Chapter 3

The world dyed white by the power of the spirit collapsed due to Aaron’s desperate tactic. The sealed connection between mana and people returned to normal, and magic could be constructed without any issue again.

“I believed in you. Mister Aktor-dono, my friend. I knew you two would answer my thunder.”

“Well, after you made such a flashy display, there was no way we could miss it.”

Aaron lay on the ground, having apparently reached his limit, while Aktor treated him. His broken bones and wounds recovered in the blink of an eye. Aktor’s sacred arts had regained their original power as well.

“To take your own magic into your body… you certainly do reckless things.”

“I would not have won without doing that. Of course, without the two of you, it would have ended in a draw.”

Pariaach’s copy had completely vanished. The original was likely still alive and well, but defeating one of the enemy’s main pillars was significant. The kingdom army had suffered damage too, but as a result, it was not a bad achievement.

“I do not care, but how long are you going to keep lying there? …Hurry up and stand.”

The words were harsh, directed at Aaron, who had been severely injured until moments ago even if his wounds had been healed by sacred arts. It was very Zeke-like, but a complete stranger might have thought he could show a little more consideration. …But the two of them knew. Zeke was simply awkward.

Zeke held out his hand, looking somewhat displeased. Aaron grasped it firmly and stood up. Aktor cast sacred-art buffs on the two of them.

“Now then, the troublesome spirit is gone, but…”

“Indeed. To be honest, this is bad. The damage is considerable.”

“Those pieces of trash.”

Pariaach had certainly been defeated, but that did not mean the damage the kingdom army had suffered had disappeared. Every battlefield was being forced into a hard fight, and even now that the mana restriction had vanished, the enemy was pressing in fiercely. If this situation continued, it would no longer be a matter of Elzen or anything like that.

“The treatment of the wounded isn’t keeping up, huh?”

“Hah. In the end, they’re nothing but empty talkers who don’t know the field.”

“…Please do not ask the impossible. The fact that royalty is on the battlefield at all is already abnormal.”

When they looked toward the medical unit, which included the royal family, they could see that it was overflowing with wounded. With Arnica at the head, the sacred-art users were fighting hard as well, but their recovery clearly could not keep up. At this rate, their mana would run dry first.

“To overturn this adversity… do you not think it must be that, my friend?”

“Who knows. …If you get in my way, I won’t let you off lightly.”

“Really, you say whatever you please.”

Aktor stepped forward. The silver hair unique to the royal family fluttered in the wind. Zeke and Aaron stood lined up on either side of him.

At first, all of them had been facing different directions. For their own positions, for their houses, and to survive.

They had never intended to understand one another from the start. They had only thought of using one another for their own sake. They had thought it would end as a temporary relationship.

“—I will be the main focus. I am counting on you both.”

“Leave it to us, Mister Aktor-dono.”

“Hmph…”

A ducal house, a marquis house, and a lordly noble house. Judging by status alone, they may have been close, but each was a special family with its own circumstances.

There were lives they had cut away for the great cause of the nation’s survival.

There was one who continued playing the fool to be acknowledged by his family.

There was one who trusted no one and had believed only power was everything.

“…If even one button had been fastened wrong, perhaps we would not have been here.”

Since childhood, Aktor had been taught that the ducal house was to become the shadow of the kingdom. They supported the nation from behind the scenes, managed it, and at times even laid hands on royalty. That was what the Astera Ducal House was.

“What a coincidence. I was thinking the same thing.”

The famous House of Izosaar. A marquis house that had built its position in the Kingdom of Diabalet over many long years. The person born as its third son had simply wanted to be acknowledged. —By his father and brother.

“How stupid. There is no ‘if.’ The result before your eyes is everything.”

It did not matter to him what happened to the world or his house. As long as he could survive, that alone was enough. Because he was an outsider. The circumstances of this world had meant nothing to him.

“In other words—this meeting was fate. My friend, you are quite the romantic.”

“Hah? Has your head gone insane? You pitiful fool.”

“…Perhaps I was being a little sentimental. Both of you, shall we begin soon?”

A silver radiance emitted from Aktor. Sacred mana spread through the surroundings. Two other streams of mana slowly overlapped with it to match.

“Zeke. Please suppress your mana a little. Aaron, on the other hand, please raise your output.”

“Do not order me around. You people match me.”

“Mister Aktor-dono. I was severely injured until just now, you know. Shall we not proceed with a more generous spirit?”

It was Aktor’s duty to control Zeke, who raged as he pleased, and Aaron, who ran wild. How many times had he covered for them by now?

“Hmm? My friend, you are rather impressive…”

“Hah, sick men should go die in bed.”

Zeke’s mana surged. Aaron’s mana strengthened as if following after it.

“Do not think someone of your level can keep up with me.”

“Then let us compete. —Uoooooooooooooh!”

“!? H-Hey!? Both of you, stop!”

The two surging streams of mana pushed each other higher, growing stronger like a synergistic effect. The earth shook, and the air made a crackling sound as if it were being torn apart. The scene looked like the omen of a natural disaster. Agitation spread among those fighting on the battlefield, wondering what was happening this time.

“I-I told you I am the main focus…!”

Silver light spread as if forcibly enveloping the raging mana.

The different mana wavelengths eventually became one and synchronized completely. —A rainbow radiance flashed across the battlefield.

“Now! We are going!”

“Okay, allow us to show you our soul.”

“Learn the difference in class.”

A massive magic circle manifested in the sky. A geometric formula woven from silver mana blinked with rainbow light. Enemy and ally alike stopped and looked up at the heavens. After the light flashed with particular intensity, silver rain poured down from the sky.

“Argento Juvia.”

When the wounded kingdom soldiers were bathed in the silver rain, their wounds instantly recovered. Even the bodies of soldiers whose arms had been blown off and whose legs had been shattered were fully healed. Those whose vital points had been struck and who had been barely breathing stood up as if nothing had happened.

It was a sacred art that healed anyone, no matter how gravely wounded, as long as they were still alive. And it spread across the entire battlefield.

On the other hand, changes occurred in the enemy army as well. The shadows created by Pariaach suffered under the silver rain. The parts that were bathed in it began melting and giving off smoke. The same applied to the monsters.

A Unison Link that healed allies and delivered judgment to enemies.
Through the three’s efforts, the battle situation was overturned.

The spirit that had run rampant left the stage, and the rain of judgment clearly divided light and darkness between enemy and ally. Whether shadows or monsters, their numbers had greatly decreased, and their movements had grown sluggish.

“Everyone, are you ready?”

“No problem. Everyone connected this chance for us. We can’t let it slip away.”

Van and the others had the role of a mobile strike force. No matter how much danger their allies had been put in, they had believed in them and waited all this time. This was truly the perfect opportunity. The six of them all dashed toward the Path of the Firmament at once.

“I’ll search while running the shortest route! Everyone, follow me!”

Luke ran at the front with mana wrapped around his sword.

He avoided the battlefield and drew a trail with his light sword along a route that would minimize contact with the enemy. Van and the others advanced under Luke’s command.

“Looks like they won’t let us through that easily.”

“…Their response is fast.”

The threat of the shadows and monsters had certainly dropped due to the silver rain. But that applied to enemies that had originally existed. Newly appearing shadows and monsters were exceptions.

A false knight order stood in their way, blocking Van and the others’ path.

“I won’t let you get in their way!”

“Th-That’s right! We’ll be your opponents.”

Eris and Kratz stepped between them and the false knights. Eris, strengthened by support magic, and Kratz, who fought back with a specially made weapon, were both desperate.

“Eris!”

“What are you doing, Van! You’re going to save the world, aren’t you?! Then don’t stop in a place like this!”

The bodies of Van and the other six suddenly became lighter, and strength welled up within them. This was Eris’s buff. While fighting, she had cast the most suitable support magic on them.

“That’s right! I’m weak, so all I can do is stall them, but you guys are different, aren’t you? Go!”

Kratz desperately swung the weapon embedded with Leviathan’s jewel. Contrary to his strong words, his legs were trembling. Even so, he fought without running away.

“Let’s go, Van-san. Aktor-niisan is here too. Treatment should not be a problem.”

“I know. Let’s go, everyone.”

Van and the others started running again. They did not look back. There was no way they could commit such an insulting act.

“! This is…”

“Something is coming from under our feet!”

Glanz and Luke sensed the presence of a new enemy. At the same time, the earth shook violently. What appeared as if rising from the ground was a gigantic golem.

“It’s huge…”

“…So they intend to physically stop us.”

Faced with a body so large they had to look up at it, Van and the others were forced to stop. Even a slight movement from it would be a threat. Like this, they could not move carelessly.

As they wondered what they should do, a change occurred. A flying spell struck the gigantic golem’s head and exploded. The person who had fired the spell appeared with an aloof attitude.

“Phew, it’s pretty hard.”

“So it was you, Yorn-san.”

Yorn swung his staff like a cane and activated a wide variety of spells. They were not decisive blows, but the golem apparently judged him to be a threat and raised its massive fist. The target of its attack was the mage before it. A hammer blow that would crush him if it landed directly approached Yorn. —But the one who blocked it was the House of Lagias’s trusted blade. The bracelet on his arm shone.

At the same time as the flash of light, a giant person appeared. A person who had become as large as the golem caught its fist.

“Simon-san!”

“…My apologies, Luke-dono. I am late.”

Simon spoke in a calm tone that contrasted with his appearance. One could call him a gentle giant. To Van and the others, he was an extremely reassuring helper.

“H-He’s huge too. At this point, anything goes…”

“…That bracelet is the source of his power. Zeke-san really does have a lot of tricks as always.”

The gigantic golem and the giant grasped each other’s fists and entered a grappling match. Their strength seemed equal, and they could be seen locked in a stalemate. —The one who broke that balance was the genius of the Mage Corps. It was Yorn, who moved to Simon’s shoulder with teleportation magic. He obstructed the golem’s movements with gravity magic.

“As you can see, we don’t have much room to spare, so hurry up and go.”

“…Master, do your best too.”

Atri called Yorn her master. The encounters she had gained in this short time had certainly brought about a good change. Seeing the growth of the young made a smile naturally spill onto Glanz’s face.

“…Luke-dono. Please leave this to us.”

“Understood. …Next time, let’s go take a request together with everyone in the private army again.”

Simon and Yorn opened the path. Luke sent light flying along the optimal route and drew a trail. Then they ran onward.

After that as well, interference aimed at Van and the others continued, but the soldiers of the kingdom army stopped it. Strohk, Brink, Nahal and Skinny, as well as multiple regimental commanders, all fought hard. The connections formed until now had linked them together.

“I see it! That’s it, right?”

“…Even though this should be my first time seeing it, I can tell.”

A staircase of light reflecting the stars continued into the sky. This was the path leading to the Gate to the Otherworld—the Path of the Firmament.

From what they could see, no enemies were present. No one was chasing Van and the others either. They charged straight ahead.

A black wind howled. —There had been no presence.

Everyone thought they had sent them off safely. Search magic had not reacted either. Van and the others had also shifted their feelings toward the next battle. —Then pitch-black killing intent blocked their way.

“Huh…?”

A monster descended from above onto the battlefield. It was humanoid, but its appearance greatly differed from a human’s. It had powerful claws and gigantic wings. Its eyes emitted light, and its fangs gleamed dully.

What appeared as if to protect the Path of the Firmament was Lagias, who had once guarded this land. Those bound by the covenant to release their power in response to the Guide. The Watchmen, manifested as shadows perfectly recreated by the spirit’s power. They were imitations of Fool and Noisy, used even after death.

“““…”””

Van and the others lost their words. It was not surprise at facing a powerful enemy. It was because they wondered why this being was here. Could even the dead be summoned by the power of the spirit? What, then, had Zeke accomplished by killing his heart and doing what he had done?

“—You rotten fiend!”

It was rare for Luke, who was usually calm, to have his emotions disturbed to this extent. His face twisted, and he pushed his anger to the forefront. As if responding to his emotions, his light sword gave off an intense radiance.

Before Glanz could stop him, Luke charged at the demon. The light sword and blade-like claws collided—or just before they did, a new black shadow cut in. A fist strengthened by mana reinforcement smashed the demon down from above.

“!? Zeke…”

“What are you doing?”

Ice magic restrained the demon as it fiercely resisted. Zeke spoke as if nothing had happened.

“Your role is ahead of here, isn’t it?”

“…But that is…”

“Did you think I would waver over something of this level? This thing is just a fake. It is trash that cannot become a threat.”

When Zeke lightly stepped on the demon with his foot, cold air spread from that point. The false Watchman’s resistance gradually weakened, and in the end, its entire body froze. Its figure looked like an ice statue.

“…My parents were admirable people. Unlike this trash.”

Zeke stomped down. With a shattering sound, the demon’s ice statue broke apart. Fine ice danced through the air, creating a fantastical sight beneath the starlight.

“Hurry up and go. Do not disappoint me… do not disappoint us.”

Zeke leapt high together with the icicle rising from under his feet. He cut apart a dragon flying toward Van and the others with his sword. The dragon in question lost its life before it could counterattack.

Zeke then threw himself back into the battlefield. —As if saying he would hold them back, so they should fulfill their duty.

“Let’s go, Luke.”

“…Sorry. I lost my composure. —Let’s move forward.”

The staircase extending into the sky seemed to continue forever.

No one was left to block Van and the others. They headed for the place where Elzen and the others were waiting.