"Since you said Master changed her behavior after meeting that guy, if we chase them, we might find out where Master is."

"That's right. However..."

Hans trailed off.

"It doesn't seem to be a simple matter. Not only is the armament of the holy knights who left Leathervelk concerning..."

"What else is there?"

"...That cardinal has started gathering people. I hear that notable figures from across the continent are converging at one point."

Rudger's eyebrows twitched.

Notable people from across the continent are gathering?

It was something Rudger couldn't easily understand.

"What's happening?"

"I don't know exactly either. All I know is that Cardinal Patricio is gathering people using the authority of the Lumensis Order, and those responding are quite substantial. Both in numbers and in skill."

Even if the Bretus Holy Nation had locked its doors, the influence held by the Lumensis Order as a religion was considerable.

Moreover, with the recent demon incident spreading widely, the Lumensis Order had gained more of a voice in world affairs.

It was natural for those who had steadily worshipped the Lumensis religion to respond to the call.

"Judging by your reaction, it seems quite extraordinary figures have gathered."

"...That's right. If I named them, brother would definitely know them."

"Who are they? The people moving on this matter."

"First, the most representative person responding from within the Empire would be the Lumos family."

"Lumos..."

Rudger recalled Lumos, one of the Empire's three great families and also devout believers of the Lumensis Order.

Among them, the current head of the family, Kayden Lumos, was famous for being cold-blooded and heartless.

Just look at his attitude toward Flora, who was born with his blood, even though she was an unwanted illegitimate child.

"Is the Lumos family listening to the cardinal rather than the Empire's orders?"

"Originally, the influence of the Lumos family was something even the imperial family couldn't handle carelessly. Moreover, with the Emperor's image plummeting due to the demon incident, and conversely, the Lumensis Order's power increasing, they've gained justification to move without hesitation."

"You're saying the family's main forces are all moving."

"That's not all. Even the Pablo family is moving."

"The Pablo family. A very familiar name. A famous magical family is following the will of the Lumensis Order."

The Pablo family had connections with Rudger as well.

Not good connections though, because Albert Pablo, the rascal of the Pablo family, had suffered a humiliating incident at Royal Street.

The Pablo family sent people to retaliate against Royal Street for what happened to their son, but all that increased were the corpses floating down the river that flowed through the city.

After that, they seemed to realize this wasn't working and stopped sending people, but they continued to subtly pressure Royal Street.

"There's no need to worry about that rascal. The most dangerous one is his brother."

"I know. Alon Pablo."

Rudger also knew about Albert Pablo's brother and the very young head of the Pablo family.

The man who had officially given the Pablo family, which had built its reputation as magicians for generations, the title of 'Magic Noble Family' and was a living legend of the family.

Alon Pablo.

In other words─The Red Magician.

"A magician with a colour title. I didn't know that someone who became the family head at such a young age was such a devout believer of the Order."

"Even if it was just him, it might have been manageable. The problem is that it doesn't end with just one."

"Who else is there?"

"The Purple Magician who handles lightning, the crazy Coilwatt. The Golden Rule Squad, the world's second-ranked mercenary unit. Even the Hunter Association that survived the Night of Blood Nightmares."

In addition, the Light Guardian Holy Knights, who could be called the strongest shield of the Bretus Holy Nation.

The Secret 11th Division, which handled matters secretly throughout the continent.

Even the Archbishops, who could be called the Sons of God, with authority and divine power second only to the Cardinal.

These were truly outstanding figures that had more than enough power to wage war against a nation and win.

"Where are they gathering now?"

"I'm diligently tracking their traces. I'll probably have an answer soon."

"I'd like to know as soon as possible."

"That's a given, but..."

Hans trailed off, checking Rudger's reaction, and carefully asked.

"If we find out, what will you do? Don't tell me you're planning to jump into that dangerous situation to rescue your master?"

"That's..."

"Of course, I understand your feelings. But the opponent's forces are not to be taken lightly. If you want to fight them to rescue your master, it wouldn't be just you alone, but all of us Owens would have to go."

It was questionable whether even all the Owens would be enough.

Above all.

"You have something else you need to do, don't you?"

"..."

"All preparations are complete. We've spent all the money we've collected over the years and done our best to leave no room for mistakes. We've found everything you've been looking for. And now you're saying you'll end it all here?"

Hans's point was valid.

Rudger had something he needed to do but if Rudger went to find Grandel now, all his plans would crumble.

"I still don't know why you've come this far. But I can tell that you've been pursuing this one thing. Are you saying you'll give up everything with it right in front of you? Then what becomes of us who have been working for this until now?"

"Still, the master is my teacher."

"...I heard from your master."

At the word 'heard', Rudger flinched.

"She said she's been seeking death on her own. And didn't you promise that someday, when the time came, you would end her life?"

"That's..."

Rudger recalled what Grandel had told him in Isla Machina.

You don't have to keep the promise anymore.

Rudger wondered why, but deep down, he felt a vague sense of relief because he wouldn't have to kill Grandel, who was like a mother to him, with his own hands and he wouldn't have to give eternal rest to another precious person with his own hands.

But he knows that even though Grandel told him this doesn't mean she's given up on death.

She has found a new method.

A way to choose the death she so desires without needing to borrow Rudger's hands.

"The forces gathering now are probably people called by the cardinal, but at the same time, people your master has drawn in. Conversely, given that such numbers have gathered, it means someone of your master's caliber can die."

"..."

"That was what your master wanted. You know that too. If you find out her location, are you going to rescue her?"

Even though that's not what Master Grandel wants?

Rudger couldn't say anything to Hans' point.

He understood it intellectually, but emotionally, he couldn't accept it.

Rudger had collected all the fragments of the relic.

He had gathered everything he had been searching for all over the continent but this was just the starting line.

If anything, he had been given the opportunity to begin work he had prepared for his true goal.

Who knows how many things could happen.

Even with the best preparations, there was a possibility that everything could be ruined due to a small mistake.

At times like this, he needed to think rationally and calmly.

He needed to, but.

"I..."

"...I understand your complicated feelings. Since we don't need an immediate answer, let's go back to Leathervelk and calmly organize our thoughts."

Hans looked at Rudger with pitying eyes.

He had pressed Rudger hard, but this wasn't Hans' true intention either.

He wanted Rudger to do his job well, but contradictorily, he also wanted Rudger to step up to rescue Grandel.

Nevertheless, the reason he said what he did to Rudger was because of what Grandel had told Hans.

─My foolish disciple will someday trip himself up with weak thoughts before an important task. So in preparation for that time, you should directly give him a stern talking-to.

At that time, Hans had protested, "How can I say anything to big brother?"

Grandel seemed not to expect much after that and didn't say anything more.

Maybe that's the reason why those words Grandel had spoken wouldn't leave his mind.

'Damn it. What am I supposed to do?'

Hans was sighing deeply inside.

The airship cutting through the clouds was quickly heading to Leathervelk.

Rudger finally returned to Leathervelk.

Many things had happened, but Rudger immediately got to work.

He continued to check the reports coming in about what had happened to Leathervelk while he was away and how the political situation had developed.

He didn't go to Theon.

Currently, Theon is in an indefinite school closure.

For Rudger, who needed to do something to calm his complicated mind, going there would be a loss.

As Rudger was immersed in work, Violetta brought a cup of coffee and placed it on his desk.

"Drink this, Owner."

"Ah, Violetta. Thank you."

Rudger took off his frameless glasses and gently rubbed between his eyebrows with his thumb and index finger.

"You've been working too hard without rest since you returned. Aren't you pushing yourself too much? Everyone is worried."

"It's almost the final stretch now."

Violetta knew that what Rudger called the final stretch was a very important matter in his life.

That's why she was even more worried about Rudger.

He seemed to be deliberately overworking himself.

"How are the external trends?"

"Recently, they've been similar. The difference would be that the number of believers who trust and serve the Lumensis Order is increasing day by day."

"It seems quite a number have left Royal Street as well."

"Yes. Many people died after the Dream Demon incident. It's natural for anyone to grieve when their family, friends, or loved ones meet such fates."

The current Lumensis Order was becoming a refuge for that grief.

Rudger couldn't blame those people.

Just as he was about to take a sip of coffee, Hans urgently opened the door and entered.

If it had been the usual Hans, he would have knocked first, but the fact that he barged in meant the situation was urgent.

Rudger calmly asked Hans, whose eyes were trembling as if in disbelief.

"What's the matter?"

"Brother. Um, a completely unexpected guest has arrived."

"...A guest. I see."

"Aren't you going to ask who it is?"

"I have a rough idea."

Rudger put down his coffee cup and stood up.

"That's unfortunate. I was hoping to have a leisurely tea time."

He thought that perhaps the brief moment just now when he could have drunk his coffee might be the only time of rest given to him from now on.

Rudger went to meet the guest who had come looking for him.

As expected, the moment he saw the woman with the innocent smile as if she didn't know the ways of the world, just like he had seen before, Rudger thought, "So it has come to this."

"It's been a long time."

"Yes, it has been a long time."

Remia, the priestess wearing a tiara that covered her eyes, received Rudger's greeting.

As if she wasn't bothered by Rudger's informal speech, or rather as if it was natural, her attitude was very composed.

"What's the reason for seeking me out?"

"I want to be of help to you."

"You're talking nonsense. A priestess of the Lumensis Order suddenly comes and says she wants to help. Do you think I'd believe that?"

"Approval has been granted from the Bretus mainland for the use of sacred artifacts."

When the topic of sacred artifacts suddenly came up, Rudger narrowed his eyes.

Sacred artifact, as the name suggests, was an artifact that operated with divine power.

Especially the sacred artifacts of the Bretus Holy Nation exceeded ordinary artifacts and possessed power comparable to relics.

That's just for ordinary sacred artifacts; for the sacred artifacts specially managed by the Holy Nation, rumors circulated that they possessed power beyond relics, comparable to true relics.

Rumors tend to be exaggerated, but they're not without basis.

"The sacred artifact that has been approved this time is one that is handled with extreme secrecy even in the mainland. It's called God's Stake."

"God's Stake..."

Feeling uneasy at the word 'stake', Rudger was met with Remia's smiling response.

"With that stake, they say they will permanently eliminate the Order's long-standing enemy."

No sooner had those words ended than a terrifying killing intent erupted from Rudger.