Four days have passed since Isaac was devoured by The Abyss.

The dark sky still stretched over the sea.

However, unlike at the beginning, it was no longer appropriate to call it complete darkness. It had taken on a perfect form, flaunting its dazzling mana imitating the starry sky adorned with the Milky Way.

Due to the demon blocking the sunlight, an early cold visited Märchen Academy. Those remaining on the island had to dig out their winter clothes.

Most people, including students, faculty, residents, and tower wizards, evacuated from the island to escape the dark skies.

Princess Snow White was forcibly taken away in a carriage by some Imperial Knights, including Merlin Astrea, under an Imperial Order to protect her.

Saintess Bianca Anturaze remained at the church and prayed daily. Although the Pope sent a letter ordering her to evacuate, Bianca firmly refused, evacuating only the Priests and Believers. However, the Escort priest, Sylon, stayed by her side.

Bianca awaited The Nameless Hero, Isaac. She felt compelled to deliver the mysterious book she had found to him, believing it to be the will of the Lord, Manhalla.

Moreover, there were others who remained at the academy.

First, faculty who felt a sense of duty remained as well as a very miniscule amount of students. These students were Dorothy, Luce, Kaya, and the Saintess.

Second, the Imperial Knights were entrusted with the protection of the empire.

Third, the Hegel Tower Master.

Fourth, Düpfendorf forces and the ice magic beasts, who were guarding the island after winning the war against the demon army. They were Isaac's minions.

Fifth, the four paladins and Alice's familiars were detained in prison. These accomplices in the current crisis were restrained with handcuffs or ropes that interfered with mana circulation

The Trump soldiers all disappeared somewhere. Since it was impossible to track all of them, they could only restrain and imprison the Paladins and Alice's familiars.

For four nights, Dorothy, Luce, and Kaya desperately unleashed their strongest spells toward The Abyss, sacrificing sleep in the process. They overused their mana to the point of bleeding from their noses, driven by the thought that Isaac was inside that dark creature.

Similarly, the Imperial Knights also launched an all-out assault on The Abyss for four days.

Ian Fairytale helped by relentlessly unleashing light element attacks.

The remaining students and Düpfendorf's forces tried all kinds of tactical attacks together.

However, it was futile. The demon, not even tickled by their attacks, merely continued to imitate the starry sky.

Eventually, the situation led to evacuating Ian and waiting for the empire's strongest force, the Subjugation Force.

"What are you planning to do?"

Department of Magic, Orphin Hall.

In the reception room, Headmistress Elena Woodline and Professor Fernando Frost sat facing each other.

Fernando had come to discuss with Elena what to do regarding the colossal being floating in the sky.

"The students? Have they all evacuated?"

Fernando shook his head.

There were a total of four students left at the academy.

Dorothy Heartnova, Luce Eltania, Kaya Astrea, and Saintess Bianca Anturaze.

Fernando persistently urged the students to flee for four days, but they completely ignored his pleas.

Even the Saintess locked herself in the church, blocking everyone's access, which left no opportunity to even speak with her.

"Haa. So? How are the kids doing?"

"Luce Eltania and Kaya Astrea should be resting. Aside from the problem of overusing their mana, they seemed to be in a poor mental state. As for Dorothy Heartnova..."

Fernando paused, pondering how to explain, before speaking.

"To be honest, she is in a very dangerous condition."

Elena was puzzled.

"What? Why? What happened?"

"If she were a normal person, she would have to be prepared for death due to severe fever, and she sometimes shows signs of seizures. The backlash from overusing starlight magic is so severe that even healing magic isn’t working."

Fernando looked sympathetic as he recalled Dorothy's suffering.

"We are currently forcing her to rest with the cooperation of the Imperial Knights."

"Wait, wait! Why did this happen to her...?"

"We suspect it's a side effect of starlight mana."

Dorothy poured out her magic with all her might at The Abyss for four days and four nights.

Eventually, her overwhelming emotions and the overuse of starlight mana drove her into the worst physical condition.

Starlight mana was a special power bestowed by the Star Fairy. No one knew what the exact side effects were when the power was abused.

What was certain was that Dorothy's physical condition was so serious that it would not have been surprising if she had died at any moment.

"Dorothy..." Elena said with a worried expression..

"Actually... I don't really know."

"What do you mean?"

"The Nameless Hero, no, he has revealed his identity now. Yes, Isaac. Even he couldn't do anything and was devoured. That extraordinary archwizard."

Now it was widely known that the nameless hero was Isaac. The news must have reached the imperial family as well.

"I can't think of escaping because I don't know if he is safe... After all, he is also our academy student..."

"...Is that so."

"I'm sorry, Professor Frost. It's shameful that someone like me, the Headmistress, is showing such weakness."

Elena, as the Headmistress, felt a heavy responsibility. She would not allow herself to choose the option of escaping first while leaving even one academy student behind.

Fernando sighed.

"…Emperor Carlos was on his way here in person. That extraordinary visit was interrupted due to the appearance of the demon in the sky."

"Yes."

"He should be staying in a nearby estate by now. If we flee here, we won't be far from receiving the strong protection of the imperial forces. Moreover, you, as the Headmistress, are recognized by the Imperial family."

Fernando turned his head to look out the window. The demon still filled the sky, imitating the starry night.

"And since the strongest force, The Subjugation Force of the empire is on its way here, you will be forced to leave anyway. It's only a matter of time before we have to leave this academy."

The Subjugation Force, a unit comprised of the Imperial Guard, regarded as the empire’s most formidable military force, was undoubtedly one of the strongest forces in the empire.

They were rushing to defeat the demon in the sky because the area where Isaac was devoured was directly above the island.

If the Subjugation Force arrived, the place would turn into a battlefield.

The academy, which many had grown attached to, would soon succumb to all the challenges it had faced.

However, this didn't mean that Märchen Academy would disappear. With the support of the empire and investors, another Märchen Academy was being built.

Until the new campus was completed, education could only continue in temporary facilities, so Märchen Academy would not disappear.

"Therefore, I would like you, as the Headmistress, to focus first on making sure you survive."

"Professor Frost, what about you?"

"Unlike you, I am just a mere professor. If even one student decides to remain here, I intend to stay until the end."

"You are really stubborn... What was I even thinking talking to someone like you..."

Elena thought and sighed.

If the demon above tried to destroy the academy before the Subjugation Force arrived, Elena would cast protection magic to protect the remaining people.

It was a power that could distort even the most formidable attacks. Perhaps she could somehow block at least one attack from the demon imitating the starry sky.

***

Märchen Academy Detention Center. Press Room.

The Imperial Knights decided to interrogate the four paladins separately. They kept them in separate buildings, each a significant distance from one another, that served as temporary detention centers.

The paladins, all highly skilled in magic, posed a risk if kept too close together, as they might unexpectedly utilize their powers. Just restraining them with handcuffs that interfered with mana circulation was not reassuring enough.

The Clover Paladin, Pierre Flanche did not respond at all to the Imperial Knight's questioning. Pierre, who was always cheerful, now wore a very expressionless face.

The other paladins felt the same. They had failed, and ultimately, Queen Alice had been devoured by the demon.

All the paladins were so overwhelmed by a piercing sense of loss that they were left speechless.

"So, you won't reveal anything? Not your motives for this incident, nor your true identities?"

As the Imperial Knight asked with an angry face, Pierre Flanche squeezed out a voice.

"...Kill me."

"What?"

It was an answer from someone who had already given up on everything.

"It's all my fault. You can torture me. I don't mind if you display my head in Viyans plaza."

Viyans was the capital of the Zelver Empire.

"So just... kill me."

Having failed their mission and set to lose everything, they had even caused the emergence of the powerful demon that now filled the night sky.

They had no choice but to atone with painful screams and death. No, they wanted to. Otherwise, they felt they could not endure the loss and guilt.

The other paladins felt the same. They had long resolved to lay everything down upon failure. They wished to die soon, to atone, and to serve their Queen in the afterlife.

...It was then.

Boom!!

A brilliant explosion blasted the press room door, crumpling it like paper.

The Imperial knight, startled, jumped to his feet and immediately drew his sword.

The person who entered the press room was a female student with light purple hair.

Among the strongest in the empire, she was considered Märchen Academy's greatest force. She was Dorothy Heartnova.

She was drenched in sweat, gasping for air, and clutching her head in pain. Her face was twisted with the agony of a fever and a headache so severe that it could have killed an ordinary person.

Dorothy glared at Pierre.

Having not slept for four days and the continuous casting of spells, combined with her dreadful physical condition, Dorothy's appearance bore no trace of her former vitality.

"Should I...? Should I just kill you...?"

Dorothy spoke, her voice mixed with ragged breaths.