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“…Honestly. To think it was the Saintess who revived me back then, or that Igoronak mistook me for the Saintess due to the transfusion, or that we’ve had a magical link all this time—being told all this out of nowhere just leaves me confused.”

If only I’d been informed gradually, I might have handled things differently.

As I muttered, Cestlavie looked at me as if I were some kind of strange creature.

“So the Saintess actually existed, huh? …And is she still teaching you through that link?”

I gently shook my head in response, double-checking just to be sure, and let out a sigh.

“No. It seems the amount of blood transferred was minimal, and that was several years ago. On top of that, I’ve lost so much blood today that the link has likely dissolved… so I can’t hear her voice anymore.”
“That’s a shame. I was hoping her power might help us escape from here…with time running out.”
“We’re not that lucky.”
“Tell me about it.”

As we spoke, the red glow surrounding us continued to contract, and though the lightning had faded, there was a strange feeling of distortion—a sensation that the very space around us was warping, or rather, compressing.

I could barely make out Cestlavie’s face beside me, but I turned in his direction on instinct and bowed my head.

“I’m sorry. In the end, you’ve gotten dragged into my misfortune.”

In response to my apologetic words, a strangely nonchalant voice came from Cestlavie.

“—No worries. We did everything we could, and it was fun, too.”

At the same time, I sensed the faintest trace of a smile, and I found a gentle smile forming on my own lips.

And then—

“All right! Coppelia, reactivated!”
““Too late!!””

Just as we delivered our synchronized quip to the newly rebooted Coppelia, the Ultimate Arcane Armament—the Dimension-Shattering Bomb—finished its compression phase, and the heart of the blast zone was engulfed in a brilliant flash.

♦♢♦♢

The long night had ended, and the morning sun was beginning to rise in a clear sky.

In the misty forest, Luke, hurrying toward his destination, stopped abruptly in front of a clearing about a hundred mertes across, where trees, grass, and even the ground itself were cleanly scooped away—as if sliced as smoothly as cream taken up with a spoon.

He had climbed up through a few hundred more mertes of the hillside, where large trees and boulders had been swept aside, only to arrive at a crater with a cross-section as neatly cut as if by a blade.

Standing on the edge of the utterly barren depression, he squinted, focusing his eyes. In the center of the crater, something piled up high caught his attention.

“What…? —Jill!”

“Lord Lucas, it’s dangerous to go alone!”
“Hold on! We don’t know what could be here yet!”
“Calm down! I understand you’re worried, but going alone is risky!”

Ignoring the sounds of multiple footsteps and concerned voices pursuing him from behind, Luke leaped into the crater without a second thought and sprinted toward its center.

“Jill! Jill! Jiill!”

Before long, he stopped in front of a mound, illuminated by the crimson dawn, staring up at it in stunned silence.

“…What is this?”

In a word, it looked like a heap of miscellaneous goods.

Bags of flour, logs, clothing, buckets of water, medicines, books, cups and plates, various daily necessities—and even an assortment of mysterious magical items and weapons like swords and spears—all piled high, like the stock of a small fortress.

“What is this doing here?”

Viola and the others, who had caught up to him, stared up at the sight with equally astonished faces.

Just then, Vier began sniffing around the pile, turning over some of the objects until he pulled something out.

Eren’s face paled the moment she saw what it had found.

“That’s… that’s my maid uniform! I gave it to Lady Jill to store safely—why is it here!?”

Snatching it from Vier, Eren inspected the garment closely, confirming beyond a doubt that it was hers.

Hearing this, Lieselotte’s face tightened with a grimace, and she spoke as if holding back some pain.

“…You said you gave it to Jill. If I recall, Jill could use the Close spell. For it to be here now means…”

“—”

Without needing to say it, everyone’s minds filled in the answer, etched like blood-red letters across their thoughts.

“No… No, that can’t be true! Jill promised to return! She even promised to think about my confession… so, so… Jill!!”

Luke dropped to his knees, pounding his fists against the ground, his cries echoing like a child’s.

Eren began sobbing in large, heaving gasps, while Vier, looking lost and despairing, raised its head and let out a long, thin howl into the sky.

Lieselotte and Viola stood frozen, watching the scene unfold, their expressions hardened in silent grief.

Above them, the bright sun shone down, marking the end of the long night…

♦♢♦♢

—Third Volume – Julia in Academy, Concluded—

On the opposite side of Lake Quartz, deep within the forest—

A dark, tattered bundle began to stir.

“Ugh… haah, haah… That was close.”

Through labored breaths, the figure —though its black hair and beard had turned stark white, and its skin had withered like that of a mummy— was unmistakably recognizable as Igoronak. Rising on unsteady legs, he surveyed his surroundings.

“I sacrificed nearly all my magic and spiritual body, but here I am, still breathing. I’ve lost much, but it’s not an irreparable loss. I may not be able to act openly for a while, but with the right strategy, I could regain my strength in a few years. For now, patience is the key.”

In his eyes, an unfathomable madness and seething hatred still swirled.

“Just you wait, Saintess. My revenge is only beginning.”
“No… this ends here.”

A cool, steady voice came from nowhere, and Igoronak tensed, summoning black flames into his palm as he spun around.

“I’m not as forgiving as the Princess, you see. For a stain like you to exist—and worse, to harbor such hostility—makes tearing you apart seem insufficient. …Oh, and there’s no escaping me.”

“「M…Megiddo!!」” With a panicked curse, he unleashed black flames in every direction, but they dispersed in vain against an invisible barrier.

In sync with his attack, a young man, pale-haired and draped in a veil, appeared out of the empty space around them.

“Wh-, who are you…?” Igoronak rasped.

The youth shrugged, responding calmly, “I have no name worth giving to the likes of you. Let’s just say I’m a ‘Guardian’ of the Superempire.”

“Su…Superempire?! Why… are you here?!”

Ignoring the question, the Guardian cast a sidelong glance at something beyond Igoronak, prompting him to turn. His entire body froze in terror.

Standing with folded arms was a towering man with golden hair and pure white wings. He was even taller than Igoronak, with a broad frame and steely muscles that radiated an overwhelming, oppressive presence. His striking face held an intense, piercing gaze that locked onto Igoronak.

“An angel… no, something else?”

Overwhelmed by the warrior’s imposing aura, Igoronak held his breath.

“I am Bartholomew, the ‘Angel of Harbinger of Death’ and Palace Knight of the Scarlet Empire’s royal palace, Houzuki is my name. Know, wretched one, that your sins can no longer be absolved. Thus, I shall judge you here and now!”

Somehow, he had produced an enormous black halberd, as if it had appeared from thin air.

“No!” Igoronak tried to cry out, perhaps to beg for mercy.

Without any intention of listening, Bartholomew swung, cutting off Igoronak’s attempt to escape. The Guardian sneered, “There’s no escaping this time. No more severed tails like a lizard.”

In an instant, Igoronak’s body shattered, scattering into pieces engulfed in blue flames that devoured every trace until nothing remained.

Watching the last remnants vanish as if they’d been nothing more than an illusion, the Guardian let out a faint, satisfied snort.

“Good work. Since the issue’s been resolved, I’ll be heading back. Do you wish to return with me to the homeland? I can teleport us from here.”

Bartholomew dismissed his weapon and kneeled, bowing slightly.

“No, I have some loose ends to tie up here. I plan to stay a while longer.”
“As you wish. Just don’t overdo it.”

The Guardian turned as if he didn’t care one way or the other, but Bartholomew looked up, hesitant, before finally speaking.

“May I ask for a moment? Following the explosion, the whereabouts of certain key individuals remain unknown. Would you happen to know their status?”

Sensing the strain in his voice, the Guardian paused.

“Oh? You’re quite invested, I see.”

Bartholomew met the Guardian’s gaze in silence, showing no reaction to the teasing remark.

With a smirk, the Guardian shrugged and replied, “They’re alive. However, due to spatial disturbances, they appear to have been thrown into some other place… though there might be some minor error in the location, it should be around—”

Bartholomew’s face briefly showed relief, but his eyes widened in shock at the Guardian’s next words.

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Even as he held me suspended, Igoronak continued his tirade of curses, dripping with resentment.

“But what is this pitiful sight!?”
“You should shine more brilliantly!”
“I can’t believe you’re the one I should possess!”
“A Saintess who descends to the filthy, tainted earth like this—”
“Disgusting! An eyesore! Unbearable to behold!”

“…Don’t you dare impose your ridiculous ideals on me!” I spat, my small spark of anger flaring into a roaring blaze, fueling my resolve as I glared at Igoronak, who seemed lost in his self-indulgent rapture.

Driven by this fierce anger, I lashed out at him.

“Victor turned to forbidden research because of his inferiority complex. It was the wrong choice, but at least he was driven by the honest desire to better himself and earn respect. But you? All you ever think about is yourself, without considering the needs or desires of anyone around you! You’re a spoiled child throwing a tantrum! No matter how much talent or power you have, it’s worthless without self-control. Someone as selfish and oblivious as you have no right to claim to love anyone. Of course, you were rejected—anyone would run from someone as pathetic as you! So let me say it again: you’re nothing but a small, narrow-minded, miserable loser!”

“Silence, silence, silence!”

Igoronak’s twisted face contorted further in rage as he howled, his grip on my neck tightening with furious intensity.

“…Ka…hah…”

The air tasted of rusted iron, likely my own blood or perhaps the blood of Cestlavie spattered over me. The crushing pressure dulled my senses, my breath slipping away, and yet, even as death crept closer, I held fast to my anger and conviction, staring Igoronak down with unwavering eyes.

“Even if I die… I refuse… to lose to someone like you!”

I could never allow myself to submit to someone who would wield such power solely for his own desires, disregarding the suffering of others.

Because to yield now would be to deny everything about the current me —Syltianna— who has overcome the shame of being called the Ragweed Princess, worked hard to cultivate the abilities and appearance that might even rival my mother, Clara the Shrine Maiden Princess, and lived with restraint and patience, mindful never to become conceited or lose sight of my initial self-discipline.

Moreover, I had to honor those who stayed here by my side despite the danger —Eren, Luke, Lieselotte, Viola. And most of all, to repay Cestlavie, who protected me selflessly, I could not lose to someone so selfish and devoid of any sense of responsibility to match his power. I felt this deep within my heart.

“—someone so selfish… who can’t even understand… compassion for others…!”

Clenching my teeth as hard as I could, swallowing the blood pooling in my mouth, I forced out these words with my last breath, and as I did, my consciousness finally faded, sinking deeper… and deeper… into darkness…

—Thump!

Suddenly, my heart pulsed fiercely, as if a switch within me—no, more like a path to some unknown place—had been unlocked. A wave of heat surged through my entire body, and I heard a strong, yet gentle voice resonate within me, wrapping around my consciousness.

—Well said! Yes, that’s exactly right.

At that moment, I felt as if someone were softly patting my head, with a warmth reminiscent of a mother’s touch…

“Hm? What is this flow of magic? Where is it coming from—?”

Igoronak seemed to notice the change as well and loosened his grip just slightly—in that instant,

“「Earth Javelin」!”

A barrage of stone spears shot up from Cestlavie’s talismans, which had scattered on the ground, forming a conical assault that struck Igoronak’s arm, forcing him to release me.

“What…?!”

For a moment, Igoronak stood in stunned silence, unable to comprehend the situation. Arrogant individuals rarely have the flexibility to improvise in the face of unexpected disruptions, I thought briefly.

“「O mighty celestial dragon who gathers lightning, in the name of the great Thunder Emperor, smite the foe before me!!」”

Before I could fully process the chanting voice from below, it was already too late.

“Don’t you put your filthy foot on me! —「LIGHTNING!!!」”

Cestlavie, having regained consciousness, unleashed a fierce upward bolt of lightning from a bundle of talismans he clenched in his hand. It surged into Igoronak, who was thrown into the air, a violent explosion following in its wake. The initial strike seemed to draw more lightning from the surroundings, and a barrage of thunderbolts descended upon Igoronak, suspending him helplessly in midair as he was relentlessly bombarded.

“GAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!”

A soul-rending scream erupted from Igoronak’s entire body.

“—Hah. Serves you right…”

Still lying on his back, Cestlavie flashed a triumphant grin, raising his middle finger toward the airborne Igoronak. Just moments ago, he’d been at death’s door, but somehow, he was now full of energy. How could this be?

Then, he looked my way, licking my blood that had streamed down his face, and gave me a thumbs-up.

“Now’s your chance, Jill! Finish him off!”

“Y-yes…” I was still dazed, barely freed from suffocation. Before I could process the situation, I simply did as I was told, pointing my staff at Igoronak and attempting to gather my magic… only to realize I was completely drained. Just as I began to panic—

—I’ll help you a little. With my blood within you now active, you should be able to cast one last purification spell.

Once again, as if guided by the voice that resonated out of nowhere, I frantically refined my magical power… No, I gave direction to the magical power that was welling up in line with the blood flow throughout my body, and transformed it into the Purification spell.

“「O celestial bell, send these impure souls back to the underworld with thine eternal melody」”

Even in his weakened state, Igoronak immediately grasped the danger of being hit by purification magic in his condition.

“Stop—stop it!”

His terrified eyes gleamed with a raspy plea.

“Stop! If you waste it on me, you’ll lose your chance to escape this barrier as well!”

He’s probably right. Coppelia, who’d been counting down, was now charred black, babbling in a broken singsong, “cinder— cinder— cinderella—” How much time remained, I couldn’t say. It was likely we had none left to flee.

Then all I could do was finish what I started!

“Please, don’t do this—!”
“This is truly the end for you—「Purification!」”
“GYAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHH!!!!”

Flames of crimson and gold—an unusual hue, unlike the usual golden light—burst forth, engulfing Igoronak entirely. The fiery purification consumed him, and his body crumbled away in a final, agonizing scream.

—To be honest, I always thought his talent was something precious.

As I watched Igoronak’s form dissolve, the voice within me whispered wistfully.

—But despite wielding such power, he had no intention of accepting the responsibility that came with it. I sealed him away, hoping he’d come to realize his mistake, but instead, he only grew more twisted. That’s my burden to bear.

A sense of remorse came through, along with an understanding of the nature of the seal that had bound Igoronak.

It wasn’t a seal meant to destroy him. Rather, it was designed to gradually purify his obsession and negative hatred, returning him to a decent human being over time. But in the end, that goal was never achieved; it only served to amplify his resentment and madness…

Echoing the voice within me, I offered my final farewell to Igoronak.

“Goodbye, Igor… no, Albert of the town of Tegra.”

“…Saintess…?” With a doubtful tone, Igoronak muttered, meeting my eyes. For an instant, his expression softened, as if he were a lost child finding his mother. Then, he faded away, dissolving like a black mist.

“…Phew…” I collapsed on the spot, utterly spent. Even the familiar weight of my staff felt too heavy to lift in my weakened state.

“You did it, Jill. —I mean, we’re both in pretty rough shape here,” Cestlavie chuckled, still lying on the ground as he gingerly touched his chest, which should have been gaping open. “Ouch… But the wound’s closed, somehow. What’s going on?”

I, unable to move even a step, preemptively added a “—This is only a guess,” before offering my theory.

“It seems that drinking my blood temporarily boosted your self-healing ability.”
“What kind of nonsense is that? I’ve heard some old folktale about eating a monk’s liver to live a hundred years, but I never thought there’d be any truth to it.”
“I used to think stories like that were just jokes too… Um, Cestlavie, are you familiar with a treatment called ‘blood transfusion’?”
“No… never heard of it.”
“That’s understandable. I didn’t think it existed in this world either, but it seems that Saintess Snow knew of it. When she revived me, she shared some of her blood with me.”

However, it seems the Saintess’ blood carries extremely high spiritual power, making it quite challenging to handle. The odds of a successful revival weren’t even fifty-fifty; they were closer to one in a thousand. —“Honestly, I didn’t think you could come back from that state,” she laughed in my mind. And in that moment, I couldn’t help but feel a mild, irrational surge of murderous intent.

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With a sickening thud that made me want to cover my ears, Igoronak’s spear arm thrust through the center of Cestlavie’s chest.

As if dismissing the thing it had pierced as worthless, the arm instantly retracted, leaving a wet, squelching sound in its wake as blood poured from the wound.

“Guh…!”

Bright red blood spilled from Cestlavie’s mouth as he let out a faint groan.

“No… Cestlavie… Cestlavie…”

A weak, wordless cry escaped my lips, one I could hardly believe was my own.

“No…” “No—ice! Well done, commoner!”

Beside me, Coppelia’s voice rang out with an utterly heartless cheer. Blood from Cestlavie’s wound had splattered across my face and hair, but at that moment, such minor things didn’t matter at all.

I was simply overwhelmed by the sudden act of violence.

“…Honestly. Why’d I go and do something like this on instinct?”
“I-I’m… s-sorry…”
“Don’t make that face. I did it of my own accord. Maybe, I really am…”

Looking at me, Cestlavie gave a bitter smile—no, was it a self-mocking smile? But before he could finish his words, he abruptly fell silent, his eyes closing as he sank to his knees.

Naturally, with him no longer holding me, I, too, was cast down to the ground.

Without a second thought, I forced myself to my knees. Though I had thought I had no strength left, somehow, in this desperate moment, my body moved. Pointing my staff at Cestlavie’s wound, I began chanting a healing spell in a frantic, rapid voice.

“「The Great Healing Hand shall kindle your flame of life.」—「Regeneration!」”

When the high-level healing spell failed to activate, I bit my lip and switched to a lower spell.

“「I am the cure to your ail」—「Heal」”

My staff glowed for a brief moment, but that was all.

“「I am the cure to your ail」—「Heal」”

A faint pull of pain, as though from deep within my core, accompanied the small trace of magic drawn forth, but it dissipated before it could take form as a spell.

“「I am the cure to your ail」—「Heal」”

I tried to draw mana from the air around me, but I could barely absorb anything.

Suddenly, I remembered (too late) the Amrita I had stored away with my Close magic. Taking them all out, I poured them generously over Cestlavie. It seemed to slightly stem the blood flow, and I thought I could see his faint breathing grow just a bit steadier. I also took a dose myself, hoping to restore my magic power.

“「Heal」”

At that moment, I felt a pounding headache, as though someone had struck me.

“「Heal」”

A wave of nausea washed over me, and my consciousness flickered briefly.

“「Heal」”

A freezing cold spread from my fingertips, encasing my entire body as my vision faded to shadow.

“Hea…”

In the darkness, only the intent to cast the healing spell remained.

“Lady Clara, it’s impossible now. Even with potions, there’s a limit to the amount of magic power one can recover at once. And, considering your weakened state, the effects are prioritizing your own life functions. There’s no way you could restore enough magic to transfer it to another.”

Coppelia’s calm analysis, even at this point, sparked a helpless frustration within me. I shot her a glare, but realizing it was just a futile outburst, I clenched my teeth and tried to think of something… anything.

If only we could get him somewhere far enough to find someone capable of casting a healing spell… But it’s no good; cyanosis is already setting in, with his skin turning a dark purplish blue. Even if I found help now, it would take at least Regeneration to possibly save him in this state.

Only a few people, including my master in healing magic, the Grand Priestess of the beastfolk, can wield such a spell. I’d heard in passing that healing arts were more advanced in the Eunice Theocracy, the stronghold of the Saintess Order. But even so, no ordinary healer, or a town doctor with only basic surgery skills, would be able to treat him now.

Then I thought of using a potion… but unfortunately, those fantasy-like “Full-Recovery Elixirs” that can even revive the dead don’t exist, at least as far as I know.

To add to that, there are no miraculous “healing potions” effective against any illness, nor “antidotes” that nullify all poisons. The potions I learned to make from Regina are sensible remedies crafted to suit specific illnesses or types of poison—none of which can bring about any dramatic change. (The one I used earlier was a tonic to boost life force and magic power.)

If I abandoned his treatment and focused on merely prolonging his life… perhaps I could place him in a suspended state with ice magic until a high-level healer could reach him or until my own magic recovered—except that’s impossible. This isn’t a comic book; freezing him would destroy his cells, killing him instantly. If I were to finish him off with my own hands, it would be the ultimate irony. Bringing someone back from the dead isn’t feasible—unless you’re the legendary Saintess Snow herself, capable of miracles.

Watching Cestlavie’s face grow paler and seeing his breathing grow weaker, my mind and emotions swirled chaotically, a fractured kaleidoscope of frantic thoughts.

“What should I do… What can I do…?!”

The last time I’d felt this helpless was during the teleportation incident years ago, facing Hubert and then seeing Vier nearly die because of it.

No, perhaps it’s even more shocking now. I thought I had gained confidence through my efforts and training since then.

—How powerless I am… Unable to save the life of even one person right before me…

As I struggled, lost in frustration, time seemed to both stretch on forever and pass in an instant. In reality, it was only a few seconds.

“Thirty-nine seconds left. For now, I’ll carry the fool, so please, Lady Clara, prioritize getting out of here,” Coppelia said, propping herself up on one elbow beside me, turning her back as she spoke.

“Huh…? You’re going to help Cestlavie?” I asked, surprised and doubtful, given her typically dismissive attitude.

“Come now, I’m not so heartless as to beat a dead horse. That would be disrespectful to the deceased,” she replied, almost offended.

She was trying to sound considerate, but… no, he isn’t dead yet! That statement itself is disrespectful!

Before I could object, a sinister, mocking voice echoed from the side.

“…Heh heh… thought I’d failed to finish you off, but seeing you so rattled, that’s an unexpected delight. Do you mourn your own helplessness, Saintess? Your tears of frustration are music to my ears.”

“Igor—ack, aghhh… ahhh!”

In a flash, Coppelia moved between us and took a brutal blow, sending her hurtling backward, her neck twisting three times before she was flung out of the barrier. She landed awkwardly, looking thoroughly dazed after also being struck by lightning.

Unconcerned with Coppelia, Igoronak strode over the crumbling barrier and stood right in front of me, his eyes shifting between Cestlavie, lying barely breathing, and me, cradling him helplessly on the ground. His ruined face twisted into an expression of twisted delight.

Before I knew it, his outstretched arm grabbed my neck, lifting me effortlessly as if uprooting a radish, raising me until our eyes were level.

“Gah… hng…”

His grip crushed my neck, his claws digging into my skin, making it agonizingly hard to breathe.

“…A pointless spectacle, but shall I finish off that half-dead fool first?”
“St… stop…”

I saw Igoronak lift one foot, positioning it right above the head of the unconscious Cestlavie. Crushing a human skull like an overripe fruit would be a trivial task for him if he wished.

Whether he heard my desperate pleas to stop or found my begging unbearably pitiful, his grip around my neck tightened. His sharp claws dug even deeper, causing blood to trickle down, staining the ground and splattering onto Cestlavie’s face.

“Pathetic, pathetic, pathetic! Is this truly the fate of the once aloof, graceful Saintess?!”

His hold grew harsher, and the world before me blurred red from the suffocating pressure.

“Now you’re just a pitiful girl, swayed by emotion and sprawled in the dirt! Is this the radiant star I once pursued?! A light that shone beyond reach?!”

His voice, laced with twisted resentment, wasn’t vocalized; it was more of a telepathic echo that reverberated from his fingers digging into my neck. The clarity of his bitterness and regrets pierced through.

“Why?! Why do you care so much for this human?! Why would you bleed for such a weak child, leaving me behind? Why was I given nothing?! Why him?! When I am far more worthy!”

“I transcended human limits for you! Mastered the arcane arts! I didn’t care what I had to sacrifice—everything was to make you mine! But you never saw me. You never looked back. Your attention was always on those trivial humans, never on me!”

“Why wasn’t I enough for you?! I’m the one meant to be by your side! And so, I destroyed it. Your home, your neighbors, everything you held dear! You belong to me! You have no need for unnecessary attachments!”

“…So that’s… your true feelings?”

A hoarse whisper slipped from my lips.

In other words, Igoronak became the No-Life King, wrought havoc, and displayed his disdain for the Saintess not out of jealousy toward her power or resentment from being sealed away, but simply out of obsessive love—spite and resentment born from unrequited feelings. That’s all there was to it.

“How foolish… no, how utterly contemptible…”

Touching on the raw thoughts that exposed Igoronak’s desires and hatred, an inexplicable sense of emptiness filled me, and with it, a faint spark of anger ignited within.

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“Ha, ridiculous. How much value could the common sense of a narrow community like a school really hold? My previous master once said, ‘School is nothing but a tool of torture, meant to force people into the wrong mold.'”
“Ah, well, that might be one way to see it, but surely there are enjoyable things, too? Like friendships, maybe?”
“Do you think Master Victor had any friends?”

She responded to my attempt at consolation with a question before I could even take a breath.

“Uh, like during lunch breaks, maybe?”
“He said eating lunch in the bathroom was miserable.”

I was utterly defeated.

“I don’t think this is the time for casual conversation. Are we almost at the vital point or not? If we consider the return trip, we’re probably reaching the limit here, but it feels like we’re just wandering around in circles.”

Chided by Cestlavie, Coppelia looked around, seemingly indignant.

“I don’t need you to tell me. My very brilliant brain is multitasking just fine. The vital point has just been shifting around, so it’s a bit hard to pinpoint, that’s all.”
“The vital point is moving? Does that mean Igoronak might be relocating from that spot?”
“I think so, but the central point of the zone is fixed, so it’s not an issue.”

Confidently answering my question, Coppelia’s words sparked an intense, unexplainable sense of dread. Simultaneously, Cestlavie’s voice erupted from behind me, full of sudden urgency.

“Wait a second! Then, does that mean there’s a chance we might run into him in here? No—if the vital point shifts toward us, even if the plan works, we might not have a chance to escape and could get caught up in the spell ourselves!”
“ “—Ah.” ”

Coppelia and I let out a dumbfounded sound—just at that moment, as if it had been waiting for this timing, a dark shadow extended a single arm toward us from outside the barrier.

And when I saw the utterly transformed figure of Igoronak, I was struck with shock.

“Found you, Saintess—!”

With chaotic bursts of his own magical power, the collapsing force of a Dimension-Shattering Bomb, lightning residuals, and even what was left of Coppelia’s previous body still embedded in him…

The Igoronak before my eyes no longer bore any trace of his former, arrogantly refined appearance as a transcendent being. He was nothing more than a pitiful, battered wraith.

All his frustration and hatred were now directed solely at me, whom he saw as the root of all evil (from his perspective).

Facing his expression twisted in madness and his murderous gaze so close up, I couldn’t help but let out a small scream and froze momentarily within the barrier.

“Perish with me—!”

I watched, as though detached, as the extended claw of Igoronak, who had swept aside the barrier’s protection in a single stroke, advanced straight toward my heart. Fear had numbed my senses entirely.

“BOOB MISSI―ILE!!”
“Rapid!”

“—Gwaaaah!?”

At that moment, Coppelia’s and Cestlavie’s quick attacks struck Igoronak, sending his tall form sprawling through the air.

As he disappeared once again into the swirling red light and lightning, Cestlavie immediately launched a new barrier talisman, repairing the damaged protection.

Now, cold sweat poured down my body, and I nearly collapsed on the spot, but Cestlavie caught me silently before I could fall.

As expected of the “Child Prodigy.” His ability to react and make quick judgments is undeniably superior to mine.

Just then—Coppelia, who had been rubbing her now considerably modest chest with a peculiar expression after using her secret technique, looked up sharply and pointed to a specific spot.

“I’ve located the convergence point! Fifty-six degrees up and to the right, distance of 3.2 mertes—Crush it completely, like you’re smashing a kitchen pest, Lady Clara!”
“Understood! Leave it to me!”

Following her remarkably straightforward instructions, I aimed the tip of my staff toward the specified location and channeled all my remaining magical energy, releasing it with the sensation of slamming it into space.

“This should end it!”

The chaotic space was so disrupted that I couldn’t afford to hold back.

The moment I poured out every last bit of my magical energy, I felt a distinct pull—like unplugging a bath full of water—as the enclosed space of red light began to rapidly collapse toward that single point.

“We did it! Success!” Coppelia did a little dance of joy.

Meanwhile, having completely exhausted my magical energy, willpower, and stamina, I found myself barely able to stand. Once again, I relied on Cestlavie’s support to hold me up.

“Sorry… I must be heavy, right?”
“…Not really.”

In this case, did he mean “It’s heavy, but don’t worry about it,” or “It’s not really that heavy”? I couldn’t tell from Cestlavie’s expressionless response.

“More importantly, let’s hurry up and get out of here.”
“Indeed, as the commoner says—if we don’t get at least fifty mertes away from Igor within the next sixty-eight seconds, we’ll get caught in the collapse. Sixty seconds remaining. Starting the countdown.”

Just as Coppelia began her internal countdown—

“Sorry about this.”

Cestlavie said, then lifted me up. It was the classic “princess carry.”

“W-Wait—!”
“You, commoner!!”

Ignoring both my stunned reaction and Coppelia’s indignant glare, Cestlavie began running with surprisingly steady steps.

“Aahhh—!?!”

As I stammered in confusion, Cestlavie glanced down at me, then looked past the barrier behind us.

“The No-Life King… he’s not going to chase us, right?”

“Forty-nine seconds left. Hmph. Do you have any idea how much magical energy is currently crushing Igor? He’s probably flattened like a frog stomped by a dragon,” Coppelia responded with complete confidence.

The moment she said that—

“Guooohhhh—! SAINTEEESSSSS!!!”

Igoronak, his face twisted beyond recognition, his expression filled with an unfathomable grudge and curse, broke through the barrier. With his mouth open wide, he whipped his left arm forward, sharpening its end into a spear-like spike.

“W-wha—?!”

I was paralyzed in shock as his arm lashed out toward me with terrifying speed.

With no time to dodge, no stance to defend, and not a single trace of magic left, all I could do was, in desperation, point the tip of my staff at Igoronak and try to counterattack, hoping at least to strike back before the end.

But in this helpless position, held tightly, there was no way my attack could connect. My staff sliced through empty air, while Igoronak’s left arm easily pierced through flesh and shattered bone.

“Cestlavie—!!”
“—Commoner!?”

In an instant, Cestlavie shielded me, and Igoronak’s arm drove straight through his chest.

Translator’s note:

Unofficial explanation by Mab!

The central point refers to the center of the red light zone, which Coppelia used as a reference when navigating the red light zone.

The convergence point (or the vital point) is the point where mana from the Dimension Shattering Bomb and the mana of Igoronak are converging to try to determine which one comes out on top. Basically, the tipping point between the two forces. Once Jill’s mana pushes it over, it creates an opening for the Dimension Shattering Bomb mana from all over the red light zone to rush in, hence why it feels like a flushing bathtub.

The reason why Coppelia couldn’t locate the vital point right away is because it is tied to Igoronak, who is the target of the Dimension Shattering Bomb. Imagine a man holding a kite. The kite is the vital point. If the man is moving around, it gets that much harder to predict where the kite is going in space.

Is this explanation correct? Hopefully. It’s the best I can do to interpret what the author meant.

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The ominous red glow illuminated the night sky more brightly than the full moon, casting an eerie yet beautiful twilight over the shores of Lake Quartz and the tourist town of Clarus. Although it was well past midnight, the entire area was suffused with this strange hue.

The townsfolk, most of whom were either affiliated with the Saintess’ Church or devout believers, spent the night sleeplessly praying as they gazed up at the sky. Meanwhile, wary travelers and those with quick instincts gathered their belongings, attempting to flee. But as the town gates remained closed for the night, heated arguments broke out between the would-be escapees and the guards, with insults and rumors flying. Panic spread, and chaos loomed on the brink of turning into a full-blown riot.

In the midst of this turmoil, relief finally came as the nation’s stationed forces and the private soldiers of the local lord returned, having successfully protected the students and associates of the Livitium Imperial Academy nearby. Their arrival bolstered the overwhelmed guards, who at last managed to keep the restless crowd at bay, breathing a collective sigh of relief.

Though the disturbances in the sky showed no signs of abating—and in fact could easily worsen, leading to a full-scale riot—there was a rumor spreading quietly yet steadily among the soldiers, the adventurers of the town, and, most importantly, the priests of the Church. This whisper soon rippled through the anxious populace, bringing tears of awe and joy to those who had feared the worst.

“She’s returned.”
“That esteemed one has come back.”
“The Shrine Maiden Princess has descended!”

This news would, over the course of a year, spread across the entire Eunice Theocracy, reaching all the towns and cities of the northern region and the Arlea province. But at that moment, none could foresee the impact this revelation would bring.

♦♢♦♢

“…Hmm.”

A young man stood with an unsettling poise atop the highest bell tower of the Saintess’ Church, the “St. Campbell Church.” He appeared as though he were floating, completely at ease and seemingly unaffected by gravity. His face was partially obscured by a veil, yet even the visible parts—from his nose down—hinted at a strikingly handsome countenance. Beneath the veil, his gaze fixed on the red-lit isolated realm below, and he let out a dismissive scoff, clearly unimpressed.

“Tracing the source of this peculiar spatial anomaly led me right to the heart of the Saintess’ Church, of all places… They never fail to stir up trouble, do they?”

He muttered under his breath, contemplating the idea of petitioning to have the Order swiftly eradicated. To him, both the Church—parading around their self-serving doctrines under the name of the Saintess—and the violently unstable zone that seemed to be the result of some botched spellwork, were nothing more than eyesores. Like litter defacing a pristine snowy field, they stirred in him a visceral sense of disgust.

“I could just as well erase this entire nation along with it,” he murmured. “But then again, being here myself, standing by and doing nothing… that wouldn’t do. I suppose I should take care of this nuisance.”

Just as he raised his right hand, as if to sweep away some trivial mess, someone interceded between him and the red-lit domain.

“Please, wait!”

The young man turned his head, his lips parting slightly in a surprised “oh,” as a towering figure, wings of pure white spread wide, stood before him.

“It’s been a while. You’re well, I take it? —Now then, given that you’re meant to be watching over the Graviol Empire, I assume you have a compelling reason for being here, and for stopping me. Care to explain?”
“Yes, sir. Currently, there is an individual of utmost importance to both the Graviol and the Princess within that domain. I am certain that, once their task is completed, this disturbance will swiftly be resolved. Thus, I have taken the liberty to request your patience, hoping you might refrain from intervening for just a while longer.”

“Hou…?”

Knowing well the overly earnest nature of the man before him, the youth under the veil was momentarily taken aback by his unexpected plea not to join the fray but to “stand by and observe.” His eyes widened slightly beneath the veil, then his lips curved upward in amusement.

He turned his gaze toward the red-lit domain and, in an instant, comprehended every detail within and around it down to the last particle.

It was a feat of scanning and analysis so remarkable that even the word “brilliant” would fail to capture its magnitude. His abilities were of an entirely different dimension from Coppelia’s, far beyond comparison. If Dr. Victor or the world’s top magic researchers had witnessed such prowess, they might have ground their teeth in frustration—or even taken their own lives in shame.

“Well, well… a curious group, gathered here for quite the interesting spectacle. I see now—this indeed would be a shame to simply crush,” he remarked, his voice almost musical.

“—Then?”
“Very well. As long as the situation does not deteriorate, I too shall observe… in the name of the Superempire.”

At this magnanimous gesture, the giant figure gave him a deep bow mid-air.

♦♢♦♢

“Talisman Art really has quite a wide range of applications,” I remarked, genuinely impressed as I watched Cestlavie’s barrier cards arranged in a polyhedral pattern around us, held in place by his non-elemental telekinetic magic.

Thanks to these, we could walk safely together through the Red Light Zone without getting struck by lightning, feeling almost as though we were encased in a bubble. Though, given the tight confines for maximizing strength, we still had to proceed single file, as if in an old-school RPG’s caterpillar formation.

“But they’re essentially disposable. They’re useless in a battle of endurance,” Cestlavie grumbled, replacing each card as it was scorched by lightning strikes. “I’m already down to two-thirds of my stock. Seeing the cards I spent three months restocking going down like water through a sieve… Honestly, it feels like I’m bleeding talismans dry every time I partner up with you.”

At his sigh of resignation, Coppelia—who was leading—turned her head a full 180 degrees. Startled, I almost shrieked and reeled back, barely saved by Cestlavie, who steadied me from behind.

“You there! It’s absolutely disgraceful for a mere commoner to speak so casually to Lady Clara! Kneeling and groveling on the ground would be far more fitting—know your place!”

She scolded, her eyebrows knitted in irritation.

“Now, that’s a bit—”

“Hmph. Hate to break it to you, but I, Jill, and everyone outside are all students of the same Imperial Academy. Officially, the rules say no one’s above anyone else, royalty or saint.” Cestlavie replied dryly. With a mumble he added: “at least on paper.”

Author’s note:

Residents of the superempire calling their country the “Superempire” is mostly for a joke.

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“It’s true that we’re desperate enough to use even the hands of a puny commoner… but I can’t think of any use for him other than as a meat shield.” Coppelia continued, completely unconcerned, with her usual bluntness.

“Please, could you refrain from saying things that might cause problems here?” I pleaded, and Coppelia blinked at me as if my request was utterly baffling.

“Of course. Time is limited, so there’s no point in wasting it on trivial conversations. We don’t have time to dally over weaklings.”
“That’s exactly what we call a waste of words!”

Eren smacked Coppelia on the head to silence her.

“Oww… Why does a mere human punch hurt so much…?”

Clutching her head and looking teary-eyed, Coppelia voiced her bewilderment, to which Eren boldly replied: “Obviously! I’m Lady Jill’s personal maid, after all. That makes me your senior. Now that you’re also Lady Jill’s maid, you should understand the proper hierarchy!”

Wait… when did Coppelia become my maid?

With a hand to her head, Coppelia nodded in agreement. “…I see.”

Oh no, she’s actually accepting that.

“I look forward to your guidance, Senior.”
“Yes, leave it to me!”

Something… unsettling seems to be progressing without my input… A cold sweat started to trickle down my back. I glanced around at the others for some sort of rescue, only to receive lukewarm looks that seemed to say, “She’s all yours” (though Cestlavie was glaring at Coppelia like a mortal enemy).

“Then, if I may continue… my master.”

Coppelia, now apparently my maid by default, gave me a respectful bow and continued with her explanation.

“Um…”
“To break this deadlock, it’s essential that you, Lady Clara, and I work together and trust each other’s strengths.”
“…”

Just as I was about to gently correct her about the maid situation, Coppelia seized the moment to speak of “trust” and “working together.”

“Specifically, I’d like you to use your Sky magic to direct the collapsing force currently in equilibrium, so we can strike at the weak points in Igor’s magic all at once.”
“Isn’t that a bit much, even for Jill, to attempt with such an unknown spell?”

Luke addressed Coppelia in a tone that sounded more accusatory than inquisitive.

I nodded in agreement. “Indeed. I don’t think I’d be able to control it after just one look. If I had two or three more chances to observe it, though, I’d have a better feel for replicating it…”

While it might not be identical, since it seems like an enhanced version of Moonfall, I think I could eventually develop a similar spell through trial and error. If that happens, even against an opponent of No-Life King caliber, I wouldn’t fall behind so easily next time.

“For now, how about naming it Heavenfall once I’m able to replicate it?”

Eren threw up both hands in enthusiastic support of my suggestion, but for some reason, the others (Coppelia included) looked at me as if they were staring at a monster. Why?

“…Well, we’ll save that for next time. For now, it appears even Lady Clara finds this challenging, so I’ll handle the mana measurement in her place. Fortunately, we still have some data left, so I should be able to manage. If Lady Clara can then infuse her Sky mana into the points I specify, I believe it’ll work.”

Coppelia drew a small circle on the ground next to the outermost double circle, pulling an arrow from it toward the center. She doubled the lines on this arrow as it collided with the one coming from the inner circle, illustrating the impact.

We all nodded, murmuring, “I see.”

“From what I’m hearing, it seems likely to work,” said Lieselotte, looking at Coppelia with a newfound respect.

“Yes. At this point, debating the unknown won’t get us anywhere… but if there’s a concern, it’s—”

“The considerable strain it’ll place on Jill,” Viola noted, prompting Luke to focus on the small circle on the ground.

“…” Cestlavie, who was also looking at that circle, raked a hand through his hair in frustration.

♦♢♦♢

“Alright, let’s get moving. Hold on tightly to my shoulders, Lady Clara. And… you too, commoner.”

Standing in front of the conga line, Coppelia had me place both hands on her shoulders, while Cestlavie did the same, resting his hands on mine.

“—!”

I nearly let out a strange sound, startled by the unexpected roughness and strength of his grip.

“You’re a lot thinner and more fragile than I expected. Feels like you’d break if I squeezed too hard,” he remarked bluntly.

“Obviously. Ladies are delicate beings. Squeezing her shoulders like that is entirely out of the question, so do be mindful.”

Behind me, I sensed Cestlavie making a sour expression at Viola’s warning. Meanwhile, Luke and Eren watched our formation with visible displeasure.

“Why him and not me…”
“If only I could use magic, I’d be right by Lady Jill’s side…”

They murmured in frustration, but there was no helping it.

Since we’d be operating at the edge—technically even moving slightly into—the Red Light Zone, we needed to maintain a protective barrier. However, as it would be too taxing for me to sustain two spells simultaneously, Cestlavie was enlisted to accompany us at the last moment.

“…Are you really alright with this? It seems incredibly dangerous,” I asked, turning to glance back at him.

Cestlavie, with his usual scowl, shrugged. “There’s no one else suited for the job, is there? Besides, if word got out that I abandoned you and the other high ranking princesses here to run away… well, they’d have my head rolling.”

He shot a quick glance at Lieselotte and Viola, who were staying behind, and let out a resigned sigh.

Ideally, I wanted the princesses (and, to be honest, everyone else besides us) to retreat from here as much as possible.

“As the Third Princess, my position is easily replaceable… but as your one and only friend, I take pride in being irreplaceable. So, I cannot simply run away,” declared Princess Lieselotte.

“As for me, I’m the eccentric one they can’t handle back at court. No one will miss me if I disappear. So, following my own way, I choose to stay here and pray for the safety of our lovely princesses,” added Viola.

Neither of them would budge on their decision.

As for Luke and Eren, their loyalty was a given.

“Very well. —Vier, if anything happens, I’m counting on you,” I said, making my request. Though she seemed frustrated she couldn’t come along, Vier reluctantly nodded. “It’ll be fine; we’re just going there and back.”

I said in a lighthearted tone, hoping to ease the worried looks on Luke and Eren’s faces before turning back to face forward.

“Alright, we’re off! Let’s go!”

Once she confirmed we were all following along, Coppelia took a steady step forward, leading us onward at a relaxed pace.

“This is kind of an embarrassing ordeal.”

Playing a locomotive game at my age is rather humiliating, and my cheeks grew red with embarrassment.

Behind me, I thought I heard Cestlavie mumble something quietly, something like, “just ascertaining… what lies beyond this world… is you…”

“What was that?”
“Nothing. Don’t worry about it.”

His curt reply and the way he shook his head told me that pressing him further wouldn’t get me anywhere, so I turned forward again.

Then, as we reached the edge of the red-glowing territory, Coppelia, in the lead, announced our entry in a loud voice and unleashed her weapon.

“OPPAI BEAAAAAM!!”

A brilliant flash tore through the red-glowing area, clearing a single path for us.

The power was impressive. But still…

…isn’t there any way to make it just a little less… absurd?

Author’s note:

The title’s “The Three Working As One” also kind of hinting to Luke, Lieselotte, and Viola restraining Cestlavie together.

Also, Coppelia’s sub-body is larger in some areas than the previous one due to the built-in weaponry.

Comparing the girls here,

Jill >= Coppelia >> Viola > Lieselotte > Eren

The order is like this.

Translator’s note:

Those are bust sizes.

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The space, cloaked in crimson light, is a maelstrom of fierce lightning raging wildly.

Perhaps it’s an effect of this energy. The sky, lit up like a fiery sunset, churns with thick clouds twisting like coiled serpents in a frenzied storm. Fortunately, this place is calm, like the eye of a typhoon, though it’s uncertain how long that safety will last.

As we silently observed this scene, like the onset of some catastrophic phenomenon, impatience eventually overcame us.

“When is this going to end?”
“When is this ending?”
“Why isn’t this over yet?”
“When will this finally end?”
“Lovely lady, when might this come to an end?”
“When is this going to wrap up, huh?”

I, followed by Eren, Luke, Lieselotte, Viola, and Cestlavie each took turns voicing the same question.

Under the barrage of our questioning stares, Coppelia tilted her head, saying, “Oh?”

An ominous feeling filled me instantly—like glimpsing a lurking devil just beyond the fogged glass window.

“It may be a failure after all. The spell is completely out of control, and at this rate, the entire continent might just vanish.”

It wasn’t just a glimpse; the devil had shattered the window and burst right in.

“Originally, the plan was to contain the designated area, then steadily compress and contract the space. Like… wringing the neck of a chicken.”

Coppelia even mimed wringing a rag as she explained.

“Why… are all your descriptions so gruesome?” I asked, cold sweat trickling down.

In response, Coppelia tilted her head nearly horizontally, as if trying to clarify.

“Then… like squeezing someone’s neck, tightly.”

She made an unsettlingly realistic choking gesture with her hands, her fingers twitching.

“That only made it sound worse! And hold on, have you actually strangled someone before?”

At my outburst, Coppelia looked back at me with an expression like a child suddenly reminded they hadn’t done last summer’s homework. She tilted her head completely horizontally.

As she noticed everyone subtly inching away from her, Coppelia cleared her throat and said, “Uh… that was a joke. Just a joke. HAHAHA… It’s a classic bit where I’m from, but it seems you all didn’t quite enjoy it.”

She spread her hands, shrugged, and sighed as if to say, oh well.

Naturally, no one here actually believed her.

“Oh, by the way… once you decide to kill someone, you’d be surprised at how calm you can stay when you finally go through with it.”

( ( ( ( (This maid is terrifying) ) ) ) )

Maybe it would’ve been better for humanity if she’d just disappeared under that red light.

Now that I think about it, I feel like a complete fool for briefly feeling sentimental about our reunion.

“As for the cause of the malfunction…” Coppelia continued, tilting her head back to a normal position and sounding somewhat more serious.

“It’s likely a combination of factors. For one, there was the disturbance in gravity and magnetic fields caused by Lady Clara’s Moonfall.”
“Ugh…”

I’d anticipated this, but hearing it called out so directly made me feel a bit guilty.

“And then, there was the surprisingly intense last burst of energy from that idiot Igor. I guess you could call it his fight-or-flight response? I didn’t expect he’d be able to match the Dragon Gem’s power surge, a crystallization of dragon magic. But I suppose anyone stubborn enough to cling to life and become the No-Life King has some unusual grit.”

With a casual tone, Coppelia continued her explanation, as if to say, “This was unexpected. Not my fault. The cause lies elsewhere. It was not an accident but an unforeseen event.”

( ( ( ( (Did she use a cheap Dragon Gem, maybe…?) ) ) ) )

It was hard not to look at her with a bit of skepticism.

“Well, if I had to pinpoint another cause, it’d be that my master was too easily satisfied and erased his memory at the last moment. Entrusting control to me at that crucial moment—well, that’s where the luck ran out.”
“ “ “ “ “ “So it was you who caused this!!” ” ” ” ” ”

The group’s collective outrage, brimming with murderous intent, focused squarely on Coppelia.

“Now, now, there’s no use lamenting what’s already happened. Let’s have a productive discussion here.”

Coppelia held both palms down, gesturing for calm as if we were the ones getting unreasonably worked up. Her attitude only increased the group’s irritation; in the art of provoking others, this useless maid was unmatched.

“Productive discussion? Can you even control a spell that’s already been triggered?”

Cestlavie, who knows magic as well as I do, raised a skeptical eyebrow.

“True, magic that’s been cast is like gunpowder—you can’t rein it in once it’s ignited. However, thanks to Igor’s power clashing with the Dimension-Shattering Bomb, the spell has temporarily paused. The balance will soon break, but if we steer the direction in which it unravels, we should be able to control the outcome. Don’t worry! The calculations show it’ll work out just fine. You only need to trust me.”

“…………”

An awkward silence fell over the group.

“Well, even if we fail, we’ll just try again. Redemption, restoration of honor—after all, failure is the mother of success!”

Coppelia rolled up her sleeves with an exaggerated air of enthusiasm.

We could see her determination, but she was already speaking as if failure were an option (and misusing proverbs, at that). It hardly inspired confidence.

♦♢♦♢

We gathered in a circle on the ground to hold a strategy meeting.

“The method is quite simple. To disrupt the balance of magic that’s currently in a stalemate, we just need to apply a bit of external force to interfere. A single, brilliant solution.”

Coppelia drew a double circle on the ground with a random stick, labeling the inner circle as ‘Idiot Igor,’ and then used arrows to show the force pushing outward from within. She also drew arrows pointing inward from the outer circle, labeling them as ‘Dimension-Shattering Bomb’s collapsing force.’

“In an ideal scenario, we’d weaken the power of Igor, who’s holed up inside, using Lady Clara’s purification. Simultaneously, we’d add some magic to the collapsing force on the outer layer and crush it all at once. A perfect, last-minute turnaround.”

Coppelia declared this with confidence, puffing out her chest. But I tend to be naturally skeptical of things like ‘brilliant solutions,’ ‘one-shot turnarounds,’ or the too-good-to-be-true promises of ‘dieting by just eating,’ ‘dieting by just sleeping,’ or ‘dieting by just breathing.’ It all reeks of something shady—like only the convenient parts are presented. I mean, if you just eat, sleep, and breathe, of course you’d gain weight! I’d love to shout from the rooftops that it’s absolutely a lie!

But discussing such nonsense wasn’t going to help us here, so I pointed out my main concern.

“You talk about interfering, but I barely have any magic left, and you no longer have the Ultimate Arcane Armament installed in this body, right?”

Luckily, or perhaps unluckily, my Moonfall spell was interrupted, so I have a sliver of power left. But even so, breaking through that chaotic ‘field’ to strike Igoronak with the Purification spell is absolutely impossible.

“Then… does that mean I’ll be the one to handle the magic part?”

Cestlavie asked, scratching his unkempt hair with an annoyed look. It’s true; among us, he’s the only one capable of combat magic (though Luke, Lieselotte, and Viola can all manage household magic, as is typical for nobles).

Coppelia shot him a quick glance, her eyes flashing briefly.

“Total magic capacity: 3,230. Attributes: Thunder, Earth, Will (basic). Nutritional status: poor. Charm: E rank. Years Being Single = Age… I see. Pathetic.”
“…”
“ “ “Whoa, whoa, hold on!” ” ”

Luke, Lieselotte, and Viola immediately held Cestlavie back as he lunged at Coppelia.

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“Hmph! Do not lump me in with such toys. My skeleton is made of orichalcum, my brain is powered by a philosopher’s stone, and my heart is a dragon gem. In theory, my body is that of a perfect maid who can operate indefinitely without maintenance.”

Orichalcum—the legendary metal, now almost a myth.

Its binding power seemed effective, as Igoronak struggled desperately but remained subdued.

In front of my astonished eyes, I caught sight of Coppelia’s white apron drifting down. The earlier impact had loosened it, and now it floated down gently, finally settling on the quicksand. The lightness of its fabric kept it from sinking, and it spun and danced on the surface like a falling leaf. The whole scene felt surreal, like something out of a dream.

“Dragon Gem release! Thirty seconds until critical mass! Clara, escape now while you can!”

With her shout, a red light began to swirl from Coppelia’s heart, expanding outward in a spinning, ever-growing radius.

Shocked back to my senses, I took a step or two forward and reached toward her.

“Wait! How do you plan to escape yourself!?”
“Yeah, you heap of scrap metal, get out of there already!”

Eren cried out beside me, her face twisted with desperation.

But I knew the answer, even before I asked.

Coppelia looked straight at us with an innocent smile, unclouded by any doubt.

“I am sorry, but the Dimension-Shattering Bomb, the Ultimate Arcane Armament, is designed to be self-destructive. There was never a way for me to survive this.”
“What?!”

She smiled brightly at my speechless reaction and continued.

“You are right, you know. I was the source of it all, the beginning of this tragedy. I got so caught up in my dream that I neglected the world beneath my feet. This is my fault. And I have to end it myself if I am to atone for that sin. I am truly sorry, Clara… no, Jill.”

The red light expanded rapidly, reaching nearly to where we stood.

From within its center, Igoronak writhed, struggling to release black flames and miasma, but all of it disintegrated at the edges of the light. Meanwhile, Coppelia, who was clinging to him, bore the full brunt of the impact, and her maid uniform had already been torn to shreds.

“Jill, now is our chance. I’m not sure about the details, but we need to retreat from here so we don’t waste her sacrifice!”
“But…”

As I hesitated, Luke gripped my right hand tightly, his face full of urgency.

“Let’s go, Lady Jill. We’ve got to honor that dummaid’s efforts.”

Eren, wiping her nose against the back of her hand, resolutely took hold of my left hand.

Pulled by the two of them, I turned around one last time to look back at Coppelia—or rather, Dr. Victor—but all I could see through the red light was a blurred silhouette. Yet, somehow, I sensed a smile on that face, a smile of someone who had fulfilled their purpose.

“—Let’s go. Vier, I know it’s a lot, but please carry everyone.”
“Woof—!”

With a resounding bark of acknowledgment, Vier swiftly leaped, carrying us on her back, and bounded over to the stunned Lieselotte and the others, effortlessly picking them up one by one with her mouth and placing them on her back.

“Whoa—!”
“Wh-what is this!?”
“This is Vier, my familiar! Hold on tight so you don’t fall off!”

Lieselotte looked stunned, while Viola laughed gleefully. Sensing their reactions, I called out to them quickly, urging Vier to get us out of there.

“Woof!”

With a mighty flap of her wings, Vier glided away, carrying us safely beyond the range of the red glow.

♦♢♦♢

Just as I’d been told, the Ultimate Arcane Armament’s area of effect was a hemispherical shape with a radius of about five hundred mertes—though it resembled a flattened dumpling, with the elevation slightly lower in the upper regions.

From above, I could see red light covering the area below, where fierce lightning struck down like torrential rain. It’s terrifying to think that we could have been right underneath that if we had been any slower.

Once we were at a safe distance, about two hundred mertes away from the edge of the blast radius, Vier landed within the forest. I patted her back in thanks and led the way as we dismounted, with Eren, Luke, Lieselotte, Viola, and then Cestlavie following suit.

Even though it was past midnight, the sky above us was painted crimson, as if under an eerie twilight. Luke glanced up at the sky and spoke with urgency.

“So, did we manage to defeat the No-Life King?”
“…I’m not sure.”

In truth, I had little idea of what was going on. All I could sense, with my ability to use Sky magic, was that the space and time around that area had become completely distorted.

“All we can do now is trust that junk of a maid…” Looking at the sky, glowing like a surreal sunset, I could only offer those few words.

Luke then asked hesitantly, “Was she… well, was she a friend of yours, Jill?”

“Who knows…” My time with Coppelia had been brief, filled with action, and complicated by the fact that she possessed two personalities—each with its own quirks, to say the least. If I really thought about it, it’s hard to say that I saw her in a purely positive light…

—“Ah, Lady Clara, so you have finally given your humanity. Congratulations!”
—“Oh, you are sharp! This is a special fragrant tea made from surplus Batacutilius used in experiments.”
—“Exactly! Professor Victor Francis, the genius sorcerer and extraordinary alchemist,”
—“Hmph! Well, I am a magnanimous person. I will never forgive Igoronak for taking my life, but as for your apology… well, you could consider it accepted.”
—“Do you think you could ever understand the struggles of a man who, no matter how much he tries or what he accomplishes, is completely ignored by women!?”
—“What is this, Clara? Who is the fancy-looking lad? Is he your new boyfriend?”
—“I am truly sorry, Clara… no, Jill.”

All these brief memories with Coppelia suddenly surfaced, filling my chest. Now that I thought about it, this was probably the first time I had been present at the death of someone close to me.

Maybe… I should cry.

Just as I felt the tears rising—

Whooosh! With a whistling sound, a rocket punch shot out from the crimson light.

“ “ “ “ “ “What—?!” ” ” ” ” ”

Looking closer, I saw that the rocket punch was holding Coppelia’s severed head in both hands, with her mouth gripping her apron.

In a daze, I watched as the hands carefully placed the head on the ground, flipped the apron inside out, and with a loud thud, a full body—Coppelia’s, minus the head—dropped out. It appeared that her apron was actually a kind of spatial storage bag…

The hands then deftly set her head onto the new body, adjusting her arms back in place. Coppelia’s once-lifeless face blinked repeatedly as though she had just been revived, turned to focus on my face, and gave me a cheerful V-sign.

“Memory transfer to the sub-body is complete. All systems confirmed to be operational.”

“What the…?”
“ “ “ “ “ “What is that supposed to mean?!” ” ” ” ” ”

Needless to say, we all immediately shouted as if demanding our emotions be returned!

“What do you mean, ‘What is that’? The master’s memory reached satisfaction and vanished, so authority returned to me. It seemed like things were getting pretty bad, so I escaped with what parts I could. And here I am, back and reporting for duty. Oh, and this body doesn’t have a self-destruct function—instead, it comes with an incredible Oppai Beam.”

Coppelia saluted crisply.

Despite how bizarre this situation was, I couldn’t help but burst out laughing.

“Ah… hahahahahaha!”

I clutched my stomach, unable to stop laughing.