“Are you really planning to leave?”

As dozens of fragments of light from the stained glass touched the ground, that colorful light shimmered with an almost mystical glow.

The light falling on the pure white robes was no different. The Pope’s voice was as gentle as always, but Adrian decided to temporarily ignore that kindness.

After all, it was a decision that was far too callous, unilateral, and selfish for a saint.

“Yes.”

“The title of Saint will remain, but even so, there will be criticism. No matter how you put it… following personal desires isn’t right, is it?”

There were those who felt pity for the saint, having brought her in during her childhood. However, this religion was not a place where everything could be decided simply by sympathy.

The compassion she held in her youth had faded, and how many were there who fervently followed the grown saint?

Even the Pope couldn’t deny that the saint’s worth lay in such aspects. He was aware that Adrian had recently formed a deep relationship with Robert Taylor.

Because he was the Pope. After all, how could he not know what was happening within this order?

The fact that she hadn’t said anything about such matters, despite being a saint, was merely an old man’s consideration after leaving the Pope. Now that she was leaving, the responsibility could only fall on the saint.

“I’ll ask again.”

As the Pope moved his frail body, Adrian nodded slightly, recalling the day he first arrived at the order.

Back then, the now-Pope, who was still a cardinal, was someone terrifying above all others. But now, he merely looked like a grandfather with a faded firearm.

In the end, he was just convinced that he’d allow this nonsensical insistence.

“Are you really going? Heading to the north, where chaos reigns, could possibly be seen as an act of betrayal by the imperial family.”

“If God commands it, I must follow.”

“…Did God truly command it? Can the face you envision in your heart truly be called God?”

Adrian remained silent in response to that question. But wasn’t the implication clear? The Pope chuckled bitterly, wiping his wrinkled face and letting out a sigh.

He had thought that such a day would come eventually. After all, she hadn’t grown up in the order. She had experienced freedom and had a wealth of experiences for a saint.

Contrary to the doctrines of the order, there would inevitably come a day when she would leave with a completely different intent.

If the saint genuinely believed and followed that romantic feeling called love, what was he to do? If the saint left, all the criticism that erupted afterward would solely be his.

He hadn’t captured the saint. The Pope had lost his wits and abandoned God’s grace. But if he didn’t stop her here, and if the saint, who loved nothing more than Robert Taylor, got buried somewhere in the north?

The blessing has been forsaken. But if we do not hold on here, what if Robert Taylor, whom the Saint does not love, is buried somewhere in the North?

“My head is going to explode.”

I do not know what God’s intention is. I’ve never hoped for such complex problems to be thrown at this dying old man; just… just. Perhaps this too is God’s will.

The Pope, looking down at Adrian, quietly extended the hand holding the cane forward.

“Adrian.”

The Divine Power that seeped from his hand enveloped Adrian’s body. It was the first time the Pope had called him by name instead of the usual Saint, causing Adrian to look up in surprise.

For a moment, the green eyes that had lost their resolve regained the stern light he had seen in childhood. Those eyes slowly narrowed and began to fade with a quiet sigh.

“I have always wished for your happiness.”

Would it make me feel better to bring in an unsuspecting child under the pretense of Divine Grace?

I pondered many times whether this was truly God’s will. But now, I have come to believe that letting Adrian go is within the bounds of that will.

If God truly desires this, then preventing it would go against doctrine.

“So I grant permission.”

“…Your Holiness—”

“Leave immediately. Soon, the parishioners will flock here upon hearing this news.”

Betrayal. An incident that erupted for reasons most unpleasant. It’s unlikely that the Grand Duke or Robert escaped unscathed from this inferno.

Having bestowed his power, even if they were severely injured, healing would still be possible. In a pinch, perhaps even unleashing the powers that had been sealed all this time would be viable.

After momentarily gazing at the Pope, Adrian stood up and turned away. It was the moment his secret mission to the North was set in motion.

#

Mephisto’s body crumbled. The symbolism of a shattering form was simple.

It meant that the accumulated, even life-sustaining magic was now clustered in those fingers ready to be unleashed.

He ran. To the maximum of his potential. Although biting down was familiar, it felt as though his teeth had broken from the strain with a sharp pain resonating.

He considered.

That such an event could happen. However, there was no real way to stop it. After all, facing two demons meant he had to squeeze out every possibility he could muster.

If he were in prime condition, he could have somehow dispelled that magic. But now, that was impossible.

One arm was broken, and the magic he possessed was just enough to finish off Mephisto.

Watching the scene, everything felt like it was slowing down. That brief moment seemed to splinter into dozens, hundreds of pieces, enough to observe even the fragments.

It was. That brief moment seemed to fragment into dozens, even hundreds of pieces, to the point where I could observe fragments.

The gazes pouring toward me, the soldiers falling beneath the crumbling castle walls—there were not many bodies that could withstand the magic power.

As soon as the wave of magic touched them, I could read no emotion in their expressions, which shattered instantly.

Perhaps I had ignored it. A selfish thought, but the only being in my mind right now was a single person.

Coincidentally, I felt a familiar magic power at the edge of the storm of magic. It was the energy I had become quite accustomed to shortly after my reincarnation.

Adele, the reason I had come here. The person I had vowed to save, no matter what happened.

Right.

No matter what happened. I had anticipated this kind of self-destruction, yet I could not find a way to counter it.

In situations like this, what was I supposed to do? I had only one thought. I had said I would act as if nothing had happened, no matter what.

Somehow… there was likely only one thing. I saw Adele at a distance. And following that direction, I threw myself forward even before the magic reached me.

#

Adele rubbed her sore neck and frowned slightly. She didn’t expect to be knocked out like this.

She thought something would happen, but she never imagined it would be a romance-less fainting. Judging by the strong magic reactions outside, there were probably three of them, so Robert must be fighting the demons.

She wanted to help out, but Adele knew well why Robert had knocked her out. Joining that fight would only be a hindrance.

It was somewhat amusing that she could only be a hindrance, and she couldn’t even guess what mindset Robert was in over there.

“What am I supposed to do?”

Adrian and Miragen were there too. It wouldn’t matter if she died. In fact, it would probably help more if she died… damn it.

Adele knew better than anyone that Robert wouldn’t think like this. If she were Robert, she would definitely come here to save her.

Still, the worry was real, and she couldn’t stay here forever. Their lieutenant was probably watching that battle.

Adele, equipped with a sword, opened the door to find the hallway quiet. The soldiers occasionally seen were busy preparing for something, and sometimes one of the lieutenants could be seen running urgently in the distance.

If she wasn’t there, the person with command would be Lothos, so what kind of orders had he given for everyone to be like this?

As she pondered for a moment, Adele realized that everything was for one purpose and couldn’t help but smile. A coup d’état; if Robert won against the demons, he would have to charge straight to the capital.

If Robert were to achieve victory against the demons, he would have to charge straight to the capital.

Ironically, the moment he was branded a traitor, the lives of the entire North became a gamble.

If they couldn’t move forward from here, they would have to sit and wait for death, so Adele, secretly praising Lothos for grasping the situation, took a step forward. What she hoped for was that Robert wouldn’t sustain any wounds.

He must be fighting for his life. But he had confidence in moving forward after fainting.

If he really thought he was going to die, he would have said something like to defeat all the Northern soldiers. He must have thought he could win. To charge right after winning.

As they walked for a while, their steps abruptly halted, struck by a powerful wave felt from afar.

This was a completely different, intense storm of magic directed at their position. At the same time, Robert’s magic was also felt, but only for a moment.

The magic that couldn’t fully negate the incoming force crashed into the castle, and in the debris falling apart, it was the moment Adele tried to draw out her magic.

“Robert…?”

She instinctively realized that she couldn’t block this magic with her own power. She might die, or if she survived, she would be left crippled.

But why was Robert there? Even as their eyes met, Robert didn’t say a word and blocked Adele’s path. Breathless, his blood-soaked body covered the way.

The meaning of that action was clear. In that moment, Adele’s hand, which had been trying to stop it, was rebuffed back into the air.

Robert’s entire magic had already formed a barrier blocking the front, so whatever Adele was screaming while pounding on that barrier didn’t reach Robert.

“Robert, what on earth-!”

“It’s nothing.”

Wasn’t this the life he had repeatedly tried to save? As he locked eyes with Adele, Robert gently smiled.

Like soothing a crying child, it was the same sly smile he always wore, but the reality that the storm of magic behind him was slowly breaking through the barrier was undeniable.

Crack.

Magic made contact with him, exploding, and although he felt a sharp pain piercing through his body, he continued to smile.

“It will be nothing, I promise.”

He had decided from the very beginning. Even if he died, saving Adele alone was a bargain.

In the fading consciousness and the completely vanishing magic, Robert quietly smiled upon confirming that Adele was all right.

This was enough.

This was, sufficient.