“Ugh, 30 minutes is really long… I should have shortened the time a bit…”

As more than 25 minutes had passed since she started maintaining the barrier over the Galadun Sea, Marin muttered to herself while wiping the blood that flowed from her nose with the long, red-splattered sleeve.

No matter how powerful she was as a psychic, maintaining a barrier over the sea was naturally an overwhelming task.

Seeing the flickering in front of her eyes, she could feel that she was reaching her limit.

However, having declared that she could do it, she was determined to hold on for at least 30 minutes, even if she collapsed in the end.

Florene was bravely blocking a giant centipede with her small stature, while Dwight and Silvia were doing their best to protect everyone from the incoming lesser demonic beasts.

Scarlet must have been fighting the witch alone somewhere out of sight.

Everyone was desperately fulfilling their roles, and just as Marin was thinking that she couldn’t be the only one to falter…

– Kiiiiing─!

“Ah, the centipede…!”

“Get back! Catch that thing─!! Ugh, why are these guys acting up all of a sudden?!”

Suddenly, an anomaly occurred.

The massive centipede, which had been stubbornly moving toward the sea even without its head, suddenly emitted a strange cry, stumbled back, and began to move in the opposite direction.

Just as the heroes were trying to respond quickly to the bizarre situation that had unfolded after twenty minutes of stagnation, the lesser demonic beasts suddenly lost their sanity and began to go wild, preventing them from stopping the centipede’s movements.

“Damn it, wasn’t it supposed to be dying?”

“Why is it so fast?!”

Even though it was moving backward, the speed of the centipede was incredible.

It was hard to believe that a creature that was losing power with its head gone could move with such agility.

As if making a final struggle before dying, the centipede charged toward the place where it had been buried earlier.

There was a massive burrow there, likely its home.

Once it had pushed its entire body, starting from its tail, into that burrow…

“…Is it dead?”

Kiiing, it let out a low cry and then stopped moving altogether.

Was it a final struggle born from the desire to breathe its last in that place?

No one could know the centipede’s thoughts, so the reason remained a mystery—but that was not the important part.

“Crazy…! That thing, the entrance!!!”

“Grab it! Hold it steady so it doesn’t collapse!!”

When the centipede had just shoved its body into the burrow, it had clumsily slammed its body against the sides, causing the debris piled up at the entrance to shake and start to fall.

Everyone instinctively understood.

If that fell, it could cause the entire unstable structure of the burrow to collapse.

If it were just the centipede getting buried, the collapse of the burrow wouldn’t matter much, but inside the centipede’s body was the holy relic that Scarlet absolutely needed to take with her.

If that got completely buried in the burrow, it was clear that the situation would not end well, so the hunting squad quickly sprang into action, each grabbing the debris to prevent the burrow from collapsing.

However, although they narrowly managed to stop the collapse of the burrow, a bigger problem remained.

“Now… it’s getting dangerous…”

“…Damn it, what should we do?”

This was a notification that Marin, who had been holding back the sea for almost 30 minutes, was reaching her limit.

Scarlet, who had said she would solve things within 30 minutes, was still nowhere to be found.

They couldn’t just stay here, risking drowning all together, so a decision had to be made.

“…For now, we retreat.”

“What?! Then what about Lady Scarlet!!”

“…She’s a witch, so she can probably hold out for a while even underwater.”

“But!”

“But what? There’s no other way right now.”

“Ugh…”

“…Don’t worry too much. I’m not giving up on her. For some reason, the lesser demonic beasts are confused, and the centipede is dead. Now the hunting squad can search inside the centipede’s body and focus on fighting the witch. So, let’s retreat, rest a bit until Marin can open the sea again, and then come back to rescue her and complete our unfinished mission.”

The hunting squad reluctantly agreed to retreat, take a brief break, and then return here to continue the mission.

Despite some initial resistance, Silvia ultimately recognized that there was no other option and decided to go along with it.

Lady Scarlet would surely be safe until then.

Though uneasy, they held onto that belief.

However, even as the hunting squad decided to retreat to avoid the incoming seawater…

“Hey! Why are you just standing there when we need to retreat?!”

“…Everyone, quickly get on. Marin is at her limit now.”

For some reason, there were people who did not leave.

“Haha, we’ll be left behind.”

“We’ll stay here.”

Diakonos and the members of Dolos House.

“Everyone, hurry and go! Florene will stay here!”

And it was Florene.

Her voice surprised Diakonos, as it wasn’t something they had discussed, but…

Regardless of that unexpected action, the hunting members shouted in panic.

“No, the seawater is about to flood in! Why are you all staying behind?!”

“Exactly! We’re not trying to commit suicide, so what are you planning to do by staying here… Ah.”

As they were shouting, they realized something at the sight that caught their eyes and let out a low sigh.

Everyone had seen it.

The scene of Diakonos and the members of Dolos House firmly holding onto the debris of buildings that had been precariously shaking a moment ago.

Florene, standing at the entrance of the burrow, was enlarging the morning star she held in her hand and driving it into the floor and ceiling like a pillar.

How could they not realize what they were staying behind for after witnessing that?

None could have possibly not understood.

The entrance to the burrow, which had been wobbling dangerously just moments ago.

If seawater came crashing in there, the shock could very well cause the burrow to collapse.

Yet, even knowing that, everyone had remained silent because they thought it was something they had to leave to fate.

Even if the burrow collapsed and they faced difficulties in their search, that was something beyond their control—an unfortunate circumstance that they could only accept.

“This burrow, if it collapses, it will be a major issue.”

“Don’t worry! Florene will ensure it doesn’t collapse!”

However, to avoid risking an uncertain misfortune that might or might not happen, Dolos decided to willingly make a sacrifice that he could not deem unnecessary.

Was it out of atonement?

No, even without the reason of atonement, their actions would not have differed.

Dolos’s family had always acted devotedly for the sake of humanity.

Knowing that, the hunting squad bowed their heads in respect for their determination.

But one person could not stand by and watch their sacrifice.

“…Don’t worry? Don’t spout nonsense.”

Dwight Ninehart, a boy who was riding on the flight spell that Silvia had created for their retreat, muttered as he jumped down.

Without giving anyone a chance to stop him, Dwight dashed toward Florene, who wore a look of surprise.

He struck a nerve and asked her with a fierce expression.

“…Did you think we would be grateful if you died like this?”

At Dwight’s sharp question, Florene shook her head with a bitter smile.

“…No, I didn’t think so.”

“…Then why are you doing this?”

“…You know, Dwight. I made a big mistake by being tricked by the witch and causing everyone harm. I feel sorry for that, so I want to make up for it in any way I can.”

Hearing Florene’s response filled with regret, Dwight clenched his fists and muttered.

“…If you felt that sorry, you should think of a way to repay that while living.”

Dwight said that while looking at Florene, who was holding firmly onto her weapon as if vowing not to let the burrow fall, her feet planted in the ground like stakes.

Dwight knew that no matter what he said, he wouldn’t be able to change his little friend’s mind.

She had always been someone whose resolve was stronger than her power.

So instead of trying to sway Florene’s heart, Dwight stood still and drew a magic circle in the air.

The circle was drawn in an instant and dispersed into the surroundings.

Looking up in awe at the glowing magic circles that attached themselves to his body and hers, Florene asked.

“…What kind of magic is this?”

“It’s a spell that supplies oxygen to the lungs. With this, you’ll be able to hold out a bit even underwater. I’ve sent some to your family outside as well. Besides that, I can offer some reinforcement spells to help keep the burrow from collapsing.”

After responding, Dwight placed his hand gently over Florene’s hand, which clung to her weapon, standing behind her.

Seeing his actions, which clearly indicated his intention to stay, Florene cautiously inquired.

“…Dwight, are you planning to stay here?”

“I can’t turn around the mind of someone determined to die, so I have no choice but to remain and find a way to save you. Honestly, I don’t have much confidence. Magic is great, but it has the downside of being difficult to perform if I’m not prepared.”

No matter how powerful his magic was, the question remained: what were the chances of survival?

Florene understood that, so she hoped that Dwight would reconsider staying.

But as she felt the strength in the hand that remained on her shoulder, it seemed he wouldn’t change his mind.

Through everything she had seen thus far, he was someone who never changed his mind once it was made up.

Complicated feelings swirled within her as Florene asked Dwight.

“…Why are you going this far for me?”

Dwight responded seriously to her question.

“…Because you are a precious friend to me.”

“More than magic?”

As joy mingled with a strange shyness, Florene teasingly asked.

But after a moment of serious contemplation, Dwight replied:

“…If I say you’re as precious as magic, would you be disappointed?”

At that answer, Florene burst into laughter.

As she laughed, tears began to flow unexpectedly.

She had learned that tears came from sadness, yet here she was, crying without feeling sad at all.

Suppressing her emotions, Florene quietly asked Dwight.

“…Hey, Dwight. Florene Dolos really, really likes you. How about you?”

Dwight answered that question.

“…I’ll give you an answer when we make it back safely.”

“…Okay.”

Thus, the two of them connected through the hands resting on each other, quietly awaiting the torrents that were about to descend upon them.

Feeling the strong bond that wouldn’t break from any wave.

However, what approached them was not the tidal wave from the front…

“…What are you two doing right now?”

“…Huh?”

But rather, the explosion of flames coming from behind.