I hear someone shouting. It's not just Leslie, it's everyone's voice.

　But only His Highness Astina is watching, not saying anything. She knows, she knows that there is nothing to worry about.

　The snake stops dead in its tracks as it bares its black fangs at me. I hold out my hand to the snake - I felt the Divine Tree Eucerisis telling me to do so.

　-- O dwelling tree (mistlutin) that dwells in my branch. Bring forth a drop of the source of all life from the defiled water.

'...... aaaaaaahhhh ......!

　Noin cries out in agony - it is also dragged down by the demise of the underworld spirit that inhabits her.

　The torment that arises when exorcising the underworld spirit, tormenting both the spirit and the body. But it was also the mistletoe, the divine tree's gendarme, that healed her. Entangled in Noin's legs, it sucked up Noin's life force that the underworld spirit had taken from her and withered it before she could see it, returning the unholy power to its original life force and returning it to Noin and Apsaras.

　Apsaras, who had been weak and on the verge of death, regained her spirit - her entire body was tinged with a pale light, and her figure, clad in a thin robe, was truly worthy of being called a heavenly woman.

　The underworld spirit then disappears completely - or rather, returns to the underworld.

　Noin, who was freed, saw me. It was the first time since I met her, and it was done purely by her will alone.

'...... such ...... such a thing, really ......'

　Noyn covers his face. In truth, he must have been so preoccupied.

　Noin's appearance, dragged by the word death, was nothing but tragic. But there was no need to despair anymore. Because the underworld spirit that bound her was exorcised by the power of the divine tree.

　The mistletoe leaves Noin and once it leaves Noin, it releases its materialization. Then it materialized once more, entangling itself in my arms.

　Don't be afraid, Euselisis speaks to me. The will in the mistletoe also calls out directly to me.

　--It's not just a matter of time before I'll be able to get my hands on it. Henceforth, it is my pleasure to serve you.

"Yes, it's a pleasure to meet you.　

　-- Please don't hesitate to ask for me when you are in danger. I have 'original roles' other than the one I've shown you this time.

　Yes, I'm drawn to plants because there's not just one characteristic that they have, but the more I study them, the more they show me a different side.

　Mistortin will also be another aspect of the plant. Alraune, Mandrake, the plants I met in the Garden of the Divine Tree, and the floating demon lotus - what I originally wanted to study was the healing power of plants. I can't thank them enough for helping me to fight in this way, though.

'Noin, you are now free of the underworld spirit. You no longer have to listen to orders that don't meet your will .......

　Before he could finish, Noin unexpectedly dropped to his knees on the magic circle and bowed deeply to me.

'There's no need for us to do that when we're about to fight together. Raise your head.

　Still, she only raised her gaze slightly. Does that mean that she is extending her gratitude to the individual that is me?

　The battle isn't over yet, rather it's just a point where we've gained a foothold. After we defeat Alejandro and make a truce with Zirconia, we must take action against those who are against us.

　It is out of the realm of territory for a military doctor to consider where the Knights are going. It is only a matter of remembering that and doing what I can in the future.

'I used to think of myself as one who lived to die. When I let so many of the soldiers of the Isle Rose die, I thought there was nowhere to go back, only to end up being used up by Zirconia ...... but you changed that.
'...... I just wanted to ask for Noin's help because I needed it for the Order. In other words, it's all for my own good. There's nothing to be thankful for.
'Yet I cannot help but say. That the only reason I am alive in this way, the only reason I am free, is because of you.

　There was not a shred of hesitation in Noin's eyes.

　It was not a temporary thing, but a word that showed the intention to share in the long-lasting battle to come.

''Glass Weed ...... No, Glass-sama. I pledge my allegiance to you and to the Order of the Isle Rose. Please let me use this life that has been saved for that purpose.
...... His Highness Astina said that, though. I think we all understand that Noyn was unavoidably following the orders of the enemy.

　Those who have died will not come back to life. But it is not Noon who is to blame.

　There is someone else to blame. That's what Noin can say now without being tied down.

'Noin...... our enemy is who sent you to Zirconia.
"...... The Second Queen Cassandra. She has a court mage in her service. Jorg Frost, the man who led the mage troops on the northern front. He impregnated me with the spirit of the underworld and sold me to Zirconia. Shortly after I ascended to King's Landing to serve the Second Prince, the legitimate son of Cassandra.

　The corruption is deeper and more widespread than we could have imagined - no, we just didn't know it, but it was there from the beginning.

　After all, the Second Queen was working to exclude His Highness Astina. But Cassandra alone could only do so much, and there was one person who helped her do so.

　Jorg Frost. Some of the accomplishments of court mages belonging to the military are public and some are not. I'm a widower, and I don't know much information about the man - but I do know his rank as a court mage.

　The fourteenth rung of the ladder - three ranks higher than Millenia Weed, the 'Jade Witch'.

' ...... When you are studying the underworld spirits, you are breaking the taboo as a mage in this country. If we don't do something about that Jorg man, we'll continue to get screwed over for good.
I'll do whatever it takes to bring that man down: ......
Sometimes winning at great cost is admirable. But it's not in my nature. No need to brood alone, or to stand alone.
...... yes. I'll follow Mr. Glass' orders.

　There is a part of her that is too submissive and confusing, but if it's her way of showing sincerity, it seems tactless to correct her every time.

Then, the first order of business. Noin, I want you to get the warships moving as soon as possible.
My goodness, my Lord.

　Either you're playing a joke on me or - even though it's natural to be called a summoner by a contracted spirit, I never imagined the day that I would be called that against a human.