of steel. Each time he parried a slash with his magically infused knuckles, sparks erupted, and the unmitigated force sent his body reeling. The sword’s pressure whipped up a gale, tormenting Glenn as it sought any escape.
“Iyaaaaaaaa—!”
With a lion’s roar, Re=L swung her sword again, and again, and again.
The shockwaves from her strikes cleaved through nearby walls, shattering and pulverizing them. Cobblestones were uprooted, blasted apart, and sent flying. In moments, the alley transformed into a hellish wasteland.
Re=L was the embodiment of relentless, overwhelming violence—a veritable tornado.
“Guh—! Wait, Re=L! Just listen to me—!”
“No talking! I will only cut!”
No matter what Glenn said, her only response was fiercer slashes, as if that were her answer.
(This is bad... really bad...! And behind her, Albert—!)
Glenn’s desperation surged as he caught sight of the young man on the distant rooftop, watching with hawk-like eyes.
Albert was a master of magical sniping. In any chaotic melee, he could unerringly target only enemies, avoiding allies with divine precision. Moreover, he had mastered the advanced technique of dual-resonance casting, activating two spells with a single chant.
(Damn it, my unique magic [The Fool’s World] is useless against them—!)
Albert, Special Operations Annex of the Imperial Court Mage Corps, Executor Number 17, “The Star.”
Re=L, Executor Number 7, “The Chariot.”
Albert, a genius mage capable of sniping from beyond the range of [The Fool’s World].
Re=L, a genius magical swordsman who excelled in melee combat, rendering [The Fool’s World] meaningless.
Back when Glenn bore the title of Executor Number 0, “The Fool,” in the Court Mage Corps, these two were his most reliable allies when teamed up—and the worst possible match when faced as enemies.
“How’s that, Glenn!? The power of my magic!”
“You call that magic!?”
Glenn yelled as he rolled to dodge a horizontal slash that completely demolished a wall.
“It’s definitely magic! A sword forged through alchemy!”
With a near-suicidal lunge, Re=L swung her greatsword downward from overhead.
Glenn leaped back just in time, and the blade missed, smashing the cobblestones with a tremendous explosion, leaving a crater where Glenn had stood a split second earlier.
“I strongly object to that interpretation—!”
Despite his banter, Glenn had no margin for error.
At the edge of his vision, he saw Albert raising his fingers, taking aim.
It was impossible. Dodging Albert’s magical snipes, cast with dual-resonance, while fending off Re=L was beyond human capability.
And Re=L’s relentless pursuit, like a bloodhound, showed no sign of slowing.
It was checkmate.
(Damn it, sorry, Rumia—!)
As Glenn wove through the storm of destruction, gnashing his teeth at the hopeless situation—
Albert’s fingers unleashed the spell Black Magic [Lightning Pierce]—
A bolt of lightning streaked toward them at blinding speed—
(Kuh—!?)
With no time to dodge, Glenn braced himself—
“Kyan!?”
Black Magic [Lightning Pierce] struck Re=L in the back of her head.
She collapsed to the ground, twitching and spasming.
“...Huh?”
The cacophony of destruction fell silent, as if it had all been a lie.
As Glenn stood dumbfounded, Albert, who had sprinted across the rooftops, landed lightly before him.
“Been a while, Glenn.”
“Uh, yeah...”
Glenn faltered, unnerved by the cold, almost accusatory tone of his former colleague’s greeting.
“We’re moving. Follow me.”
Dragging Re=L, Albert walked deeper into the alley.
Unable to read the situation, Glenn and Rumia exchanged glances and could only nod obediently.
And then—
“You idiot! What the hell were you thinking!?”
In a secluded corner of an alley in Fejite’s western district, Glenn’s shout echoed.
“You wanted to settle the score from our active days!? Think about the time, place, and situation, you moron! Musclehead! I almost died back there!”
“...Muu.”
The [Lightning Pierce] must have been heavily restrained in power, and Re=L’s natural sturdiness helped. Fully recovered, she wore her usual impassive expression, though it seemed just a tad dejected.
“S-Sensei... who are those people...?”
Rumia, standing a short distance away, directed a mix of anxiety and confusion toward Re=L and Albert.
“Oh, these are my old comrades from the Imperial Army. Trustworthy folks... or they should be, but after that scene, I’m not so sure...”
“Indeed, firing a military attack spell in the middle of town? Careless, Albert. It seems you’ve scared that girl—”
“IT’S YOU! YOU!”
Glenn grabbed Re=L’s head with both hands and shook it vigorously.
“...Tch, you haven’t changed a bit... Haa...”
As Re=L swayed side to side like a metronome, her sleepy, expressionless face unshaken, Glenn let out a deep sigh.
“Can we continue? The situation’s pretty dire.”
Albert’s tone was oddly chilly for a reunion with old comrades. Glenn, feeling awkward, nodded.
“Sorry. Please, go on.”
“Based on information I’ve gathered through far-seeing magic and familiars, the Royal Guard has placed Her Majesty under their surveillance and is acting independently to eliminate that girl—Princess Rumia.”
“Yeah, I figured. They’re fabricating absurd orders. So, what’s the situation around Her Majesty?”
“She’s in the VIP seats at the arena, as normal. But her surroundings are completely sealed off by elite Royal Guard officers, with no gaps. She can’t move freely. Moreover, the area is under strict lockdown—no one’s allowed near. Breaking through will be extremely difficult.”
“What about Celica? You know, former Special Operations Number 21.”
“She’s at Her Majesty’s side but shows no intent to take action.”
“I don’t get it. Celica should be able to protect Her Majesty and break through easily... Any idea why the Royal Guard is targeting Rumia specifically?”
“The details are unclear. But if, as you say, Princess Rumia is the rumored ‘Discarded Princess,’ it’s possible the Royal Guard caught wind of it and, in a misguided act of loyalty to protect the royal family’s honor, went rogue to eliminate her... Or so it could be reasoned.”
“That’s too far-fetched. Sure, secrets leak—someone could’ve gotten hold of that classified info. But why act now, with Her Majesty present, committing lèse-majesté? It makes no sense.”
“Indeed. If they wanted to do it, they could’ve done it discreetly.”
Glenn furrowed his brow, deep in thought, while Albert maintained his cold expression.
“Enough. Some things won’t be solved by thinking.”
Perhaps impatient with the stalled discussion, Re=L suddenly interjected.
“No, you could stand to think a bit more, you know?”
“That’s why I came up with a plan to break the situation. With Glenn here, we can execute a more advanced strategy.”
“Oh? Let’s hear it.”
“First, I charge the enemy head-on. Then Glenn charges the enemy head-on. Finally, Albert charges the enemy head-on. ...How’s that?”
“Fix that musclehead thinking already!”
“Ow.”
Exasperated, Glenn grabbed Re=L’s head and squeezed it like a vise.
“Do you have any idea how much I suffered after you left?”
Albert’s words, delivered flatly, carried a distinct edge.
“...Yeah, sorry. Really sorry.”
“I won’t ask why you left us without a word. I won’t tell you to come back. But... someday, explain yourself. That’s the least you owe us.”
“...Yeah.”
Glenn nodded solemnly, a rare moment of sincerity, as Albert spoke without even glancing at him.
“And someday, we’ll settle our score. That’s what you owe me.”
“No way!?”
Glenn snapped back at Re=L, who refused to let it go, with an exasperated retort.
“Oh? You don’t want to settle it someday? Then how about now—”
“Why does it come to that!? Spare me! Hiii!? S-Stay back!”
Re=L, wielding her alchemically forged greatsword, advanced expressionlessly, step by step.
Glenn, sweating buckets, backed away in a panic.
“Argh! Why are you so obsessed with settling this score!?”
“I heard that in a duel between mages, the winner can make one demand of the loser.”
“Yeah, there’s that dusty old tradition! So what!?”
“...That’s because...”
Caught off guard by Glenn’s desperate question, Re=L faltered for a moment.
“...I really... wanted Glenn to come back...”
For the first time, Re=L’s usually emotionless face seemed tinged with a faint trace of sorrow as she murmured in a voice so soft it nearly faded away.
“...Tch, you idiot. If I died from that, it’d defeat the purpose, wouldn’t it?”
“No way Glenn would die from an attack like that.”
“You...”
Rumia, watching the exchange, let out a small chuckle.
“Albert-san, Re=L-san... right? Fufu, they’re good people, aren’t they?”
“Huh? Good people? These two? You’re joking...”
Glenn could only sigh.
“Whatever. Point is, meeting Her Majesty directly is the key to breaking this situation. I’ve got to find a way to stand before her.”
“What’s your basis for that, Glenn?”
“Dunno. Celica told me to do it. She’s stingy and mean, but she never says anything pointless. There’s got to be some meaning in me reaching Her Majesty. Besides, we’re at a disadvantage in a war of attrition—might as well bet on it.”
“Can we trust that?”
“I trust it, at least.”
“...Fine. If you say so, I’ll trust it too.”
Albert closed his eyes quietly and nodded.
“So, to get you two before Her Majesty... how should we move?”
“Well—”
Glenn thought for a moment... then made a certain proposal to Albert and Re=L.
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