Project GB is an official initiative by Re:Library.

With Bifrons incapacitated, the battle wrapped up in an instant. There was a lot Crim wanted to say about Setsuna’s Transformation, but that could wait. There was a more pressing matter…

*”So this is it then…I guess I really lost.”*
“Yes, and we won. Quite humbling, isn’t it?”
*”…I mean, I literally can’t even move a finger anymore. You’ve already won, so why not just end this quickly?”*

Bifrons looked resigned to his fate, the same Ragnarok Weapon that had taken his arms and lower body now aimed at his face. All of his bravado was gone.

“Fair enough… yet there is another who deserveth that right more. It is not I who should bring an end to thy life.”

Saying that, Crim stepped aside to open the way for someone behind her. It was the ghost, Alberich, who stood there looking at Bifrons on the ground as if looking at a cockroach.

*”Spellmaster Alberich… That makes sense. The day to enact your vengeance has finally come.”*
*”Yes, this is the end. You may take all the suffering and pain you caused with you to hell.”*

Saying that, Alberich began to gather all the power left in his ephemeral body for one last spell…or perhaps a curse. Bifrons watched that for a moment, and then closed his eyes, ready for whatever would come.

…or so he thought.

“Aww, you’re giving up? Then I’ll put you to better use.”
“What?!”

Just when Alberich was about to unleash that final attack, a multitude of tree roots spread across the rooftop, interrupting the spell. Those roots spread up to ten meters up, some of which took hold of Bifrons’ body, and atop all of them, contrasting against the dark sky was *her*.

She wore a red gothic lolita dress, with a crimson robe on top…and her face was one Crim wished she had never seen.

“…We meet again, you little adorable Demon Lord. And who’s that I see in there? That little one really figured out how to become cuter, huh?”

She was sitting atop the roots, chuckling as she mocked Crim and Rouge.

“You… Belial!!”

Hearing Crim’s yell, all the other players reacted by unsheathing their weapons and standing ready to attack. But Belial did not seem interested in Crim and the others. She just wanted to collect Bifrons, and imbue his body with magic to regenerate the parts he had lost.

And Bifrons was the one most surprised by those actions.

*”…What are you trying to do? I know you’d never do this out of the kindness of your heart.”*
“Oh please, don’t take this the wrong way. I’m just taking you because you could be of use to me later, not because we’re fellows.”

She just prattled on with a playful voice, but Bifrons scowled, almost like he wanted to throw up.

*”…Who would’ve thought that I’d end up indebted to a harpy like you. I can only hope I don’t end up regretting not dying here instead.”*
“Wait…!!”

Even with Crim trying to stop them, Bifrons disappeared from there, taken to who knows where.

“Now then, I have to admit that I’m itching to punch your cute face, but I have to take my leave for tonight. So until we meet again, my dear Scarlet Demon Lord.”

With a sickly sweet smile, Belial held her skirt for a quick elegant curtsy. Then a moment later…she also vanished from the rooftop like Bifrons.

“…She ran away, huh…or retreated, I guess?”
“Yeah… Just what is she plotting this time?”

Frey spoke for everyone as he said that, and Crim nodded begrudgingly.

With Belial gone, only a cold breeze could be felt on the rooftop. Everyone made sure there was nothing else around, and only then did they finally lower their weapons.

Amongst them, only Alberich stood still, looking at the stars above.

*”I’m at a loss… I was ready to lay down my life there. Though I’m already dead, so I guess it’s more like moving on…”*

He chuckled awkwardly, not sure of how to feel about it all. The last strike had been spoiled thanks to Belial’s intrusion, and the main enemy had also escaped thanks to her, ruining Alberich’s reason to pass on.

*”I really don’t know… What am I supposed to do now?”*
“Well, if you want, why don’t you stay with us then?”
*”…Excuse me?”*

Surprisingly enough, it was Elmir who interrupted Alberich’s brooding musings.

“You know, we want to rebuild this citadel and use it as our headquarters. That obviously involves restoring the homes and bringing people in too.”
*”Hmm…I mean, I think the living can do as they please, but I’m-“*
“Hold that thought. This citadel’s layout is complex, so we’ll need all the help we can to rebuild it, and you know it better than anyone. If you don’t have anything else to do, why not help us with that?”
*”…I’m nothing but a lingering soul. Is that no issue?”*
“Of course not!”

Elmir beamed a friendly smile and held his fist to his chest plate as a sign of honor. Faced with no other choice, Alberich gave a slightly forced smile and replied.

*”I’ll help you then. At least until the day my lingering regrets are cleared and I pass on.”*

By the end, he seemed glad to have something to do, and held out his hand as if shaking Elmir’s. And so, Garland Citadel, Lua Cheia United Kingdom’s new addition, gained a slightly odd adviser…