Chaos descended upon the grand duchy’s Inspection Branch.

After the Grand Duke’s death, the conflict between brothers over the successor position was slowly surfacing.

Because of this, the Inspection Branch was also on edge.

They didn’t know when something might happen.

In the midst of this, a sword so huge it was visible to the naked eye in the distant sky.

A meteor magic estimated to be 6-star level or higher was observed…

The branch director called an emergency meeting.

All inspectors of chief level and above attended.

“It’s presumed to be 6-star meteor magicㅡ.”

“Hey, you bastard, who doesn’t know that. You, get out.”

“Yes..”

At the branch director’s shout, someone quietly left the meeting room.

“Check again. See if there are any 6-star or higher great magicians who have recently entered the grand duchy.”

“Yes!”

At the branch director’s words, someone left the meeting room.

“And, uh.. what was it. Ah, yes. Tell the knight order on standby nearby to be ready to deploy at any time.”

“Yes, sir.”

Another person left.

“Lastly, tell the surveillance personnel again to report immediately if any unusual circumstances are found.”

“Understood.”

As a result of people leaving the meeting room one by one after receiving the branch director’s orders.

Only three people remained.

The branch director, and Ria and Gilbert who were dispatched from the Inspection Headquarters.

The seniors met each other’s eyes.

What on earth is going on?

That’s what I’m saying.

Ria opened her mouth.

“Branch Director? What should we do~?”

“Ah, you two.. It seems you can lend your strength if something happens.”

“Understood~”

Ria and Gilbert also left the meeting room.

It’s been over a month since we lost contact with the Team Leader and the youngest.

Normally, we wouldn’t have paid much attention thinking they’d manage well on their own.

But because the political situation in the grand duchy is unusual, the Department Head exceptionally issued an emergency dispatch order and sent us here.

The purpose of the dispatch was to confirm whether they were alive or dead.

Of course, we weren’t worried. With the Team Leader there, what could go wrong?

We were just curious. What on earth are they doing!

Ria opened her mouth.

“What are they doing to have no news for over a month?”

“Maybe they’ve infiltrated deep into the Partisans.”

“Come on~ Say something that makes sense. Is the Team Leader someone who would stay quietly hidden somewhere? Let’s see.. She might endure for about 4 days. After that, she’d probably say ‘This is boring.’ and kill everyone?”

“That’s, true.”

Ria, who laughed dryly as if it was ridiculous, continued speaking.

“By the way, which crazy bastard used meteor magic near the grand duchy’s capital? If it’s revealed they used it recklessly without proper cause. They’d be finished whether they’re 6-star or whatever. Or did they just lose their mind?”

“It might be the rookie.”

“Hey, are you going to keep saying weird things? The youngest is a 4-star magician, what are you talking about. I admit she’s comparable to 5-star, but this is a different dimension of problem!”

“I was just saying.”

“Forget it. Let’s go eat, I’m hungry.”

Loen, who was flying across the sky with Ead on her back, glanced back slightly.

Down below, Yorhan was chasing after us with glinting eyes.

The troops that were surrounding us with him have long since scattered in all directions.

Even his brother Dares disappeared in the opposite direction to escape the meteor’s explosion range.

Only Yorhan.

He alone chased us.

‘Crazy bastard. He’s obsessed till the end.’

This time she looked up at the sky.

The meteor in the shape of a giant sword had grown larger.

It meant the distance to the ground had decreased that much.

Father, why on earth did you do this?

You said it was anti-personnel magic!

‘How is that anti-personnel attack magic in any way. Anyone can see it’s an ultra-large-scale area magic.’

If it was just area magic, I wouldn’t have worried much.

Because we’d just need to get out of range.

The problem is…

That thing which clearly looks like area magic is actually anti-personnel attack magic.

That’s why it’s more problematic.

Even now, the meteor is gradually lowering its altitude and approaching Yorhan.

No matter where he flees, the meteor will eventually pierce exactly on top of his head.

‘If that happens, we’ll be caught in the explosion too.’

Loen bit her lip once.

“Team Leader.”

“I know.”

The two’s thoughts aligned.

We need to take down Yorhan here.

So that he can no longer chase us.

“Loen, you learned double casting during your vacation, right? I’ll be expecting it.”

“I’ll need you to cover me while I finish casting.”

“Of course.”

With those words, Ead jumped down below.

Ead, grasping swords in both hands, immediately shot towards Yorhan.

Then Loen also lowered her altitude.

Yorhan stopped walking.

He fired sword auras in succession towards Ead charging at him.

The sword auras crossed the air with the sound of tearing air.

Whoosh-

But it was useless.

When Ead swung her sword, the sword auras crumbled in vain.

Eventually Yorhan and Ead collided, and shockwaves spread in all directions.

It was enough to make the ground tremble.

Meanwhile, Loen also landed on the ground and started casting magic.

The magic she’ll use this time is Judgment.

It’s the magic she used during the skill check with the Team Leader.

Unlike then, this time her goal was to summon two spears.

She closed her eyes and started gathering magical power in each hand.

Clang!

“En!!”

Along with the sound of swords clashing, Yorhan’s angry shout was heard.

Nevertheless, she didn’t open her eyes.

She focused only on casting magic.

After a moment.

Loen opened her eyes.

In the meantime, perhaps because the meteor had come closer, the atmosphere started to resonate.

The ground was gradually dyed by the shadow of the meteor.

The battle was still ongoing.

As the Team Leader said, since there’s about half a rank difference.

It seemed it wouldn’t be decided easily.

Loen stretched out both hands.

One spear to Yorhan’s left.

Another spear to his right.

“Judgment.”

The moment she uttered the activation word.

Two huge magic spears were summoned near Yorhan, then immediately bore down on him.

In that instant.

The 6-star swordsmen each made their own judgments.

Yorhan pushed away the opponent in front of him and retreated backwards.

He intended to avoid the magic spears by creating a large distance, then regroup.

Ead let Yorhan create distance.

Instead, she took a stance reminiscent of iaijutsu with both hands on her waist.

She gradually lowered her posture and prepared for the final strike.

Smirk.

Yorhan sneered at her judgment.

To give time to avoid magic when she should be holding me back.

How stupid.

After escaping the effective range of the magic spears like this, if I block her strike with all my strength, she’ll fail to kill me this time too.

‘I can’t die alone. I’ll make everyone get caught in the meteor explosion.’

His eyes were tinged with madness.

His feelings towards En had already turned into anger.

The higher the mountain, the deeper the valley.

The bigger the love, the deeper the sense of betrayal.

That’s how Yorhan was now.

I believed till the end.

Even when my brother revealed the truth, I didn’t let go of hope.

Saying that En might change her mind while staying with me.

My brother told me to come to my senses.

Well, I was perfectly normal.

No, was I normal?

I don’t know.

The thought stopped there.

Or rather, it had to stop.

Just as he was about to retreat greatly and prepare to defend.

Because the trajectory of the magic spears suddenly bent sideways.

Yorhan’s eyes widened.

Could it be.. did she imbue them with homing properties?

He noticed En was no ordinary talent when she did double casting.

Nevertheless, to imbue such powerful magic with homing properties…

“Damn it.”

Only then did he realize.

Why En’s sister Irche didn’t hold me back and let me go.

Why she prepared a clearly visible strike.

The stupid one wasn’t the opponent.. it was me.

He sensed the fate approaching.

Nevertheless, Yorhan raised his sword.

He blocked the two spears flying from the front with his sword blade.

The sound of spears and sword colliding scratched his ears.

The incoming force was extraordinary.

It wasn’t easy to block the spears as he was already drained from the battle with Irche.

He pushed back the spears with all his might.

The moment he barely swung his sword to deflect the spears.

What Yorhan’s eyes saw was.

The indifferent eyes of the red-haired short-haired girl.

And two swords.

“Ugh.”

Two streaks of light pierced through Yorhan.

Right after, he fell to his knees.

Death approached right before his eyes.

The moment he recognized that fact, Yorhan’s mind cleared.

The contract with the devil.

Only now did he realize the cause of his abnormal emotional excess.

Part of the contract’s seal was loosened because he reached death.

That’s right.

I made a contract with the devil.

To the whisper that I could become stronger.

To the hope that I could overcome the wall of 6-star.

So I made the contract.

I accepted the power of the abyss.

I became a 6-star swordsman.

I didn’t regret it.

I don’t remember anything about the contents of the contract or the price, but in the end I overcame the wall.

‘But, it ended up like this.’

Looking back, nothing changed even after overcoming the wall.

We were still the resistance. The empire still seemed solid.

Suddenly my brother’s face came to mind.

I wonder if he’s escaping well.

While thoughts were chasing each other,

My eyes met En’s.

“..”

At that moment.

Suddenly, it felt like the emotion of regret was rushing in.

I should have never made the contracㅡ.

Thud.

“Let’s go, Loen.”

“Yes.”

Ead, who instantly blew off Yorhan’s neck while he was trying to set the mood.

There wasn’t enough time to play along.

Even though his life disappeared, the meteor was still falling towards this place.

Now there wasn’t much time left until impact.

Loen flew like mad towards the mountain visible ahead, carrying Ead.

She poured in as much magical power as possible to maximize speed.

Cold sweat flowed from her forehead at the enormous mass felt from behind.

Rumble-

The moment they reached the mountain peak.

Along with an earthquake of tremendous intensity, the world was dyed in white light.

Loen screamed.

What on earth did you give me, father!

Ead grabbed Loen’s arm with her left hand and came down to the ground.

Then she deeply planted her right hand into the ground to firmly fix her body.

Loen quickly cast a barrier magic.

As the barrier spread out, it roundly wrapped around them.

After a moment.

The surrounding air was sucked into the center of the explosion, then soon after, powerful aftershocks swept in all directions.

They remained curled up like that for a long time until the effects of the meteor magic impact subsided.

“What will you do now.”

Loen immediately understood the meaning in Ead’s words.

Now that we’ve successfully stolen the documents and escaped.

I had two choices.

Returning to the Inspection Headquarters since the objective was achieved.

Or.

Going a step further here to capture the second son and the nobles following him.

There’s sufficient justification. Because everything was contained in the confidential documents.

Honestly, my body wanted the former.

I desperately wanted to return as soon as possible and rest.

And if I choose the latter, it will draw a lot of attention from around. It will become troublesome in many ways too.

It was exactly the kind of thing I dislike.

But you know.

‘We’ve come this far.’

Once we’ve started, we should see it through to the end.

Above all, how did I obtain this?

Isn’t it confidential documents obtained after much hardship?

And to return like this?

That’s nonsense.

‘Let’s tie up loose ends for sure.’

“Let’s go to the Grand Duke’s mansion. It will take time for the news to reach those guys, so let’s arrive first and capture them all.”

Ead smiled at Loen’s words.

“You thought well, Loen. And there’s something to correct.”

“??”

“Capturing is what the Enforcement Department should do. What the Inspection Department should do is..”

Ead’s smile deepened.

It was a smile tinged with expectation and excitement for what’s about to unfold.

“Purge.”