A few minutes ago, at the entrance to the forest...



A black arrow in the air?

　Seeing an arrow shot into the sky, Kachel-Miegen muttered in dismay.

''Xellos... but he failed the test!　After all the trouble you've put me through!　I ... failed?
It's not a failure. He probably just abstained.

　Princess Iris-Lestia said.

'There may have been some kind of trouble. There is a possibility of a re-test, and when the three of you come back, we will listen to you.'
"I ... I ... failed. I ... I ... I failed!　I've put all that work into it!
"...Kachel?

　Princess Iris's voice is not answered by her teacher, Kachel.
　She cowered and pounded the ground with her fists, as if she hadn't heard the voice.

'I knew it ... I was wrong; after two hundred years, one does not understand the pecking order. They don't even know the difference between precious blood and inferior blood. It's impossible to rise up and make them understand that........so.......the 'Sanctuary Church' is.......?
'What are you doing, Kachel-Migen!　That would be disrespectful to Her Royal Highness!
Therefore, the Sanctuary Church is the successor to their will.

　Princess Iris paled at the words spoken by the teacher Kachel.
　That's the chanting of the "Ancient Magic" - the chanting of the "Ancient Magic".

"Get away from Kachel!
''Summoning Wind Spirit, Summoning Fire Spirit - 12 of them!

　In the next moment, a bird covered in wind and a lizard covered in flames appear around the Kachel.
　There are 12 of them.
　All at once, they attack the soldiers at the side.

''──Gggaaaaahhhh!

　The soldier was slashed limb by limb, his face burned and collapsed.

''...........Let's move on to the second plan. From the beginning, he shouldn't have counted on the children of country nobles and the like. A career as a teacher - nonsense!
What do you think you're doing, Kachel-Megen!

　Princess Iris exclaimed.
　I couldn't believe what was in front of me.
　A magic teacher in the service of the Baroness Grossaria shouldn't be attacking a soldier with 'Ancient Magic'.

''You are the son of the former minister, Rongel-Megen, aren't you? How could that be, how could you do this!''
"Summoning the black beast... from the dark...
"...oh, wow, wow, wow!

　The birds of the wind and the flaming lizard disappear, and in their place, a magic circle arises in front of Kachel.
　From it emerges a hound with a jet black body.
　Two heads. Two tails, too. Only its eyes are red as blood.

''Protect His Highness Iris!
"Shield up!　Keep those freaks away!

　The soldiers formed a circle with Princess Iris in the center.

''Guoaah!

　The three beasts leap towards the circle in unison.
　Each soldier thrusts out their spears and attacks the beasts. But - they don't hit it.
　The reaction speed was too different.
　While dodging the soldiers' spears, the hounds pierced through the armor and shields with their claws, wounding the soldiers.

'Eat it!　''Flame God's Bullet (Efreet Brow)!''

　Princess Iris's ancient magic creates flames that fly toward the hounds.
　But it didn't hit the hounds. The enemy is moving too fast.

''It's strange.......Kachel-Megen shouldn't have the magical power to control such a messenger as this one.......''
'Kachel is just a witchcraft teacher. The lowest rank of the 'Magic Guild'. He's just a scum that gets trapped at the end. Isn't that what you think?
I don't think it's a zakko!
"My father, a minister, did not choose me to succeed him. Of all things ... a bastard, etc. And the royal family recognized it. They admitted it!

　The teacher Kachel exclaimed.

'I had to show the royal family my true power. So I spent a dull time in this country baronial house!
"Guoaahhhhh!

　The three hounds shouted in agreement with Kachel.

''Being a witchcraft teacher was a really boring job. A bastard child with a bad memory and a bastard child who doesn't have any sense of propriety. But now it's over. You've successfully wooed the royal family under the guise of an exam. Now let's raise the smoke of our resurrection on a high note!
"...the smoke of the resurrection...?
'Yes. Of the great 'Sanctuary Church'!

　The soldiers' eyes widened at Kachel's words.

'Sanctuary Church.'
　It is an organization of sorcerers who discovered the legacy of the Ancient Magic Civilization (Elysian) for the first time in the world.

　They analyzed the "Ancient Magic" and "Ancient Objects" and transformed them into their own power.
　They wielded great power and drove out sub-humans and wise demons to expand human territory.
　The kings of the world fought over the territory, and it became a war.

　It was supposed to end in a small war.
　But the 'Sanctuary Church' intervened.
　They used the kings in their own power struggles, and because of this, the war intensified.

　In the worst war of all, the War of the Eight Kings, eight kings fought over each other's territory.

The Sanctuary Church was destroyed because a wise man stood up and stopped the church from running amok.
The ancient artifacts were scattered and the ancient magic was lost, but the war was over.

　After the war, the Sanctuary Church became a taboo organization and its members were executed.
　Now, it should be lost in the shadows of history and nothing should remain.

''How can the great 'Sanctuary Church' be destroyed?　Here's what they've inherited from their 'ancient artifacts'!　The one that was meant to give me the magic of sacrifice!

　Kachel-Megen held up an amulet with a black stone on it.

'You should consider yourselves fortunate. You were able to witness the resurrection of the great 'Sanctuary Church'!
"Gioiauuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu!

　The beasts pounce on the soldiers.

''Geeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!

　The beast's claws sliced through the shield, its fangs biting off the soldier's arm.
　Meanwhile, another soldier thrusts his spear into the body of the beast. But - it's ineffective.
　No blood flows from the beast's wound. The wounds are closed up in the blink of an eye by the enormous amount of magical power.



　Kachel laughed.

Children are simple things. I tricked him into believing that I was the only one who could talk to him, and he was easily fooled. They have no idea that I am just a tool to be used!　But he's done his part well enough. You've brought Princess Iris here. With the princess, I'm going to turn this baronial family into the base of the 'Sanctuary Church'...
"'Efreet Bullets'

　A voice came from the forest.
　Iris turned her gaze and saw a small shadow running from the forest.

''Yuki-Grossaria-sama!
'You're back!　The kid. But fire magic from that distance...
"Giggly," "squeaky," "squeaky," "squeaky!

　I heard a voice above me.
　I looked up and saw black wings dancing in the sky. A flock of bats.
　They swarmed together and flew at the messenger of the Kahal.

　Princess Iris opened her eyes.
　The bat's wings appeared to have a red emblem painted on them.

'Letters?　Symbols?　No!　That's the 'Flame God's Renegade' (Efreet Brou)!


　Hmmm.


　A red light was lit on the wings of the bats.
　And then...



　Zudodododododododododododod!



　Countless flaming bullets fired from the bat's wings rained down on Kachel and the black beast!

'Giiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii!


　Kachel and the beasts exclaimed.

''I knew it was the 'Flame God Chain'!　Why from the wings of a bat!

The Flame God's Chain of Bullets is an "ancient magic" that Princess Iris has just finally mastered.
　It's impossible for a bat to fire it in rapid succession.

''Goooooooh!　No. No. Oh, whoa, whoa, whoa!
"GIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII!



　Zudodododododododododododod!



　The barrage of flames doesn't stop.
　The Kachel has created a barrier with his magic and managed to prevent the flames.

　However, the beasts received a decent rain of flames.
　They were pierced and burned by the flaming bullets and disappeared without question.

''Now!　Everyone. Charge as soon as the flaming bullets subside!　Take down Kachel.

　Princess Iris shouted.



'Get out of my way!'



　Yuki-Grossaria's voice stopped the princesses from moving.
　The moment the voice was heard, goosebumps broke out on Princess Iris' arms.
　It was because his voice was terrifyingly angry and cold.

''Ha, ha!　The bastard?　A bastard of a baronial family used 'Ancient Magic'?

　The flaming bullets stop.
　Holding the wound with his scorched robe, Kachel-Megen shouts out.

''Impossible!　This is a joke of some kind. The rude bastard of a rude baronial family - geeeaaaaah!
Shut up.

　When did we pull it out?
　When did he slash?

　The next thing I knew, the boy was running past Kachel with a dagger in his hand.
　Blood gushed out of Kachel's left arm.

''Did you see........''

　Princess Iris turned her gaze to the soldier next to her.
　The soldier shook his head.

''I didn't see it. That boy, his movements.
'Too fast. What the hell is he...?

　Neither Princess Iris nor the soldiers could move.
　The place was completely controlled by that boy Yuki-Grossaria.

'You will be killed,'

　Yuki-Glossaria said.

'You called my family a tool. "You tried to hurt my family. You're a dead man.

　It was as if it was already confirmed that it would be done.
　Yuki-Grossaria had declared.