‘It’s over. Completely over. Ah, it was quite the entertaining play, though.’

'Carrafald' reverted to being Jiekhrund. Though he would have liked to linger on this stage a little longer, unlike Carrafald, Jiekhrund had a mission.

‘If the refinery gets vaporized... that would be catastrophic. The operation would be a failure. They won’t sit still after that.’

That wasn’t part of his original plan.

In the center of the control room, there was a trap he had set up. It was hastily made, but the type was reliable. An impressive lever with a red handle, designed to catch anyone’s attention, triggered the trap.

Originally, the regressor and Historia were supposed to argue and, eventually, activate the trap, falling into the Military State’s setup.

But I had read Jiekhrund’s thoughts, skipped over the trap, and activated the real annihilation device.

‘Should I have destroyed the annihilation device earlier? No, there wasn’t enough time. Even if you can improvise a trap, the annihilation device was designed when this refinery was built.’

As Jiekhrund thought that far, he cast a suspicious glance in my direction.

‘But how did the Piper know that was the annihilation device? I even put an impressive red handle on it to taunt him, and he only fiddled with it.’

While Jiekhrund lamented, the regressor, realizing what I had done, shouted frantically.

“You madman! What are you doing?!”

“Isn’t it obvious? I’ve turned the wheel of fate!”

“Turn it back!”

“I can’t. This is like pushing something teetering on the edge of a cliff. Once it’s set in motion, it can’t be undone!”

“Then what do we do?!”

“Why should I be the one worrying about that?”

The regressor seemed dumbfounded by my response, but I was completely serious.

“The Military State made the law. The Military State sentenced people to forced labor for breaking it. The Military State built this refinery and installed the annihilation device! All I did was push a button that was right in front of me. Is that really all my fault?”

“That’s nonsense! If this keeps going, these people will die. And even if their deaths delay the Military State’s plans, that won’t lead to a better outcome!”

“Do you want to save them? Then go ahead and save them yourself. Before this refinery leads them to their deaths, you can step in, Shay!”

“What?”

[Enough.]

Tyr cut off the regressor’s words. After letting out a brief sigh, Tyr looked at the regressor before walking toward me with a warm gaze.

[Huey took on the role of the villain for your sake. Instead of showing gratitude, you reproach him? You should feel ashamed.]

“How could I possibly be grateful for this?!”

[This is an issue that won’t be easily resolved anyway. Before wasting your energy pointlessly, Huey has shouldered all the blame. Shay, at this point, what you must do is not to blame Huey, but to think about what needs to be done next.]

After sternly scolding the regressor, Tyr approached me, gently taking my hand with her cold one and offering comfort.

[It’s alright. None of us are disappointed in you. Don’t blame yourself. Even if Shay says something harsh, it’s only out of frustration, not because she thinks you’re wrong.]

“Huh? I’m not blaming myself at all.”

[Right. Let’s leave it at that.]

Tyr smiled as she continued to comfort me. Leave it at that? I don’t feel the slightest bit of guilt. Why should I, when it’s a device built by the Military State? Why should I take responsibility for that?

Well, being comforted by an older woman who’s only kind to me isn’t such a bad feeling, even if she’s a bit too much older for my taste.

“You didn’t have to take it all upon yourself.”

Though the strategic goal she had suggested had been achieved, Historia still grumbled, clearly dissatisfied as she looked at me.

“I should have done it. I never intended to leave it to someone else.”

“You don’t have to thank me. All I did was turn the gears of fate.”

“I’m one of the Six Commanders. I have the authority to operate facilities under the Military State’s jurisdiction.”

“Just because someone gave you authority doesn’t mean you’re entitled to it. Whether you have authority or not, it’s my will that moves my body in the end.”

“Even so...”

Ah, it would have been a much better outcome if Historia had used the authority granted by the Military State to activate the device. But, well, she didn’t know which was the annihilation device, so there’s nothing to be done about that.

“But Huey, how did you find the annihilation de—?”

Historia didn’t finish her sentence. She saw someone else advancing ahead of her.

“Carrafald?”

It wasn’t Carrafald. Jiekhrund had already discarded that role.

Jiekhrund walked briskly and, at some point, stood before the lever with the red handle. His expression was a mix of regret and detachment, a multi-layered smile on his face as he gripped the handle tightly.

As everyone looked at him with curious gazes, he sighed deeply and lamented.

“This wasn’t how it was supposed to go.”

“Wait, Carrafald! What are you—?!”

Before the sentence was even finished, Jiekhrund yanked the red lever forcefully.

Though the trap had been hastily set up, it was all the more dramatic because of that. There wasn’t even time to react—not because we were slow, but because it was impossible.

Shrrrkk.

Something attached to the walls of the control room began to move. The dim light hadn’t revealed it before, but once Jiekhrund pulled the lever, it all moved at once.

It was as fast as the speed of light. There was no time to resist. The moment I recognized what was happening, the trap filled the refinery, descending upon us.

However, I had read his thoughts ahead of time and reacted a step faster.

“Tyr! Over here!”

[Huey? Why suddenly—]

As I pulled Tyr toward me, I quickly drew a card.

The Diamond Queen. The Queen of the Weave. It was a basic cloth packet, compressed alchemically. If combined with other cards, it could become the magical armor worn by the officers, but there wasn’t time for that now.

A large piece of fabric, almost like armor or silk, unfolded. The size wasn’t ideal, but it was enough to cover Tyr. I flicked my hands, spreading the cloth wide before wrapping it tightly around her.

Although she could have been startled, Tyr simply watched what I was doing with a calm gaze. It was fortunate that Tyr had such a relaxed personality. If I had tried this with the regressor, she probably would have cut me down instantly.

Just as the cloth fully enveloped Tyr’s body—

Light exploded.

Thousands of suns seemed to ignite at once. What had been decorating the walls were searchlights, each one blazing with a fierce light. Thousands, tens of thousands of high-powered searchlights emitted beams all at once.

The light struck us directly, bounced off the ground, and reflected in all directions, overlapping again and again until everything burned white.

The overwhelming brightness filled our vision. I instinctively closed my eyes, but the explosive light pierced through my eyelids, invading the inside of my retinas.

“Ugh! Light?!”

It was a trap laid by the Military State. The control room had been packed with an enormous number of searchlights. It was all to trap Tyr.

The sun may shine brightly across the land, but to us standing on the ground, it’s just a tiny hole in the sky. As long as you don’t stare directly at it, it isn’t harmful.

In contrast, the Military State’s searchlights poured light in every direction, surrounding us. No matter where you looked, the brightness blinded you.

[The sun has set, and yet... such light...!]

“They’re searchlights! Heated metal emits light! This refinery doesn’t just process metal; it manufactures searchlights too!”

It was a desperate plan to counter Tyr in the dead of night. If I hadn’t been here, it would have worked quite well. Darkness would have been consumed rapidly to combat the artificial light.

But unlike the sun, the practical, man-made light from the searchlights was far less mystical and much less intense. It couldn’t penetrate the thick fabric I had wrapped around Tyr.

“Tyr, are you alright?”

[Yes, I am fine. Being protected like this doesn’t feel too bad....]

Tyr gripped the edge of the cloth a little tighter, leaning her head against me. Not bad? It’s plenty bad! You should be the one protecting me, not the other way around!

Meanwhile, Jiekhrund was on the move!

‘Let’s eliminate any variables first.’

Jiekhrund didn’t miss the moment when everyone lost their vision. He pulled out a hidden dagger and aimed straight at me. Even though Tyr was nearby, the blinding light outside prevented her from noticing the attack.

What should I do? Use Tyr as a shield? No, that’s a last resort. If the cloth covering Tyr gets torn, the consumption of darkness will be enormous.

After all, he’s not fully recovered either, and he’s only attacking based on memory. So...

“Tyr! Pardon me!”

[…Do as you wish.]

“There’s nothing to ‘wish’ about this!”

I hugged Tyr tightly and threw myself to the ground. My body and Tyr’s slammed hard against the floor, but the pain in my back was fleeting. I rolled desperately to keep Jiekhrund from pinpointing my location in the flood of light.

Though my back was aching from the hard floor, it was still better than being stabbed. Jiekhrund lost track of me in the blinding light.

Phew, I survived. Thankfully, I can still read thoughts with my eyes closed. Let’s check on Tyr...

[Is this... what they call being ‘bundled up’? I had dismissed it as an absurd custom, but experiencing it firsthand is... quite strange....]

Hearing her nonsense, it was clear she hadn’t suffered any injury. Tyr was perfectly fine. After all, a vampire wouldn’t get hurt from rolling on the ground.

‘Has he figured out the nature of the trap? And he even dodged my attack... This level of intuition can’t be explained by knowledge or instinct alone.’

Tch. I should worry more about myself. I acted quickly due to the urgency, but now I’ve attracted Jiekhrund’s suspicion.

‘How suspicious. I’ll need to confirm this. Even if it means revealing my disguise.’

Both the regressor and Historia quickly adapted to the light. Masters of martial energy can infuse their eyes with energy, enabling them to adjust even to the retina-searing brightness.

“This light... It’s a trap to consume darkness. It’s meant to hold Tyrkanjaka! Wait, then...?”

The regressor, realizing something, immediately pointed to Jiekhrund, who still wore the guise of Carrafald. He stood with a dagger in hand, ready to strike someone, his form eerily out of place amid the light.

Historia quickly grasped the situation. Carrafald had pulled the lever, triggering the searchlights.

The conclusion was clear.

“Carrafald set off the trap.”

There was no room for doubt.

Though Historia had a strange attachment to her comrades who had survived Hameln, there were limits. Carrafald, who had once aspired to be a magical officer, was the most distant from her emotionally.

Thus, it was easy to doubt him.

“Betrayal? Or a disguise...?”

“Either way, it means he’s an enemy, right? Then!”

Without a moment’s hesitation, the regressor charged forward, brandishing her weapon. It was an immediate and natural reaction, in stark contrast to Historia, who had hesitated briefly, as if they hadn’t just been fighting side by side.

The transparent blade cleaved through the light, striking Jiekhrund deeply.

“Aaaaargh!”

Jiekhrund stumbled back, blood spilling from the wound. His grip weakened, and the dagger fell from his hand. The regressor pressed the attack, shouting.

“Stop the trap at once...! What? He’s dead?”

The regressor hesitated. She hadn’t delivered a killing blow, but Jiekhrund, despite his weakness, was trembling as though on the verge of death.

“What? A puppet? No, that sensation earlier...”

No, he’s faking it. Jiekhrund had played dead numerous times before, perfecting the act by stopping his breath and disrupting his martial energy.

Though I wanted to warn the regressor, doing so would only draw Jiekhrund’s attention back to me. It was better to stay quiet for now.

The only one not keeping up with the situation was Siati, still squinting and frowning as her vision hadn’t fully recovered.

“Ugh... Carrafald? Where are you?”

Clicking her tongue in frustration, Historia grabbed Siati and shouted.

“Siati, listen carefully! Carrafald betrayed us. Because of him, we’re trapped!”

“Historia? Why are you suddenly trying to turn us against each other?”

“Just listen to me! I don’t have time to explain everything right now!”

Barking sharply, Historia pulled Siati toward a relatively shaded area and yelled.

“Cute one!”

The regressor immediately reacted.

“Why do you keep—wait! Stop calling me that!”

“There’s no way this is the end of the trap. We need to get out, now! Cut through the wall! If I try to break it, the whole building might collapse!”

“Tch...! If we leave now, this place will turn into a real hell...!”

“Are you going to kill everyone who followed you here? Think about your allies more than the villains trapped here!”

The regressor grudgingly agreed. She didn’t philosophize when it came to situations like this. When her comrades were in danger, she didn’t waste time weighing the greater good.

After all, the regressor wasn’t a god. She had her limits. With so much at stake, she had to deal with the immediate crisis first.

Just like any normal person, the regressor showed flexibility.

“Celestial Blade...!”

Just as the regressor was about to slice through the wall with her sword, something caught her attention, and she quickly changed direction, deflecting an incoming attack.

Clang!

Though she had swung at the empty air, the sound of metal clashing rang out. And it didn’t end there. The regressor stepped forward, striking again and again at invisible targets. Each time her sword cut through the air, the sharp clang of metal followed.

It was blindingly bright everywhere. Trying to find a foe made of light in this sea of brilliance was like spotting a blue flower floating in the depths of a blue ocean.

Even the regressor, without her magic eyes, might not have been able to spot the foe. Flashes of color flickered in succession as she barely managed to catch sight of her attacker.

The regressor grimaced.

“Eymeder...! Of all places, here?”

『Observation complete. Manifestation rate 57%. Artificial light environment. Advantageous.』

Bathed in radiant light, the guardian angel of the Military State revealed itself.

At the same time, a loud noise echoed from outside. The forces the Military State had hidden within the refinery were now coming in to finish off the intruders caught in the trap.