“If his behavior changed after meeting that man, then tracking them will reveal where my teacher is.”
“That’s right. But...”
Hans trailed off.
“It doesn’t seem to be a simple matter. Not only are the Holy Knights who left Lederbelk heavily armed...”
“What else?”
“...That Cardinal has begun gathering people. The most powerful individuals on the continent are converging on a single point.”
Ludger’s brow twitched.
Powerful individuals across the continent were gathering?
It wasn’t something he could easily comprehend.
“What’s going on?”
“I don’t know for sure. But Cardinal Patricio is summoning people under the authority of the Lumenis Church—and quite a number are responding. Not just in number, but in skill as well.”
Even if Bretus Theocracy had closed its borders, the Lumenis Church’s influence as a religious power was still immense.
Especially after the recent demon incident spread across the world, the Church’s voice in global affairs had grown even stronger.
It was only natural that those who had long been faithful followers of Lumenism would answer the call.
“Judging by your reaction, it sounds like some truly formidable figures are gathering.”
“...Indeed. Names even you would recognize.”
“Who are they? The ones moving in this affair.”
“First and foremost among the Imperial supporters—House Lumos.”
“Lumos...”
Ludger thought of the name.
One of the Empire’s three great houses—and devout believers of the Lumenis Church.
Its current head, Cayden Lumos, was renowned for his cold, unfeeling nature.
Even toward Flora, his own blood, born out of wedlock, his treatment had been frigid.
A pious man, Ludger thought bitterly. What a joke.
“So House Lumos is following the Cardinal’s command rather than the Empire’s?”
“The Lumos family’s power has always been beyond the Emperor’s easy reach. And with the demon crisis having destroyed the Empire’s credibility while the Church’s influence rises, they now have all the justification they need to act freely.”
“So their main forces are mobilizing.”
“That’s not all. Even House Pablo is moving.”
“House Pablo... A familiar name indeed. The famed family of magic, aligning itself with the Church’s will?”
Ludger’s eyes narrowed.
He had history with that house—and not pleasant history.
Their arrogant scion, Albert Pablo, had suffered a humiliating defeat on Royal Street.
House Pablo had tried to retaliate against Royal Street, only to leave nothing but floating corpses in the river that flowed through the city.
After that, realizing the futility of their actions, they ceased open attacks but continued to exert quiet pressure ever since.
“Don’t mind that fool. The real threat is his brother.”
“I know. Alon Pablo.”
Of course Ludger knew him—Albert’s elder brother, the young head of House Pablo.
The one who had truly earned the family its title as a Great House of Magic, a living legend among magi.
Alon Pablo.
Also known by another name—
—The Red Mage.
“A mage with a color title... I didn’t expect that a man so young, already head of his house, would also be such a devout member of the Church.”
“If it were just him, it might not be so bad. But it doesn’t end there—that’s the problem.”
“Who else?”
“The Violet Mage who commands lightning—madman Coilwatt. The world’s second-ranked mercenary unit, Golden Rule Battalion. The Hunter Association that survived the Night of Bloody Nightmare.”
And beyond that—Bretus Theocracy’s greatest shield, the Holy Knights of Radiant Light.
The 11th Special Division, a secret organization that handled covert operations across the continent.
Even the Archbishops—those next in rank to Cardinals, said to be sons of God themselves—were moving.
It was a lineup so overwhelming that they could wage war against nations—and win.
“Where are all these forces gathering?”
“We’re tracking their trail as we speak. We should know their location soon.”
“Let me know as soon as possible.”
“Of course, but...”
Hans hesitated, glancing at Ludger cautiously.
“If we find them, what will you do? Don’t tell me you plan to charge straight into that deathtrap to rescue your teacher.”
“That...”
“I understand your feelings, but the enemy’s power isn’t something we can take lightly. If you intend to fight them to save your teacher, it won’t just be you—we’d have to send all of the Owens.”
Even that might not be enough.
“Besides, you have something else to do, don’t you?”
“......”
“All preparations are complete. We’ve spent everything we’ve saved over the years, ensuring there’s no room for error. We’ve even recovered the items you were searching for. And now you want to throw it all away?”
Hans’s words struck hard.
Ludger did have work left to finish.
But if he went after Grander now, all his plans would collapse.
“I still don’t know what exactly you’ve been striving for all this time. But I know it’s the one thing you’ve chased this far. And now that it’s within reach, you’d abandon it all? Then what was the point of all our work?”
“...Still, she’s my teacher.”
“I heard from your teacher.”
At that word, Ludger’s shoulders flinched.
“She said she was seeking her own death. And that she made a promise with you—that when the time came, you would be the one to end her life.”
“That...”
Ludger recalled what Grander had told him on Isla Machina.
You no longer need to keep that promise.
He hadn’t understood why, but deep down, those words had brought him a faint sense of relief.
Because it meant he wouldn’t have to kill her—his teacher, the woman who was like a mother to him—with ~Nоvеl𝕚ght~ his own hands.
He wouldn’t have to once again grant “peace through death” to someone precious to him.
But he knew.
Grander saying that didn’t mean she’d given up on death.
She had simply found another way—
A way to choose her own end without needing Ludger’s hand.
“The forces gathering now... They’re likely both the Cardinal’s men and those your teacher herself has drawn together. For someone of her caliber to die—it would take power on that scale.”
“......”
“That’s what she wanted. You know that. So when you learn where she is—will you still go to save her?”
Even though that was not what Grander desired?
Ludger said nothing.
He understood logically, but his heart refused to accept it.
He had gathered every fragment of the Relic.
After traveling across the continent, chasing it endlessly, he had finally collected them all.
But this was only the starting line—
The chance to finally begin what he had been preparing for all along.
Who knew what awaited next?
Even the smallest mistake could ruin everything.
He needed to stay calm, rational.
He should have.
“I...”
“I understand your heart is conflicted. Let’s not decide anything right now. Once we return to Lederbelk, take time to sort your thoughts.”
Hans looked at Ludger with a pained gaze.
He had spoken harshly, but that wasn’t his true intent.
Part of him wanted Ludger to stay focused on his mission—but another part wanted him to go and try to save Grander.
Yet the reason he forced those words out at all was because of something Grander herself had once told him:
‘My foolish disciple will someday face something important and let his own weakness hold him back. When that time comes, you be the one to knock some sense into him.’
At the time, Hans had laughed nervously—‘How could I ever scold him?’
Grander hadn’t pressed the issue, as if she didn’t expect much anyway.
Maybe that was why—
That single sentence of hers still lingered so vividly in Hans’s mind.
Damn it. What do you expect me to do, woman.
Hans sighed inwardly.
The airship cut swiftly through the clouds, heading for Lederbelk.
* * *
Ludger finally returned to Lederbelk.
Though so much had happened, he went straight back to work—reviewing report after report on the city’s situation and political developments during his absence.
He did not visit Seorn.
The academy was indefinitely closed.
For someone whose mind was as turbulent as his, returning there would only make things worse.
He needed work—something to keep him from thinking.
As Ludger immersed himself in paperwork, Violetta brought over a cup of coffee and set it on his desk.
“Please drink this, Owner.”
“Violetta. Thank you.”
Removing his frameless glasses, Ludger rubbed his brow with his fingers.
“You’ve been working non-stop since you came back. Everyone’s worried about you, you know.”
“It’s almost the end now.”
Violetta knew what he meant by the end—this was the culmination of something that defined his entire life.
And that made her even more worried.
It looked as though he was deliberately wearing himself down.
“What’s the situation outside?”
“Still the same. Though... the number of faithful believers of the Lumenis Church is increasing by the day.”
“I heard even many from Royal Street have joined them.”
“That’s right. After the Demon of Dreams incident, so many died... When people lose family, friends, loved ones—it’s only natural they’d seek solace somewhere.”
And that solace, now, was the Lumenis Church.
Ludger couldn’t blame them.
He was about to take a sip of coffee when the door suddenly burst open.
Hans entered in a rush.
Normally, he’d knock first—but the fact that he hadn’t meant something urgent had happened.
Ludger looked at him calmly, though the tremor in Hans’s eyes told him all he needed to know.
“What is it?”
“Brother. We have... an unexpected visitor.”
“...A visitor. I see.”
“You’re not going to ask who?”
“I can already guess.”
Ludger set down his cup and stood.
“Shame. I was hoping for a peaceful tea break, for once.”
He had a strange feeling that the moment he put that cup down, he’d just finished the last bit of rest he’d ever get.
He went to meet his guest.
And as soon as he saw her—wearing the same tiara that covered her eyes, smiling with that guileless innocence—he knew.
So. It’s come to this.
“It’s been a while.”
“Yes, it has.”
The Lumenis priestess, Remria, accepted his greeting with a serene smile.
Even though Ludger addressed her without honorifics, she didn’t seem offended; in fact, she appeared completely unbothered, as if that were perfectly natural.
“Why have you come to see me?”
“I want to help you.”
“Empty words. A priestess of the Lumenis Church showing up unannounced to help me? You expect me to believe that?”
“Authorization has been granted by the Holy Nation to use a sacred relic.”
At the sudden mention of a relic, Ludger’s eyes narrowed.
A Sacred Relic.
As the name implied—a holy object imbued with divine power, functioning as an artifact.
Especially in Bretus, their relics were known to possess power rivaling ancient artifacts—some even said that the highest-grade relics bordered on Relic-class themselves.
Exaggerated rumor, perhaps—but not without foundation.
“The relic approved for use this time is one of the most secret and restricted in the Theocracy. They call it the Stake of God.”
“The Stake of God...”
Something about that name set his nerves on edge.
Remria smiled.
“With that stake, they said, they’ll finally erase the Church’s ancient enemy forever.”
The moment those words left her lips, murderous intent exploded from Ludger like a storm.