“If you mean your sister, you must be talking about Marias. It’s unexpected that she joined the war.”
“She didn’t come because of the war. My sister is...”
From Casey’s reaction, Ludger instantly understood what had happened to Marias.
“She’s been brainwashed, hasn’t she.”
Marias Selmore.
In the end, she had fallen under Salesin’s divine authority and was now being manipulated according {N•o•v•e•l•i•g•h•t} to his will.
“You came sooner than I expected for someone who only just realized it. How did you manage to get here so quickly?”
Ludger found it surprising that Casey had reached his location this fast.
“Who do you think I am? As long as water can flow, I can move anywhere.”
Casey Selmore was a mage of <Azure of Water>.
Bretus was filled with countless waterways, and beneath the ground ran an enormous underground current.
To others, those canals and rivers were obstacles to go around or cross over, but to Casey, they were personal passageways only she could use.
Following those currents, Casey had ridden the water upstream and reached the inner citadel in one leap.
Her skill of concealing her presence while distorting light through water also helped her slip inside unnoticed.
“So you came here to ask for help—from me, the man the world calls a Demon King?”
Ludger deliberately played up his reputation as a villain, but it did not affect Casey at all.
“The Church that branded you that ‘Demon King’ is the same one that brainwashed my sister. To stop them, I’d grab even the Devil’s hand if I had to.”
Casey’s eyes shifted toward Suruna standing beside Ludger.
“Or perhaps the demon’s hand.”
“You’ve changed, Casey Selmore.”
“Everyone changes. That’s what it means to be human.”
Ludger shook his head as if admitting defeat.
“If you didn’t come to fight me, then I have no reason to be hostile either. In fact, if Marias Selmore—your sister—is under their control, that makes her our common enemy. For now, we’re allies of convenience.”
“Don’t get me wrong. That doesn’t mean I trust you enough to call you comrades.”
Casey’s tone was sharp even in this situation.
“W-wait, Miss Casey!”
Betty, sensing the tension, tried to stop her, but Ludger didn’t mind.
“You’re worried about your sister, aren’t you.”
“......”
Casey fell silent, hit squarely where it hurt.
“You said you hated her, but in the end, she’s still family. You care about her.”
“Is that so wrong? Fine, I know. It’s laughable that a troublemaker like me is suddenly talking about family and worry.”
“No. It’s not laughable.”
Ludger said it firmly, and Casey looked at him in surprise.
“There’s nothing more admirable than caring for one’s family.”
“You...”
“But even though you came seeking help, I have to be honest—we don’t have the strength to help you right now. If anything, we’re the ones who need your help. The battlefield isn’t in our favor.”
Casey knew he wasn’t lying.
She’d seen it with her own eyes while coming here—their forces were outnumbered overwhelmingly.
It wasn’t a battle between adults and children, but between giants and dwarves.
The only reason they’d managed to hold out this long was because those following Ludger were exceptionally strong.
But one hand couldn’t block many others.
Even now, his allies were fighting desperately, but they couldn’t stop every intruder reaching the fortress.
“Then...”
“You’re the one who must do it, Casey Selmore.”
“Me? You want me to stop my sister?”
“Can’t you?”
“Did you forget? My sister is an ice mage. I deal with water. We’re perfect opposites.”
No matter how much water Casey summoned, Marias could freeze it all solid in an instant.
Even if she increased the volume to keep it from freezing easily, it wouldn’t matter.
When Marias fought seriously, she could create an iceberg in the middle of a raging sea.
Ludger had seen it himself when they’d visited her kingdom together—the sight of the sea freezing over, paralyzing entire fishing routes.
And now he wanted her, who could only control water, to face that?
That was practically sending her to lose.
“Your elements clash, yes—but that alone doesn’t mean the gap in skill is impossible to bridge.”
“You and I both know that at our level, elemental compatibility alone can decide victory.”
“Yes, but we also know that in real battle, victory can hinge on countless other factors.”
“......”
Ludger spoke to the speechless Casey.
“I’m not telling you to rush in blindly. But since your opponent is also one of the Color Mages, your fight will go beyond ordinary magic. No conventional logic will define it.”
“Then what do you suggest?”
“Considering her level, relying on artifacts or outside help won’t work. What matters is that you change.”
“What am I supposed to change?”
“You control water, don’t you? Then tell me—what is water?”
“What? Well... it’s just water, isn’t it?”
If she took a scientific view, water was a combination of hydrogen and oxygen.
But Casey could tell Ludger wasn’t asking for a chemistry lesson.
“Then what is ice?”
“Ice is...”
“Water that has frozen solid into form. So is ice truly different from water?”
“...Its essence is the same.”
“Exactly. Their essence is one. You and your sister wield the same fundamental power. Do you really think there’s such a thing as elemental superiority or inferiority between you?”
It sounded absurd—illogical even.
Not the reasoning of a mage trained to rely on logic and rationality.
But for someone beyond the realm of ordinary mages, it was worth pondering.
Casey stood quietly, reflecting on Ludger’s words.
He didn’t rush her.
He merely gave guidance—the realization had to be hers alone.
A realization handed down by another was nothing but an empty illusion.
“...So, in the end, it’s me who must face my sister.”
“I’m glad you understand.”
“Heh. Maybe becoming a teacher wasn’t a waste after all, huh?”
“Perhaps this was my true calling all along. If only I’d been born a normal man instead of the bastard of the Holy Sovereign.”
“That’s... unfortunate.”
Casey gave him a faint, pitying smile, then lightly tapped his arm.
“Let’s both make it through this alive.”
Just then, heavy thunk-thunk sounds echoed as Seridan approached in her powered armor.
On its large shoulders sat Bellaruna and Arfa.
“Sir! We took care of everything! There aren’t any bugs left inside the fortress!”
“Good work. Any injuries?”
“None! But what’s going on right now? I just got out, and I have no idea what’s happening.”
“Not good. The fortress has been breached—enemies have reached this far.”
“Then we’ll go stop them.”
While Seridan and Ludger exchanged words, Arfa’s gaze locked on a girl.
Betty, Casey’s assistant, felt the stare and looked back.
“W-wait, you! You’re that masked person! From the Kunst Auction!”
Betty pointed at Arfa in recognition.
But Arfa’s face darkened.
Betty didn’t know him—but Arfa knew her.
And it hurt too much to face her. So he chose avoidance.
Arfa looked to Ludger.
“Professor.”
“Arfa. I know what you’re feeling, but now isn’t the time.”
“...Yes. You’re right. I’m sorry.”
“No need to apologize. It’s a natural reaction.”
Hearing their exchange only deepened Betty’s confusion.
For some reason, she felt they were talking about her.
“Miss Casey... what are they talking about?”
“That’s... not something I should explain.”
Casey almost spoke but stopped herself.
After glimpsing Ludger’s memories through Memory Storming, she could roughly guess the connection between Arfa and Betty.
This wasn’t something she could interfere in.
And there was no time to reveal the truth now.
“Professor, I’ll head outside to hold them off.”
“...All right. Be careful.”
Arfa left.
Watching him go, Seridan murmured sympathetically, “He probably wanted to boast about his magic after the fight, poor kid. I’ll go cheer him up.”
“Seridan. Take care of Arfa. Despite appearances, he’s still young.”
“Sir, you don’t need to coddle him so much. At this point, he’s not just a child anymore. Honestly, I’d be the one getting help from him, not the other way around.”
“I see.”
“Everyone grows up eventually. Still... having this big sister nearby probably helps, right?”
Seridan grinned proudly and followed after Arfa.
“H-heh. I’ll go too!”
Bellaruna hurried after them.
After the battle with Victor, the bond among those three had clearly deepened.
Then Casey whispered to Ludger, “You sure you don’t want to tell her? Or should I drop a hint to Betty?”
Ludger shook his head.
“No. That’s something Arfa must resolve himself. We can’t interfere.”
“You’re a cold teacher, you know that?”
“If we tell her now, she’ll be too shaken to fight properly. Don’t forget—we’re fighting to survive.”
“Survive... yeah, that’s true.”
Casey nodded, accepting that.
“So, what exactly are you planning inside this fortress? The whole place has been moving since I got here.”
“That...”
Before Ludger could answer, the entire fortress shook violently.
Casey staggered, barely keeping her balance. The impact was strong enough to nearly knock her over.
“What the—! An earthquake? Or an attack?”
“No. It’s neither. This is the answer to your question.”
“This is the answer?”
“Yes. It begins now—Phase Three.”
At those words, Suruna smiled.
That expression said it all: At last.
* * *
The tremor shaking the fortress was powerful enough for even the Crusaders who had breached the inner halls to feel it.
“W-what’s happening? Is this the Demon King’s doing?”
“Move, quickly! We have to stop him before he does anything else!”
Charging through the maze-like corridors, the Crusaders halted abruptly.
A new enemy blocked their path.
Arfa stood in the middle of the hall, barring the way as if declaring no one would pass beyond this point.
“A... child?”
They were startled by the sight of the boy, but soon realized he was the Demon King’s follower and raised their guard.
“A child serving the Demon King... Lord, have mercy on his soul.”
“Don’t underestimate him. In this place, that kid might be the most dangerous one here. Stay sharp!”
They didn’t let their guard down.
Anyone sane knew a child wouldn’t just be standing there in such a place.
Either it wasn’t really a child—
Or it was, and could still wield power beyond comprehension, as proven when a weapon of pure elemental force appeared in his hand.
“Magic!”
“Defend!”
Arfa swung his massive ice greatsword, launching countless icy spears along its arc.
It was a powerful opening assault, no hesitation, no holding back.
The Crusaders in front reacted quickly—knights raising swords, mages erecting shields.
The spears shattered and scattered, but Arfa didn’t stop.
He swung again and again, freezing the entire corridor in sheets of ice.
The biting cold seemed intent on rejecting any invader’s presence.
But the Crusaders weren’t easily defeated.
The knights with superior physical ability charged through the frost, racing toward Arfa.
Just as their aura-coated swords neared his body—
A powered armor appeared behind Arfa, smashing the knights aside with colossal arms.
Those who managed to block still staggered backward; those who didn’t coughed blood and flew across the hall.
“If you think you can come in—then come try!”
Seridan, gripping the railgun in the armor’s massive hand, aimed it at the Crusaders.
A surge of magnetic force expelled the round, and the weapon roared.
The corridor turned pure white, drowning in thunderous light.
But Seridan’s face hardened.
As the glare faded, the Crusaders emerged mostly unharmed.
Knights and mages together—every one of them elite. A single railgun blast wasn’t enough.
Even so, the sheer threat of it made them hesitate.
If not for their artifacts and numbers, that blast would’ve killed dozens.
“Huh?”
One of the mages glanced out the window, frowning.
The sky full of dark clouds seemed... closer than before.
No—he wasn’t imagining it.
The sky was getting closer.
Those outside the fortress felt it most vividly.
KUGUGUGUNG—!
“What in the world...”
Everyone looked upward.
The fortress of Galaharad—was rising into the air.