“Indeed, I had a counter-strategy for your technique,”

Sylvie says. Her movement to re-grip her sword hasn’t changed despite her injury. She seems to have no problem moving.

“But there’s nothing I can do about the dispersing Shockwaves… and with my current power, it’s difficult to block all of them with a Barrier. However, it’s possible to significantly increase the Barrier’s hardness for an instant and minimize the damage.”

“I see… so if I use this technique, a painful counterattack awaits me in exchange for a slight injury… you’re trying to say I can no longer use this.”

There was a hint of frustration in Gelga’s tone. “Bloodstained Guilt” was probably a technique he was confident in. To have it broken through, and even countered—perhaps his guts were boiling.

“Did you think this was a victory?”

“Of course not.”

Sylvie looks at her opponent and declares.

“I know that even though that last blow landed, it wasn’t a decisive one… but I have a technique to defeat you. Let’s finish this.”

With her declaration, Sylvie charges. Gelga, meeting her, imbues his blade with Magic Power, showing his resolve to blow her away instead.

I had a premonition that this would settle the match. I also understood what technique Sylvie would use. It was undoubtedly “One Instant.”

However, can she converge her Magic Power—while I was thinking, Gelga shouts.

“But this technique isn’t something that can be crushed just by being seen through once!”

It’s “Bloodstained Guilt” again. A Sword Strike unleashed with absolute confidence. From the emanating Magic Power, I understood that a Shockwave even stronger than before would be released.

What would Sylvie do—she still stepped forward. Magic Power emanates from her body. She pours Magic Power into her Barrier, and the Shockwave touches it.

A roar. An explosion, as if a Fireball had detonated, even occurs. Sylvie is swallowed by it, temporarily disappearing from sight.

“Sylvie!”

Sofia screams—the next moment, I sense her presence, swallowed by the Shockwave, with my Magic Power.

“—It’s over.”

Her figure becomes visible. Even at maximum Barrier output, she couldn’t completely block it, and she was somewhat injured—but she firmly blocked Gelga’s successive attacks and turned to counterattack.

Gelga also tried to defend. But Sylvie’s sword was overwhelmingly faster.

—Perhaps it was because she had an opponent to take Revenge on that she achieved Magic Convergence with such terrifying speed.

I was convinced. Sylvie’s unique advanced technique, “One Instant”—its completed form, is unleashed.

“—Ooooooh!”

The sword swung with a roar was truly what could be called divine speed. Gelga, who was the type to overwhelm with power, was decisively unable to respond and took all the slashes to his body.

The flurry of attacks ended in an instant, and Sylvie stopped moving. Gelga, on the other hand, groaned, bleeding from everywhere. Then he swayed backward and fell onto his back on the ground.

“You’ve got some amazing skills, don’t you?”

“Yes, that’s right… It’s a skill I developed to defeat you.”

“Hah… It seems this is the end. Are you satisfied?”

“I have no such feelings. It’s finally over… That’s all I feel.”

“How sad.”

Gelga stared at Sylvie, as if telling her to remember him forever.

“If you kill me, will your journey end?”

“I originally intended to, but I have other things to do.”

Sylvie declared resolutely, then swung her sword to flick off the blood and returned it to its sheath.

“I will defeat you and move forward.”

“Good luck… I’ll be rooting for you.”

Gelga, who spoke sarcastically, then lost his strength.

“It’s over, everyone.”

Sylvie said. Her back seemed to have a burden lifted… Sofia approached her from behind.

“Sylvie…”

“Don’t worry. I intend to fight alongside Sofia and the others.”

She turned around, showing a gentle, yet soft, feminine smile.

“What I had to do is finished. Now, it’s Sofia’s turn.”

“…Yes.”

Sofia nodded—thus, Sylvie’s event was completed.

After that, I dealt with Jeruga’s Sword. In the game, it disappeared with the event, but in reality, that wasn’t the case, so I had to do something about it.

Just as I was thinking that touching it might be problematic, I heard Garuku’s voice.

“As a weapon, it’s the type that gradually erodes the user’s mind. It’s not spewing miasma, so it should be harmless if not used.”

“You can tell?”

“Indeed. With Lord Ruon’s power, touching it shouldn’t be a problem.”

“Understood.”

I really wanted to destroy it, but carelessly breaking it could cause magic power to erupt and create trouble. So, for now, I decided to summon a Storage Box using Summoning Magic and put it in there. I’ll deal with it when I have time.

Then we returned to town—the next day,

“What will you do next?”

Sofia asked me while we were having breakfast at the inn.

“I’ve made contracts with spirits and been to Ganaize and the Academia. There’s no battle right now, but…”

“Give me some time to observe. Honestly, it’s a situation where the balance could break at any moment. The Five Great Wars with Demons aren’t over. The Southern Invasion isn’t over. We should prioritize those now.”

I also need to check what happened with the counter-strategy against the Demon King’s Magic… As I was thinking that, Lefin appeared.

“Lord Ruon, I have a report from the King of Gnomes, who is devising a strategy against the Demon King.”

“Perfect timing. I was just about to ask about that.”

“Before that, a confirmation. I heard this before, but it’s correct that for the Demon King to use that Magic, he must go to a certain place, isn’t it?”

This was probably a reconfirmation of the scenario’s flow that I had conveyed.

“It was mentioned in the story, so there’s no mistake. That’s why when the Demon King starts moving, that’s when he’ll use his Magic.”

“Just as Lord Garuku conducted his experiments, we are steadily preparing. The King of Gnomes also says things are going smoothly.”

“Understood… Now, Garuku.”

What is it?

I’m counting on you. I’ll help if I can.

I understand. Anyway, it’s possible with a little time. Don’t worry too much.

And Lefin…

I looked at Lefin again.

Regarding the people who possess Sage’s Power during the Five Great Wars with Demons… can you identify them?

We have a strategy for that for now. According to Lord Ruon’s explanation, the Five Great Demons are each abusing Sage’s Power and taking various actions.

That’s right.

We will analyze their Magic Power and calculate who possesses it and if they have good compatibility. I can’t say for sure about the accuracy, but I think it will be fine.

So the strategy is progressing smoothly, huh?

Kuuza said, crossing his arms.

Mr. Ruon, what about the information on the various people seen by the Familiars?

Ah… King Kanan is steadily gathering forces. The pace is quite impressive. At this rate, by the Southern Invasion, the projected forces will be–

Just as I said that, a new Familiar report came in–

This is…

Lord Ruon?

Sofia spoke up to me, who had suddenly stopped speaking.

“What’s wrong?”

I couldn’t answer the question and was silent for a moment. As my companions watched, wondering if something bad had happened… I turned to Sylvie.

“That was close.”

“What?”

“It seems we settled the score with Revenge just in the nick of time.”

“The Five Great Wars with Demons are going to happen, aren’t they?”

“Yes… Lefin.”

“Yes.”

“Can you immediately perform Demon King’s Magic and Sage’s Bloodline Magic Analysis?”

“Magic versus Strategy will still take some time, but Magic Analysis is available now. What happened?”

In response to the question, I glanced at my companions… then opened my mouth.

“…The Five Great Wars with Demons are approaching.”

“There were three left, right?”

I nodded at Sylvie’s words,

“Among them, two have prerequisite events. I think they heard or sensed the signs somewhere and acted.”

“So, the prerequisite events happened. Who did it?”

“Phili and Eina.”

Hearing Eina, Sofia reacted with a twitch. But it was Sylvie who asked the question.

“Did they both cooperate?”

“—No.”

I shook my head—and muttered to myself that Lefin’s previous concerns had come true.

“The two of them were involved in separate Five Great Demon Races Events… In other words, what’s about to happen is a simultaneous subjugation battle of the Five Great Demons—”